Motley Crue: Klassik or Dude!

Nikki Sixx - Possibly the worst bass player ever? Maybe, but his single-note thumping seems to work perfectly, so perhaps not! Worst lyricist ever? Some of his lyrics may seem completely retarded, probably indeed most of them, but how is it that they hold up so much better than what the other metal bands were singing about back then? What else would music that SOUNDS like this even be singing about? No, the lyrics are a perfect fit for the most part. Interestingly, many of the lyrics have a bit of mystery about them, but I think this is due to Nikki's lack of ability than anything else. Still, Vince managed to make the crudest looking shit Nikki was able to write sound much, much better than it reads, so either Nikki was writing for Vince's vocal stylings or Vince's vocal stylings polished the turd that was Nikki's lyrics. (See the song "Shout At The Devil" and notice all the syllables). As a band leader, Nikki certainly pulled together just the right elements to create one of the most memorable metal bands ever.

Mick Mars - I have to put this guy right under Nikki. I'm not sure if he had lack of talent of just showed considerable restraint and taste because his guitar is very understated and yet he lays down just the right amount of groove and the most perfect guitar solos one could ask for. Listening to this guy again as a non-8th greater, I can see he is the ultimate foundation of this band, despite Nikki's leadership and lyricist role and Vince Neil's unique voice. Compare Mick's guitar to Tracii Guns, Tom Kieffer or Warren Dimartini. Sure, LA Guns, Cinderella and Ratt had some ripping guitars and slick licks, but for some odd reason Motley Crue's groove, tone and song structure is just better all around. Mick had a great bite for the riffs and very intersting and weird solo sounds. Some solos sound melted and warped like old ZZ Top-bordering on psychedelia, other solos sound almost middle-eastern and "God Bless The Children of The Beast" sounds like the Exorcist. Mick was very good with the tone and for coming up with minimal groovy licks that were unique and tricky to play. There is also that great bit where Vince's voice disappears perfectly into the first note of a solo, which isn't just a studio trick but something they pulled off live. I defy you to find where the voice ends and the guitar begins.

Tommy Lee - This guy was really NOT a great drummer. This is painfully obvious to me now that I am not in 8th grade. Forget the obvious citation of the cowbell on "Too Fast For Love," his whole method was plodding and simple. I remember VH1 documentaries talking about how awesome Tommy was and how Nikki saw him and new he had to have him in his band. It must have been more of a personality thing because the drumming is just OK. But, still, like Nikki's simple bass "playing," Tommy's drumming worked perfectly for the music they played. Once again, I think this is a credit to Mick Mars.

Vince Neil - A bit shrill on "Too Fast For Love," but other than that, Vince probably has the best voice of all the 80's bands. He really did have quite a range and control over his voice, which is something you really notice after years of listening to punk, indie and more socially-acceptable (these days) metal bands like AC/DC, Metallica and Motorhead. Some people may think he sounds totally "pussyish," but not to me. The voice of Motley Crue is probably the easiest thing to notice in these days of gruff metal manhood when you first put on one of their records, but if you just let it play and soak it up, you begin to realize how great it is. It's not often overly dramatic or shrill like Metallica, Dio, Judas Priest and countless others often are. In fact, really take a moment and imagine ANYONE ELSE singing "Shout At The Devil"... take a minute... Vince Neil was the perfect singer for Motley Crue. His replacement on the later records was terrible.

All in all, I think the band in it's classic form was great. It's too bad there's just not much you can do with that kind of music. I think the newest record, "New Tattoo" was a fine record, it's just that we didn't really need it. Everything Motley Crue had to offer has already been offered, I think. But, I wouldn't mind another Crue record every 3 or 4 years if they could actually think of new stuff that still felt like "the Crue."

Sixx: Our first album was a punk record; the second was a heavy metal record; our third record was influenced by Bowie and the Stones. Then we had a blues-based influence on Girls Girls Girls and went pop/metal on Dr. Feelgood. Whatever we were doing at the moment, we saw 10 other bands doing it. It felt cheap to us, so we would abandon it. Including our logo, which drove our record company crazy.

Neil: We've never had the same Mötley Crüe logo ever.

from http://www.vh1.com/artists/interview/1455311/06192002/motley_crue.jhtml

What do you think of Feelgood era? appropos your Vince comments, I think "Don't Go Away Mad" is really beautifully sung.

They could make you feel tough without feeling angry and they could also make you feel happy without feeling uncool.

You might like these threads-

TS: 'Funhouse' vs. 'Shout at the Devil'
Mick Mars vs James Williamson vs Ron Asheton vs David Bowie

Of course, the band's opinion should count for something, but I think they are just sort of embarrassed by it because it was very pop and pop isn't cool. Plus they were dressing like women and that's not cool, either.

