Mötley Crüe

I would say that Mötley Crüe is THE Glam Metal band, the most representative in every aspect: music arrangements, lyrics, style, looks and “Rock N’Roll” as well. They are an American Glam Metal band created in Los Angeles, California, in 1981.

The band was formed by bassist Nikki Sixx (who was involved in a band called London) and drummer Tommy Lee, later joined by guitarist Mick Mars and singer Vince Neil. Mötley Crüe has sold over 80 million albums worldwide and is considered one of the best Glam Bands in the world and a pioneer in this style.

The band’s last studio album, “Saints of Los Angeles”, was released on June 28, 2008, while an adaptation of the band’s autobiography, which was released in 2009, was being filmed. In 2014 and 2015, the band performed until then their last tour, being known as “The Final Tour”.

In March 2019, the film “The Dirt – Confessions of Mötley Crüe” was released on Netflix, an adaptation of the biographical book of the same name released in 2001. The success of the film, accompanied by its soundtrack, led the band to announce their return for a new tour on November 18, 2019.

Formation and early years (1981-1983)
Mötley Crüe was formed on January 17, 1981, when bassist Nikki Sixx left the band London and began rehearsing with Tommy Lee and vocalist/guitarist Greg Leon.
Lee had previously worked with Leon in a band called Suite 19, and the trio continued rehearsing and practising until eventually, Leon decided to stop. The bassist and drummer started looking for new members.
Sixx and Lee found a new guitarist, Robert “Mick Mars”. Mars was heard and later signed by Sixx and Lee. Mars had played in a band, White Horse when one of the band members called the group “a motley-looking crew.” He remembered the phrase and later copied it to use as the name for the band: Mottley Cru. Speaking the word quickly, it became ‘Mötley Crüe’, which was the name chosen for the band, also to pay homage to the German beer the members were drinking at the time.
Lee met Neil at Royal Oak H.S. (High School) in Covina and played in two garage bands. Seeing his performance in the band Rockandi (pronounced Rock-Candy), Neil eagerly auditioned and was accepted by Lee.

Their first album was an independent production called “Too Fast For Love” by Lethur Records.
Soon after, they signed a contract with Elektra Records, who remixed the album, and the band went on tour. In 1983, they released the album Shout at the Devil, which features hits such as “Looks That Kill”, “Ten Seconds To Love”, and “Too Young To Fall In Love”.

At the height of his fame (1984-1991)
After 1983’s “Shout at the Devil”, they released the classic “Theater of Pain” in 1985 and in 1987, they released “Girls, Girls, Girls”. The last albums showed a Mötley Crüe with motorcycles, whiskey and stripers.

Mötley Crüe continues its career and releases new albums. In 1989, they released a new album, “Dr. Feelgood”, with the hit “Kickstart My Heart”. They then released “Decade of Decadence”, after which vocalist Vince Neil left and John Corabi entered.

In 1994, they released another album titled “Mötley Crüe”. Vince Neil returned, and they recorded another album in 1997, “Generation Swine”. In 1998, the contract with Elektra Records ended. So, the band created their own label, Mötley Records. In 2000, they released the album “New Tattoo”.

Reunion, last album and farewell tour (2004-2015)

The band got back together in 2004 and released the compilation album “Red, White & Crüe”. They announced that they returned to the studios to record a new album, and in 2008, Mötley Crüe’s last album, “Saints of Los Angeles”, was released. In 2014 and 2015, they carried out their last tour, after which they definitively ended their activities

In a September 2022 interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Neil declared that the band would tour the US again in 2023. He also disregarded the prospect of additional studio albums in the same interview, claiming that they were “strictly a touring band”.

According to a statement by Mars’ publicist, Mick Mars departed from the band’s touring lineup on October 26, 2022, because of chronic health concerns. The following day, the group announced that John 5 would replace Mars as their new touring guitarist, though he was subsequently announced as a band member in April 2023. Sixx assured listeners that the band won’t be disbanding any time soon in an interview with Brazil’s A Radio Rock in December.

Studio Albums

1981: Too Fast for Love
1983: Shout at the Devil
1985: Theatre of Pain
1987: Girls, Girls, Girls
1989: Dr. Feelgood
1994: Mötley Crüe
1997: Generation Swine
2000: New Tattoo
2008: Saints of Los Angeles