The Most Unhinged Band In The World
According to their 2001 autobiography, Mötley Crüe are “the most notorious band in the world”. A look back at their over-40-year history definitely offers proof of that claim.
From headlining world tours and number one albums to substance abuse problems and run-ins with the law, Mötley Crüe are true rock ’n’ roll rebels. This is their story.
1. The Band Took Shape in 1981
Guitarist Greg Leon and drummer Tommy Lee formed the beginnings of what would become Mötley Crüe in 1981. Leon had once played with metal bands Quiet Riot and Dokken, but now, the pair wanted to start something new. When Leon and Lee attended a final show by the Hollywood band London, things started to fall into place.
2. Tommy Lee Got The Ball Rolling
At the London show, drummer Lee saw something special in the bass player up on stage. He suggested to Leon that the bassist, Nikki Sixx, would make a perfect addition to their new line-up.
Tommy Lee was a big fan of London, and he loved the image that Sixx would bring to the new band. But Greg Leon did not agree.
3. Nikki Sixx Had Great Stage Presence
Nikki Sixx auditioned for the new band twice but did not pass muster either time. Greg Leon agreed that Sixx had a unique and intriguing look, but noted that he couldn’t “play bass at all”. Regardless, Tommy Lee and Nikki Sixx became friends and started working on music together. Greg Leon, in protest, quit the band.
Even before they’d started, it looked like Mötley Crüe would not take off—but it wasn't over yet.
4. Mick Mars Had A Unique Ad
Leon quitting did not deter Lee and Sixx. They discovered lead guitarist Mick Mars after seeing an ad he placed in The Recycler that read: “Loud, rude and aggressive guitar player available”. This ad led to Mars auditioning for Lee and Sixx and to his subsequent hiring to play with the band. All they needed now was a frontman.
5. Tommy Lee And Vince Neil Knew Each Other From School
While the band searched for a lead singer, Tommy Lee attended a concert by a band called Rock Candy. Rock Candy’s lead singer was Vince Neil. Lee and Neil knew each other from high school and had even played in some bands together already. Lee thought that Neil would be a perfect fit for the new band.
But, believe it or not, Neil himself did not agree.
6. Vince Neil Initially Refused An Offer To Join The Band
Tommy Lee offered the lead role to Vince Neil, but Neil refused the offer, looking to stick with his current band. Not long after, however, Rock Candy started moving in the direction of the then-popular New Wave movement, and that was NOT Vince Neil's style. He agreed to sing for the as-yet-unnamed band on April 1, 1981.
Brad Petersen, Wikimedia Commons
7. The First Show Was On April 24
With the line-up of Sixx, Mars, Neil, and Lee set, the band was ready to get out in front of an audience. The Starwood Nightclub was the site of the Crüe’s first gig, though they didn’t even have a name at the time. But on April 24, 1981, the story of “the most notorious band in the world” began. And the name would follow soon enough.
8. Mick Mars Had The Idea For The Name
One of Mick Mars’s former bands, White Horse, had played a show many years ago, and one of the band members had described the group as “a motley looking crew”. Mars jotted the term down, and as he, Neil, Sixx, and Lee were looking for names for their new band, he suggested “Mottley Cru”.
The name changed to Mötley Crüe, with added umlauts inspired by Lowenbrau, the band’s favorite beer. Now, it was time to record some music.
9. The Band’s First Single Was Self-Released
With a solid line-up and a name in place, the band hit the recording studio and started laying down tracks. Their first single, called “Stick to Your Guns,” came out on their own Leathür Records. And after the release of the single, an album couldn’t be too far behind.
10. US Popularity Followed A US Festival Gig
The US Festival was a music and culture festival held in California in the early 1980s. Mötley Crüe played the festival after a brief—and infamous—Canadian tour and began gaining popularity in their home country. With the new music channel MTV on the rise and fresh from their success at US Festival, it was time for the band to return to the studio and record some new music.
11. “Shout At The Devil” Opened Doors
Draped in Satanic imagery, Crüe’s second album, Shout at the Devil, both the album and the song, immediately generated further controversy around the band. But given how the members of the band envisioned themselves as rock ’n’ roll rebels, controversy was just another name for publicity.