Mick Mars said that the song structure on Theatre of Pain was lacking and that it was repetitive. He also said besides the two singles (Smokin' In The Boys Room, Home Sweet Home) the album wasn't good and the sole saving grace was Home Sweet Home. He's wrong! Both Girls, Girls, Girls and Dr. Feelgood were more repetitive and had worse structure in my opinion. The songs grew longer and more boring. Also, the two singles off Theatre of Pain were probably the worst songs on the album, although the entire album is flawless, in my opinion.

Theatre of Pain, for me, was the climax of the band. It's not as raw sounding as the first two, but the guitar tones are really diverse and mature. The album seems to have some depth and a cool ominous vibe throughout. It has an old early ZZ Top feel, which is a far cry from Too Fast For Love, but a much more textured and developed evolution of the same "beast."

This is a weird comparison, but Theatre of Pain is very much like Camper Van Beethoven's Key Lime Pie. (Surprise!) Key Lime Pie is obviously unique, even compared to the rest of the band's material, but it is still a very cool album even if it doesn't fit in anywhere. The production of those two albums is also very similar and all the songs are slower, so that might be where the comparison is coming from, too. If you listen to both albums back-to-back, I think you'll hear the similarities.

After Theatre of Pain it seems like they just went backwards or stood still. Dr. Feelgood is cool and all, but it reminds me of Bon Jovi for crying out loud. And the lyrics are cornier than ever. Fast boogie-butt music without the wicked edge of the first two albums.

Oh no he didn't. I mean, granted, there are slim pickens in terms of good 80's metal vocalists, but Vince is not a great one by ANY standard. I'd sooner cite David Lee Roth (if he could be included amongst lesser bands). Hell, even Stephen Pearcy (sp?) from Ratt had a more distinctive voice.

Raven of Killing Joke has recently become a pal of Nikki Sixx's, and cryptically alleged recently that much of Vince's vocals were...ahem..."enhanced" with the vocals of none other than Robin Zander of Cheap Trick (i.e. that's often not Vince doin' the singing). Make of that what you will.

Which is odder, though? Your boyfriend's cock smelling like another woman....or your boyfriend's cock smelling like mexican food????

They're both one dimensional and neither can really sing. Both would have made Motley Crue sound quite bad. Stephen Pearcy sucked and got old real fast.

They're both one dimensional and neither can really sing. Both would have made Motley Crue sound quite bad. Stephen Pearcy, especially, sucked and got old real fast. Also, I think you took the crytically alleged comment far too seriously about Robin Zander.

Yes, Vince Neil is better than Roth. Roth sings monotone. Most of Van Halen is unlistenable and his solo stuff just as bad. He always sounded like an old man and not even a rockin' old man! The bozzeebozzeebopzitteeboop routine was very fitting. Besides Van Halen I, all of that stuff is the most overrated metal perhaps ever. I hate Eddie's solos!

"pavement-cracking". I like that.

Hell, I snagged the remastered edition of the album out of the discount bin a few days ago just for the first 30 seconds of the title track.

(And I don't mean that "T'n'T" track, either.)

A fair and valid point, but he wasn't always that bad. Well, actually, yes he was, but circa Fair Warning the rest of the band kept it in check.

*spews coffee and bursts into laughter*

How would he really have nailed that kid's ear to the table? Without help, I'd imagine it's physically impossible to restrain someone while holding and hammering a nail.

Theatre of Pain... Since Nikki flat-out stole his name and they rehashed Mick's old Mottley Croo idea, did they steal this from Christian Death's "Only Theatre of Pain" too or is it a classic phrase? I assume it is just another thing Nikki "appropriated."

On the way to work this evening, I dialed up "Primal Scream" by the Crue (from Decade of Decadence) and damn is that ever a fine song.

Brain fart. Unfinished thought....the point i was making is that Lydia Lunch's own memoir features parallel tales of lurid behavior and drug abuse (and lots of degrading sex) along with the obligatory brush with the paranormal. Seek it out.

Hard to know how much of it to believe.

How old is Mick anyway? They keep playing it up as if he is 15 years older than the other guys.

I bought the VHS video Motley Crue: UNCENSORED for $3.00 online right after I read Dirt and, guess what? The video was taped is during the Theatre of Pain album and they all look very healthy for junkies and alcoholics. They are not fat or skinny. They have chest and arm muscles that indicate weight-lifting is going on. They also are very sober acting and energetic. If anything, they seem like they are just beginning to party a little bit.

Also, on the video the story is that they were recording and someone came in the studio and said, "Well, isn't this a motley lookin' crew?" And that is how they got their name according to this video.

Mick Mars says "Theatre of Pain" is favorite album they've made and he sounds very enthusiastic about it.

