Glam metal icons Mötley Crüe are the pinnacle of 80's excess, sleaze and what metal would be famous for at the time. The aggressive bass of Nikki Sixx, the high vocals of Vince Neil, the classic, shredding and driving guitars of Mick Mars. And the thundering, heart-pumping drumming of Tommy Lee. With legendary stories of doing all the drugs, drinking all the drinks and bedding every woman in the tri-country area. They were infamous for their look, their music and their influence. With an over forty year career, nine studio albums, countless sold-out shows across the world, the band was a true force of the 80's and one of the leaders in keeping metal alive during the boom of pop and the rise of rap & hip-hop. But, like many famous bands of the 80's, time was not kind to them.With the rise of grunge in the 90's and the winds of change showing that music was evolving, the band tried to keep up with the 90's, but didn't reach their glory days of their prime.
Over time, the band has faced some criticism within the metal community. From the act of "trend chasing" during the 90's, the treatment and firing/dismissal of the band's founding guitarist Mick Mars, signing a contract saying they'll never tour again before breaking that contract themselves, and so much more. With new member John 5, and new music released this year to mixed reactions, has this legendary act earned the backlash they are receiving? Do they deserve it after rocking and shredding for over forty years? Is it time for these 80's icons to hang it up? Today, I will try to answer the question: Why The Hate?
FIRST TOPIC: The Music
Mötley Crüe would release their debut album Too Fast For Love in 1981. Led by the lead single "Stick To Your Guns", the album didn't truly break into the mainstream until the second single, the album's opener "Live Wire". Receiving positive reviews, the album would eventually go platinum and the band would eventually sign with Elektra Records in 1982, with the band remixing and re-releasing the album. Following the album and tour cycle, as well as getting kicked off KISS' Creatures of The Night Tour due to the "band's behavior", the band would enter the studio to begin work on what would be the band's breakthrough album.
Released in 1983, Shout at The Devil would become the album that would launch the band into superstardom. With lead single "Looks That Kill", the song would thrive during the MTV music video era of the channel. The album would also face controversy with the album's pentagram on the cover and many critics of the band claimed that they were encouraging kids to worship Satan. God I miss the era of the Satanic Panic. During that time, in a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Mars claimed that the band was thinking of firing him and have a more technical player (he mentions Jake E. Lee in the interview), but Mars stayed with the band. Shout at The Devil would be a commercial success, going four times platinum in the United States.
In 1985, Crüe would hit the studio and would go on to release the band's third album Theatre of Pain. The album did mark a shift in the band's sound. Shifting away from the traditional heavy metal sound that the band made famous with their first two albums. Towards a more glam-metal/hair metal sound. Theatre of Pain would feature one of the band's biggest songs, the piano-heavy power ballad "Home Sweet Home".Though the band would continue the success from Shout at The Devil, the band was going through many internal struggles amongst themselves. Neil would be involved in a car crash, killing Hanoi Rocks' drummer Nicholas "Razzle" Dingley, which Neil was facing jail time for. Nikki Sixx would develop a crippling heroin addiction, and the idea of replacing Mars would return.
The band would continue their streak of successful records with their fourth album, 1987's Girls, Girls, Girls. With this album, Mars'guitar playing was truly showcased. More prevalent than on Theatre of Pain. Featuring the album's title track and another live-staple "Wild Side", the album would go quadruple platinum and debuted number 2 on the Billboard 200. The band would also change their image to a biker look, matching the album cover, and trying to shift away from the glam metal look of old. That same year, Sixx would suffer a heroin overdose and was declared dead before being revived. Following his overdose, Sixx would enter rehab and the band would cancel planned tour dates while Sixx recovered.
In 1989, the band would hit the studio and release their fifth album Dr. Feelgood. With Sixx now sober, and taking inspiration from his life-changing overdose, he would go on to write one of the band's most well-known songs "Kickstart My Heart". With that high-energy single, along with the album's title track, would help catapult the album to number one on the Billboard 200. Following the release and success of the album, it would be praised by critics. Some even citing it as the band's best album. Though the band was at its peak success, more inner turmoil would begin to implode amongst the band members. Following management issues, along with burn out from constant touring to promote Dr. Feelgood, it would be the breaking point for the band's front man. Neil would leave the band in early 1992. Around that time, rock and metal was changing due to the influence and impact of the burgeoning Seattle grunge sound. The band would continue without Neil and hire John Corabi to replace Neil.They would hit the studio to work on a new album, and a new direction.
In 1994, Mötley Crüe would release their self-titled sixth album. The album would show the band begin to augment their sound. Adding elements of hard rock, grunge, alternative and industrial rock. Corabi also shifted the band's lyrical direction, focusing on more introspection and world commentary. A huge pivot compared to the sleazy and derogatory themes from the band's early material. Debuting at number seven on the Billboard 200, fans and critics were mixed on the band's new direction and 90's influences, and considered a commercial failure by the band's label. While Neil didn't remain silent during his departure from the band, he would release two solo albums, 1993's Exposed and 1995's Carved in Stone. In 1997, Neil would rejoin Mötley Crüe to fan's excitement and hit the studio to record the much-anticipated reunion album. Unfortunately, it was not the album the fans were expected. Maybe not the album they wanted at all.