Despite their critics, their sound clicked with heavy metal fans—as well as with one of the godfathers of metal, who would help them along in their burgeoning career.
Motley Crue - Shout At The Devil by Faze Linear
12. The Crüe Toured With Ozzy
Heavy metal can trace its early history back to the sounds of Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath. By the 80s, Osbourne had embarked on a solo career, and he tapped Mötley Crüe as an opening act for his 1984 Bark At The Moon tour. The tour gave the band members their fair share of time to embrace the more sordid parts of the rock lifestyle.
13. The Band Embraced Glam Metal
1985’s Theatre of Pain saw the band embracing glam metal, a style of heavy metal characterized by flamboyant costumes and makeup.
Both Theatre and Shout at the Devil were eventually certified quadruple platinum. Mötley Crüe was a genuine success. And more success meant more and more scandals.
14. Band Members Struggled With Addiction
It’s no surprise that illicit substances and rock music go hand in hand. Vince Neil’s car accident was a result of such things, and at the same time, Nikki Sixx was dealing with a growing addiction problem. All of the band members were struggling with the excesses of the rock star life, but it was bassist Nikki Sixx who came closest to a premature end.
15. Nikki Sixx Nearly Succumbs To His Demons
While the band as a whole struggled with substance problems, Nikki Sixx was the standout. Addiction took a huge toll on the bass player, resulting in two overdoses in 1986 and 1987. The second one required two shots of adrenaline to restart his heart—an incident that inspired the song “Kickstart My Heart” from the band’s fifth album. But before that, album number four needed recording.
16. Their Fourth Album Debuted At #2
The album Girls, Girls, Girls released in 1987 and debuted at number 2 on the Billboard 200. Eschewing the trappings of glam metal, for their fourth album, the band reinvented themselves with a biker look. While the album did well for Mötley Crüe, who were bona fide stars by this point, struggles with substances continued to plague their creative process.
Motley Crue - Girls, Girls, Girls - 1987 - Official Video by Austech
17. Another Nikki Sixx Takes The Stage?!
One of the stranger stories from this era is of Matthew Trippe and his lawsuit against the band. Trippe claimed that after Sixx’s hospitalization in 1983, he was hired to perform with the band as the bassist’s lookalike. Trippe took the band to court over lost royalties from his alleged time performing with them. The case dragged on for about 5 years before Trippe dropped the charges.
And the band? They made a decision that year that would change everything.
18. The Whole Band Entered Rehab Together
Band managers Doug Thaler and Doc McGhee made the decision in 1989 to stop the band from embarking on a tour of Europe. They worried that some of the members would “come back in bodybags”. Things had come to a head as far as the substance problems in Mötley Crüe.
In an effort to save their lives and their careers, the band entered rehab together—which turned out to be exactly what the doctor ordered.
19. The Band Release Their Most Successful Album
Released on September 1st, 1989, album number five, Dr Feelgood, hit number one in October and stayed on the charts for 114 weeks. After cleaning themselves up, the band created their most musically solid album. For the first time, the band recorded their parts separately, apparently to deter any infighting that might occur.
And Dr Feelgood was a hit—with a little help from a famous friend.
Motley Crue - Dr. Feelgood (Official Music Video) by Motley Crue
20. A Legend Sang Backup On “Dr. Feelgood”
If Black Sabbath are the godfathers of the metal side of Mötley Crüe’s history, the hard rockers of the Seventies are the other side. Superstar Steven Tyler, known most famously as the lead singer for Aerosmith, was recording with his band at the same time the Crüe were recording Dr Feelgood.
Tyler provided some backing vocals on the album, an album that drew great popular acclaim.
21. The Fifth Album Garnered Many Award Nominations
Through 1990 and 1991, Dr Feelgood revitalized Mötley Crüe’s popularity and solidified their status as hard rock royalty. Both singles and the album as a whole garnered nominations for numerous awards that year, and the album won the Favorite Hard Rock/Metal Award at the American Music Awards.
The band embarked on their biggest world tour yet, but unforeseen fallout from the heights they’d achieved loomed close by.