This video is very Monkees-ish and if they were really as fucked up as they claim in Dirt, I really don't think making a video like this would've been possible. Imagine old Royal Trux trying to cheer up, get in shape, run around and act in front of a bunch of cameras.

Some of it is definitely true, like the musical influences and stuff, but I think they're just lightweights in the drugs and alcohol department so they imagine it worse than it was. Besides, if they were really that fucked up, they wouldn't have such great memories. I can barely remember college and there's no way I could detail it the way they've detailed their past 20 years.

How did we miss this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQO2FV1OZj4

Vince's voice is so shot he can't even get to Adrock's range.

The Dirt is batshit bad and I kinda love it, it's definitely the movie Motley Crue deserves

He should sue Motley Crue for pain and suffering for being in Motley Crue.

― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, January 29, 2026 4:56 PM

https://i.ibb.co/3YkBFDL1/Screen-Shot-2026-01-30-at-6-02-30-PM.png

Still thinking there's a Coal Miner's Daugther-type bio pic about Bobby Deal, just trying to make it in his Skynard-wannabe Southern rock band.

Except L.A. instead of Appalachia.

And the wife walks out on him.

And he gets behind on his child-support checks.

And, ok, still feel like we can somehow work Tommy Lee Jones into this. (SWIDT?)

woah that's Mick??

https://sleazepatrolfiles.blogspot.com/2012/07/mick-mars-part-3-bobs-deal-with-crue.html

Dude completely went

https://i.ibb.co/4wsjcKDB/Screen-Shot-2026-01-31-at-10-28-06-AM.png

and became a millionaire.

"Bands With One Guy Who Is Quietly Much Older Than The Rest But They Don't Really Acknowledge It" would be a good thread, and you could add Crazy Town's drummer who secretly used to play with Chuck Mangione in the '70s

https://www.moderndrummer.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/james-bradley-1.jpg
https://people.com/thmb/4hZwYdkNXthVb1YMv7WfaiPwOsM=/750x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(999x0:1001x2):format(webp)/crazy-town-062524-7fc7bdfda05f495fa2ecca74ff23c47a.jpg

haha, yes. Also see Band photos where one member refuses to play along

https://i.ibb.co/hJrNfKRT/71-e54-QGO-L-SL1500.jpg

(Drummer Ed Cassidy on the left, stepdad to Randy California in the blue jacket.)

I love Motley Crue, and I love Kiss, and I know that I will never find compatriots as such on Ilm… but there is no doubt Vince is the worst frontman of a major band (or, Fine! what I consider a major band) that has ever been…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6b4E90qDp2s

everything Whiney sez aabout their post '99 prominence is true, and yet he does not include Nikki, among other thing the only one who has been there for 45 years, in his list of member indignities… would Whiney care to amend that list to include a Nikki citation?

fuck! this is this what I meant to post

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pdQnZLEWNo

I dunno, Nikki does Sixx AM and hosted some radio radio show and married a model, none of which are really that embarrassing in the grand scheme of things.

first Crue album is great, it's got a little engine that could charm to it and the most poppy

xpost veronica moser i too love Motley Crue + Kiss :D

BIG MAC! ONE OH THREE!

I've played Shout at the Devil so many times over the past 43 years (coincidentally I was cranking Too Young to Fall in Love an hour ago), that I'd be lying to myself if I said it wasn't one of my top five or ten albums of all time. For a very specific subset of us (weirdo white 13 year-olds in 1983-84) it's THE gateway album. It's in our blood.

Too Fast For Love is the one for me. “On With The Show” specifically.

I really it’s brittle, tinny sound. It feels hungrier, more desperate.
And I like the Leathur Records version even better because there’s no chipmunk sped-up Vince vocals

I really like*

i learned a while back they did a show in ~Grass Valley~ because the management company they signed with was from there

*Grass Valley is about an hour+ out of Sacramento in the deep foothills , very small quaint mining town, very rural, middle of nowhere

and i guess they hitchhiked from LA to Grass Valley to play the show. So crazy.
Imagine picking up those street rats on the freeway

one of my favorite L.A. moments was coming across Tommy Lee's post on NextDoor complaining about kids riding ebikes in the middle of the road in his gated community, real sincere concern for their safety and anger at parents for allowing them to do it.

lol!

I went into it knowing that The Dirt was going to be bad, but Lord.

Been awhile since I've seen a movie where I had to turn away during multiple scenes.

The wigs ain’t even the half of it

It did cover everything — cocaine, tits, car crashes, piss, heroin, the dead body of a 4-year-old girl, fistfights, cunnilingus, fellatio and lemon shots.

(I did chuckle at "The Fall Guy — I love that show!")