Backstage (Motley Crue – Changing The Name?)

Welcome, Backstage, I’m Damian DeadLove. Tonights band is: Motley Crue. This band has been the soundtrack to a lot of memories in my life. Was I a fan? At one time I really was a big fan. If you ask me that now, I’d have to say I’m a Mick Mars fan. If you follow?

First off, the band formed in 1981, and this is the original line up: Mick Mars – Guitar, Vince Neil – Vocals, Nikki Sixx – Bass, and Tommy Lee – Drums. But were focusing more on 1992 after Vince Neil has quit the band, or was he fired. Well it depends on who you ask.

Nikki says, “Vince quit.” Vince says, “Nikki fired him.” The argument still remains unresolved, but Vince was in the band again and still is to present day. 

But that drama is not what I’m focused on at the moment. In walks, John Corabi, to be the Crue’s new singer. Before that Corabi was the frontman for, The Scream. He’s a songwriter and plays guitar. Vince never wrote lyrics or songs, this was uncharted territory.

In 1994, The Crue released their 6th studio album simply called “Motley Crue”. I remember a metal magazine interviewed, Nikki who at that time said it would be called: “Til Death Do Us Part” it didn’t happen obviously, but there is a song titled that on the album. 

I love this album, I listen to it more than the stuff with, Vince. All the songs are killer, it’s got a heavier sound than their previous efforts. I’m pissing off a lot of purists with that remark, but it’s true.

“Hooligan’s Holiday”, and “Misunderstood” were the two singles released off this album. Both great songs. But the deep cuts were great as well. Especially,  “Power To The Music”, “Uncle Jack”, “Poison Apples”, “Welcome To The Numb”, “Smoke The Sky” and “Til Death Do Us Apart.” There is not a bad song on the record, no filler to be found. 

What’s going in their favor? Well they’re coming off the Dr. Feelgood album and the tour that followed. Which by the way topped the Billboard 200. It’s only their most successful record ever. 

Then they release a greatest hit’s album in 1991 with a couple of unreleased tracks, and a couple of new songs. “Primal Scream and Anarchy In The U.K. (Sex Pistols Cover) were hit singles. Another huge successful tour. That’s the good part, folks.

  Here’s the problem hair metal is dying quickly because of over saturation, record execs have flooded the market and it’s grown stale. Metal has some breath left though, Metallica is ruling the world at the moment, which is helping the other member of the big four have success as well. 

Record companies have moved on from the 80’s and a new decade has begun. Grunge is the new kid in town, and fixing to explode. 

This Motley record reflects that they knew a shift was coming. It has an ironic grungy guitar tone, a lot more double bass drums on some songs, and a new singer with a raspy voice and very gritty sound. After losing Vince they knew it had to be different.

As good as this album is, it couldn’t have happened at a worst time. It never had a chance really. The album sells were terrible and the tour was cancelled because of poor attendance.  

Fans are loyal to a fault sometimes and want the band to succeed, on the other hand some fans just follow the ex-singers solo career because he’s the voice they know. It’s not easy for a second singer to get over with the fan base.

Has it happened before? Yes, Van Halen with Hagar, Black Sabbath with Dio, and Iron Maiden with Dickinson to name a few. But it usually means the band is in for hard times or possibly disbanding completely. 

But not every band has two beloved figures under one roof, guitar hero’s are game changers. It’s usually the singer/frontman that is often the most popular person in a group. Them just facts. 

I’m gonna armchair quarterback this scenario, folks. I’m gonna try to give this album a better chance than it got. I’m calling an audible. I think this is where they went wrong. I would have dropped the band name.

Act like it’s a totally new band. A different entity. Make an announcement the band is no more. What do they gain by keeping the name? 

Some might say their fractured fan base, and it is fractured. Some fans will give the album a listen out of loyalty, maybe even see a show. Give the new guy a chance. Which means the album has to be fucking brilliant. Anything else is pointless. 

The band name is either a lifeline or the anchor that ensures you’re death. It’s a double edge sword, folks.

Some might say the song catalog, the hit songs. In this situation the songwriters are still in this new band. Meaning they can use all those songs for free, rerecord them, play them live, whatever they want. 

They could of announced something like this, “Former Motley Crue members start new band with John Corabi former frontman for, The Scream.” Make stickers with this info packaged on each album for this new band.”

If the record company let them make the record, then they had to approve this new lineup. Otherwise, aren’t they in breech of contract? Also, the former singer who happens to be putting out a solo record is doing it on this same label.

Sounds like executives wanted it to fail. Because they could have made my scenario happen easily. Then again, Vince comes back in 1996 on the next album. So the house always wins in the end. It would appear so.

By the way if you’re a Mick Mars fan, this is this last album he recorded guitar on. Generation Swine, and everything after it had a hired gun on guitar. Mick, still played live just not on those records. I hate when bands use other players.

That’s our episode for tonight. Remember music is the soundtrack of our life. Peace, Love, and Lennon. I’m Damian DeadLove.