Motley Crue - Dr. Feelgood (Official HD Remaster) by Motley Crue
22. Vince Neil Was Fired…Or Quit?
Replacing a lead singer is a dodgy proposition for any band, let alone one of the most successful hard rock groups in the world. Reports vary over Vince Neil’s departure from the band. Neil claims a firing happened as a result of infighting in the band, while Nikki Sixx claims Neil quit.
The former frontman continued pursuing his solo career, while the band started searching for a new singer.
Koh Hasebe/Shinko Music, Getty Images
23. John Corabi Took Over Vocal Duties
The band considered a few contenders for their new lead singer before settling on John Corabi, formerly of Angora and The Scream. Mötley Crüe released a self-titled album in 1994 with the new frontman, but the album flopped. Corabi himself even suggested bringing Vince Neil back, as Neil’s distinctive voice would always be associated with the band. But it would take a couple of years before Neil returned.
24. Vince Returns To The Fold
In 1997, original singer Vince Neil finally came back to the Crüe. The band returned to the studio to record Generation Swine, which debuted at number 4 in the charts. Despite this very promising start, the album did not get much promotion from the band’s label and became a financial failure.
The lack of label interest set up the next chapter of the band’s career.
Motley Crue - Afraid (Generation Swine / 1997) by Sith Spider
25. The Band Left Elektra Records With All Their Masters
With their contract with Elektra Records expiring, and as a result of the poor support they had received for the last album, Mötley Crüe decided to break ties with their longtime label. Thanks to some keen foresight, the band retained all the publishing rights to their music, as well as the master recordings of each album.
This very rare situation in the music industry allowed the band to move forward with complete control of all their previous recordings.
Bryantriplex, Wikimedia Commons
26. The Band Started Their Own Record Label
The next step for the world’s most notorious band was creating their own record label, Mötley Records. Through 1998 and 1999, the band released two compilation albums, one with some new songs included, and a live album called Entertainment or Death. To follow up these releases, they toured with rock band The Scorpions.
But the winds of change were continuing to blow, especially for drummer Tommy Lee.
Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images
27. Tommy Lee Left The Band In 1999
During a rare moment when the band was not touring or recording, Tommy Lee announced his intention to leave the Crüe. Both creative differences and tensions with Vince Neil were part of the drummer’s reasons for the sudden departure. But that didn't mean he wanted to stop playing music.
Lee formed the band Methods of Mayhem and also toured as a solo performer during this time. This left the band with some rhythm problems.
28. Drummer Problems Led To A Hiatus
Mötley Crüe attempted to replace Tommy Lee with their friend Randy Castillo, formerly of Ozzy Osbourne’s band. Castillo, unfortunately, became quite sick. Hole drummer Samantha Maloney replaced him on tour, but soon, nobody would feel like making music.
Castillo sadly passed while recovering from surgery, and the stunned and heartbroken band decided it was time to call a hiatus.
29. The Band Members Explored Solo Careers
Along with Lee’s Methods of Mayhem, Nikki Sixx started a couple of side projects during the hiatus, performing with both 58 and Brides of Destruction. Vince Neil found himself a reality television star, featuring on VH1’s The Surreal Life. Mick Mars took the opportunity to address health issues, notably arthritis in his spine.
Yet the Crüe was not quiet at this time. They just turned their energies to another medium.
Tilly antoine, Wikimedia Commons
30. All Four Members Wrote An Autobiography Of The Band
The Dirt, published in 2001, was a tell-all autobiography co-authored by all four members of the band. It spent 10 weeks on the New York Times Best Seller list. In 2003, Mötley Crüe released the two-volume Music to Crash Your Car To, boxset compilations of their careers up to that point.
But would fans ever hear new music from the original Crüe?
The Dirt | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix by Netflix
31. The Band Reunited In 2004
The band's hiatus came to an end in 2004 when all four members reunited and announced plans for a tour. It was quickly back to old times. A New Year’s Eve appearance on The Tonight Show and Vince Neil shouting an obscenity resulted in the band being banned by NBC.