The band would release Generation Swine in 1997. An album that what many fans considered the band "trend chasing". The most experimental record from the band at the time of recording and release, some even pointed out that the songs on the record had too much similarity to other popular 90's bands at the time like White Zombie and Stone Temple Pilots, but not done as well as those bands. Some pointed out that the band was happy with the Corabi-era vocal sound of the band, but Neil couldn't pull off the highs or attitude or grit that Corabi pulled off on their self-titled album. Though Neil rejoined the band, it wasn't smooth sailing as he himself admitted that he threatened to or quit during the making of the album multiple times. Mars would claim that he wasn't heard or felt acknowledged on the record, with Sixx and Lee mainly being the main songwriters. The band would lose founding member Tommy Lee, as he would leave the band in 1999 to pursue a solo career stemming from frustrations he faced with Neil. Lee claimed that the band was heading in the wrong direction since having Neil rejoining. Lee would go on to form the rap metal group Methods of Mayhem and release their self-titled debut album in 1999. After Lee left the band, the band would go on to recruit Ozzy Osbourne's drummer Randy Castillo as the new drummer and would hit the studio in 2000 to record their eighth album.
Released in the summer of 2000, New Tattoo would mark the band returning to the original sound in the 80's and early 90's. Though a return to form, the album debuted at number 41 on the Billboard 200 and sold a little over 200,000 copies. The album's lead single, "Hell on High Heels" debuted on number 13 on the Mainstream Rock chart. The album would also release other singles like the album's title track and "Treat Me Like The Dog I Am". It was considered one of the weaker albums in the band's discography. The band would also face another setback while promoting the album. Before the tour began, Castillo fell ill with a duodenal ulcer. The band would tour with temporary member Samantha Maloney while he recovered. Castillo would later be diagnosed with Squamous cell Carcinoma, which unfortunately would take his life on March 26, 2002. He was 51 years old. Following Castillo's death, the band would go on hiatus following his passing.
In 2008, the band would reunite with Lee and hit the studio to record their ninth album and second reunion album. Released in June 2008, Saints of Los Angeles would be the band's first new album in eight years. With Sixx saying in the press that the band "were on to some of the better songs we've had in years", the fans were skeptical, since they had been burned in the past with previous releases and singles. The album featured writing help from members of Sixx's side project Sixx A.M. It was later revealed that Sixx A.M. guitarist DJ Ashba's guitar work was more substantial, performing the vast majority of the guitar on the album. With Sixx claiming that Mars "couldn't play his parts or remember his parts". Upon release, the album received mixed reviews from fans and critics. Citing the band wasn't really doing anything new or just reliving the glory days of their success and not really evolving or developing their sound like their fellow 80's alumni. In 2022, Mars would officially retire as a touring member of the band due on ongoing health issues. The band would hire John 5 as a touring guitarist to replace Mars, before officially announcing him as the newest member in 2023.
The band would release new music in 2024 with the upcoming release of the EP Cancelled, set for an October 4th release date. The EP would feature the lead single "Dogs of War" which was received with mixed reviews upon release. The second single was a cover of Beastie Boys classic "Fight For Your Right". The band has pointed out that since Saints of Los Angeles, the band would not be working on new albums and would mainly be a touring band per Sixx.
Musically, does Mötley Crüe deserve the hate? With the legacy they have left behind in not only the popularity of hair/glam metal, but the influence countless other bands would take inspiration from, they don't deserve the hate. Is every album from them a gem? No of course not. Was their self-titled album really that bad without Neil? Absolutely not, it is actually a good record and one of their stronger records. I say even better than the experimental, trend-chasing Generation Swine. But musically, with their streak of successful albums from Too Fast For Love to Dr. Feelgood, they don't deserve the hate.
SECOND TOPIC: The Band
The core members of the band have an endless amount of stories of debauchery, excess, sleaze, and sin. Famously written in their 2001 autobiography The Dirt: Confessions of the World's Most Notorious Rock Band. Chronicling the legendary tale of all four members of the band through their time with the band, as well as stories of disgust, sex, drinking and drugs. It would be later turned into a 2019 Netflix film. Regarding the original core four members, do they individually deserve the hate towards themselves?
Let's start with Vince Neil. Mentioned earlier in the piece, Neil was involved in a car accident, where he was drunk driving. In the car accident, Dingley was killed. The other car that Neil hit, the passengers were severely injured and one suffering brain damage. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail and five years probation, along with 200 hours of community service. He was also ordered to pay $2.6 million in restitution to the victims. Neil would only serve 15 days in jail for good behavior. There were other incidents involving Neil fighting. From punching a record producer in 2002, assaulting a sex worker by grabbing her by the throat and slamming her against a wall in 2003, which he pleaded no contest to battery charges in 2004 and received a 30-day jail suspension. He was arrested again for assault in 2004 where he punched a soundman. In 2007, he was arrested for suspicion of DUI in Las Vegas, where he plead guilty in a deal with prosecutors to drop the DUI charge. Neil was arrested again in 2010 for drunk driving, pleading guilty and sentenced to 15 days in jail. 2011 showed Neil charged with battery and disorderly conduct after an altercation with ex-girlfriend Alicia Jacobs. Lastly, in 2016, he was charged with misdemeanor battery for assaulting a woman outside a Las Vegas casino, which Neil would plead guilty and received six months probation.
Next is Tommy Lee. In 1998, Lee would plead no contest and serve six months in jail for kicking his wife at the time Pamela Anderson while she was holding their song Dylan. 1996 would show Lee plead no contest to criminal charges of battery against a Jewish photographer after Lee would attack the man outside the legendary Viper Room in L.A. In 2000, in an altercation with Anderson, Lee assaulted his wife. Leaving her with bruises, a torn fingernail and fearing for the safety of her sons Dylan & Brandon. Lee would go on to serve five days in jail for violating his probation for drinking as well.
Up next is Nikki Sixx. Though I couldn't find any legal issues or criminal charges that I could find compared to his fellow bandmates. The only gripes or issues I have found towards Sixx is that he seems to have a reputation of arrogance. Some even calling him a "pompous ass". Boasting too much about his book The Heroin Diaries: A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rock Star and his photography. Also, picking fights online with the media and other bands like Sebastian Bach, Metallica, Pearl Jam & Godsmack most famously. Fans accused Sixx of being a "keyboard warrior" and stirring the pot with popular or legendary bands to keep his name, Mötley Crüe, Sixx A.M. or his other projects relevant. There has also been accusations that Sixx doesn't play his bass live and that there are backing tracks, with multiple videos on YouTube showing him not playing when bass can be heard. The other point that was brought up earlier in the piece was Sixx was one of the band members who wanted Mars replaced. Once Mars left the band and sued the band, which he would win, a lot of the heat was aimed at Sixx as being the most outspoken and longest running member of the band.
Last is Mick Mars. Hewould have the weight of the world on him throughout his professional career medically. Since he was 14, hestruggled with ankylosing spondylitis, which is a chronic inflammatory form of arthritis that mainly affects the spine and pelvis. He said he wasn't officially diagnosed until he was 27, causing him a great deal of pain and increasingly impaired how he would move. Mars said in the press that it didn't affect his hands. Meaning he could still play guitar and to him "that's what mattered most." The only legal issue I found that was against Mars was in 1989 when a complaint was filed against him. A "Complaint For Breach of Oral Agreement, Injunctive Relief, and Negligent and Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress" was filed against Mars by Marcia Lea Martel, with the claim being that he intentionally and maliciously neglected their son's emotional needs due to his refusal to meet or communicate with the boy despite their son's desires. I could not find a resolution or a determination to that claim at the time of writing.
Looking at the individual members of the band, do all four of the original members deserve the hate? Neil and Lee do deserve some of the hate. Because of the repeat offenses of violence and alcohol issues with Neil. I am aware that he did lose his daughter Skylar when she was four to cancer. Which as a parent myself, the idea of losing my child can be unimaginable and I wouldn't know how to cope with it myself. Although, with all the criminal issues he's had since her passing and court-order alcoholics anonymous, along with anger management, and he is still doing these things, I don't have any support. If you have the help and you choose not to take it, you don't get sympathy from me. Regarding Lee, I believe the domestic violence does warrant him some hate. Another thing that I have no sympathy for is violence towards women, children or loved ones. To kick your wife, while she is holding your kid, is just uncalled for. And maybe Anderson has forgiven him for it, but I know for a fact she didn't forget. Regarding Sixx, I can see some pretentiousness in some of his comments and remarks to bands he isn't a fan of, which I can see where some of the hate is aiming, but I don't think he deserves the hate. Mars definitely doesn't deserve any of the hate at all. He was right to go after the band regarding the whole legal case towards him and his legacy with the band. He seems like he has powered through all the naysayers amongst his bandmates and wrote some of the most memorable riffs in 80's metal. Even releasing his debut solo album The Other Side of Mars earlier this year.
After 40 years, Mötley Crüe have left a legacy that matches the debauchery that they embodied throughout their career. Has every album been a gold standard and platinum success? No, but many bands rarely have an all successful, multi-album run. Legends like Bon Jovi, Metallica, Guns and Roses and KISS all have a stinker in their catalogues. Do the band members have bad reputations? To a degree yes. Neil and Lee have had troubled times and moments in their careers outside of music, but hopefully they can get their lives together and prevent future issues from happening. Best case, Lee can always drive a boat without his hands (if you know that reference, you've seen the sex tape). Some members have squeakier records that the others, but they aren't perfect either. They have some faults, but not to the degree of their peers. The band left a mark on the history of metal and hard rock. Catchy riffs, sleazy lyrics, earworm hooks and an image that was the definition of the 80's. Mötley Crüe will stand the test of time as one of the greatest bands in the history of metal. And for that legacy and impact, they don't deserve the hate.
Do you think Mötley Crüe deserves the hate? Do you agree/disagree with me and why? Let us know in the comments section of our social media pages. You can also let us know what bands/genres/topics I should tackle next for this series. I'm Justin, Your Friendly Neighborhood Metalhead, and this has been Why The Hate?