While the ban was quickly lifted, it looked like the rock rebels of the 80s were back to stay.
Christopher Polk, Getty Images
32. Crüe Toured Extensively And Released Live Albums
Mötley Crüe spent much of 2005 and 2006 touring the world. In early 2005, while touring hard, Mötley Crüe released the compilation Red, White & Crüe, which included the first new songs from the band in over five years. Their Carnival of Sins tour resulted in a live album and DVD.
The 2006 Route of All Evil tour was co-headlined with rock superstars Aerosmith. And all the while, bassist Nikki Sixx had another project in the works.
Motley Crue: Red, White & Crue by DK devilplayground
33. Nikki Sixx Released An Autobiography
The Heroin Diaries hit bookstore shelves in 2007 and told the story of Nikki Sixx’s struggles. The book extensively covered the Girls, Girls, Girls world tour and spent a lot of time considering the fallout from Sixx’s first nearly fatal experience. At the same time, Sixx’s side project, Sixx: AM, released a soundtrack album to accompany the book. Then, it was time for the band to head back to the studio.
pitpony.photography, Wikimedia Commons
34. The Band’s Ninth Album Increased Their Reach
Saints of Los Angeles entered a very different music landscape from what Mötley Crüe’s early albums experienced. The title track was voted number one in iTunes’s “Best of 2008” for rock songs. The track was also released as a playable track for the video game Rock Band.
The band’s continued popularity even allowed them to create a new, Crüe-centered music festival.
Motley Crue - Saints of Los Angeles (Official Music Video) by Motley Crue
35. The Band Created Crüe Fest
In 2008 and 2009, the band headlined their Crüe Fest music festival. The festival was a way of showcasing both the band’s new and classic music, as well as providing a venue for rock acts from around the world. Among the bands who supported Mötley Crüe at the shows were Papa Roach, Theory of a Deadman, and Godsmack.
But the band’s time touring was coming to an end.
36. Mötley Crüe Did A Las Vegas Residency
Over the next few years, the band toured extensively, but they weren’t getting any younger and touring is a wearying life. In 2012 and 2013, Mötley Crüe followed the likes of Celine Dion and Britney Spears and engaged in a residency at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
Between the residencies, they continued to tour, but a big announcement was coming in 2014.
37. The Band Announced Their Retirement From Touring In 2014
At a press conference in Hollywood, Mötley Crüe announced their retirement from touring to the world. The band planned on going out with a bang, with their North American farewell tour including 70 dates around the continent. Through 2014 and 2015, they played all over the world, giving fans one last chance to experience the energy and excitement of a Mötley Crüe show. And they rang in 2016 with a very special performance.
38. The Final Show Was New Year’s Eve 2015
On December 31, 2015, Mötley Crüe played their last show. The concert, held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, was filmed. The band planned to release the concert film under the title Mötley Crüe: THE END. But was it the end?
39. The Band Recorded New Songs In 2018
While it seemed the band was over and done, 2017 saw the surprise announcement of new music from the Crüe. While they had indeed decided to stop touring, various members of the band noted that they still wanted to make music together, even if they weren’t going to play it live. The new music was intended for use in an upcoming film based on a book very familiar to fans of the band.
De-fexxx666, Wikimedia Commons
40. The Band’s Autobiography Was Released As A Film In 2019
In 2019, Netflix released a musical biopic of Mötley Crüe based on their autobiography The Dirt. The soundtrack album included 3 new songs, a cover of Madonna’s “Like A Virgin”, and 14 previously unreleased tracks from the band’s catalogue. And for the first time in over a decade, Mötley Crüe had an album on the Billboard Top 10. Success, it seemed, just couldn’t leave the band alone.
The Dirt | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix by Netflix
41. The Crüe Toured Again In 2022
As with any good “farewell tour”, Mötley Crüe’s final tour in 2014-15 did not end up being its last. Rumors began circulating in 2019, but, like many things at that time, the COVID-19 pandemic halted the band’s plans.
In 2022, as things seemed to be settling down with COVID, the band hit the road with fellow hard rock royalty Def Leppard for The Stadium Tour. And for one member, at least, this would be the last tour.
Motley Crue - The Stadium Tour Recap 1st July 2022 by Motley Crue
42. Mick Mars Retired From The Band In 2022
Lead guitarist Mick Mars had been wrestling with health issues for many years, and nearly 40 years after joining the band, he announced in 2022 that he would be retiring from touring. The band were quick to note that this did not mean the end of Mötley Crüe, and set about searching for a touring replacement for the venerable Mars.
Alec MacKellaig, Wikimedia Commons
43. John 5 Replaced Mick Mars
John 5, formerly of Marilyn Manson and Rob Zombie’s bands, replaced the ailing Mick Mars as a touring guitarist for Mötley Crüe. Although initially only contracted as a touring guitarist, 5 later became a permanent member of the band—but it wasn't one big happy family. The situation caused a rift between the other members and their former guitar player, Mick Mars.
And all the while, the band were still hard at work making new music for their legions of fans.
Tyrel Snowden, Wikimedia Commons
44. The Band Released An EP In 2024
October 2024 saw the release of Cancelled, Mötley Crüe’s first new music with John 5. The EP featured two new songs and a cover of The Beastie Boys’ “Fight For Your Right”. Punk rock royalty Dexter Holland and Noodles, of The Offspring, provided backing vocals on the release.
Various members of the band hinted that there was more music to follow.
Motley Crue - Cancelled by Motley Crue
45. Mötley Crüe’s Music Stands The Test Of Time
Given their struggles with substances in their early career, it’s incredible that the band, mostly intact, are still making music over 40 years after first joining forces. They have received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and consistently rank in lists of all-time greatest metal bands.
There is even an all-country tribute album featuring acts like Rascal Flatts and LeAnn Rimes. And, no, the most notorious band in the world is not even close to done yet.
46. The Band Returned To Las Vegas
According to the band’s official website, they plan a third Las Vegas residency in 2025. A “limited run of shows” will take place at the Park MGM from late March to mid-April. Portions of the shows’ proceeds are being donated to the Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth. All these years later, and the band is still rocking hard and making a mark in music and culture.
Andreas Lawen, Fotandi, Wikimedia Commons
47. Their Debut Album Caught Industry Attention
Too Fast For Love debuted in November 1981 on the band’s own Leathür Records. The album sold 20,000 copies and, coupled with their success in the LA club scene, garnered the band a record deal with Elektra Records. A remix of the album re-released just as the band was starting their “Crüesing Through Canada Tour ‘82”.
48. The First Tour Was Rife With PR Stunts
The band started building a bad reputation from the time of their first tour. An incident involving spikes on their clothing and a bagful of risqué magazines quickly got the band in trouble with Canadian authorities. Both turned out to be publicity stunts to show their "rebellious attitude". But that was just the beginning.
49. They Went Too Far
The band’s management went so far as to fake a bomb threat to drum up interest in the band. Unsurprisingly, Canada was glad to be rid of them when the tour finished and the band was back in the studio. But their stunts had worked, and
50. Vince Neil Spent Time Incarcerated
Mötley Crüe partied harder than anyone, especially in their early days—but you can't live that lifestyle without tasting its dark side. In 1984, lead singer Vince Neil found himself in very hot water after an alcohol-fuelled car ride ended in a crash and a passenger who did not survive.
Neil received a DUI charge and a vehicular manslaughter charge, and spent a couple of weeks locked up as a result. But that didn’t deter the band from making music—nor did it deter Neil getting more DUIs.
51. Nikki Sixx Made A Big Mistake
All the members of the band found their own ways to do bad things. After a night at a club, Nikki Sixx reportedly saw a group of bikers harassing some girls. He got into a fight with them, but he didn't realize they weren't what they seemed...
Gutchie Kojima/Shinko Music, Getty Images
52. He Got Beat Up And Locked Up
It turns out that the bikers were really undercover officers. They gave Sixx a beating, then he spent the night locked up. But at least there was a bright side for Sixx: The experience inspired him to write the song "Knock Em Dead, Kid" off of Shout At The Devil.
Motley Crue - Knock em' Dead Kid (edited) by Pepe Roxx
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