Motley Crue Concerts Tickets

ABOUT MOTLEY CRUE

Formed in Los Angeles, California in 1981, American heavy metal band Mötley Crüe was founded by bassist Nikki Sixx, drummer Tommy Lee, lead guitarist Mick Mars and lead singer Vince Neil. Sixx had previously been a member of the band London and started rehearsing with drummer Tommy Lee and vocalist/guitarist Greg Leon, having previously worked with Leon in the band Suite 19. Leon soon left the group and Sixx and Lee began auditioning other members, with Mars (real name Bob Deal) joining soon after when the duo answered an advertisement that he placed in The Recycler that read: "Loud, rude and aggressive guitar player available". After Mars saw Vince Neil, who was a member of the band Rock Candy at the time, perform, he suggested the singer join the band. Although initially reluctant, he was convinced by Lee, who knew him from high school days, and joined the group after other members of Rock Candy became involved in various side projects.

CAREER

1981-1983: Career beginnings and Too Fast For Love

One the group was formed, they decided on the name Mötley Crüe, based on a comment from an audience member, who called them "a motley looking crew". They added the metal umlauts as a nod to their beer of preference at the time: the German beer Löwenbräu.

"Stick to Your Guns/Toast of the Town" was released on the band's own record label, Leathür Records, preceding its debut album, which was released in November 1981. The self-produced album sold 20,000 copies, was eventually certified platinum and led to the group signing with Elektra Records in 1982 who released a re-mixed and partially re-recorded version.

The band then embarked upon its "Crüesing Through Canada Tour '82", which saw the band embroiled in controversy after three staged PR stunts, including being arrested at Edmonton International Airport for their spiked clothing (which were considered “dangerous weapons”), Neil travelling with suitcases of pornographic material through airport security, and receiving as so-called "bomb threat" whilst performing in Edmonton. The tour also culminated in a now-infamous incident in which Tommy Lee threw a television set from a hotel window. Although the group's antics caused the tour, which was a financial bust, to end prematurely, it also gained them international press coverage and the beginnings of a reputation.

1983-1991: International fame and controversy

In May 1983, the band played US Festival, which led to a huge surge in popularity for the group, helped also by their videos circulating on the newly launched MTV. That September, they released their second album, Shout at the Devil, which served as their breakthrough and established them as one of the best-selling metal bands of the 1980s, eventually gaining quadruple-platinum certification from the RIAA. The album found itself as the object of scrutiny from many Christian and conservative groups for its artwork and title track, which both evoked Satanism. The sensationalism surrounding the group caught the attention of Ozzy Osbourne, who invited them to open for him on the 1984 Bark at the Moon Tour. Whilst on tour, they became known for their wild antics both on and off stage, as well as their strong look, and heavy use of drugs and alcohol.

Theatre of Pain, the band's third studio album, was released on June 21, 1985 and was dedicated to Dingley. A change in direction from their previous heavy metal efforts, the album had a stronger glam metal influence. It reached number 6 on the Billboard 200 and was eventually certified quadruple-platinum. It also launched the hit singles "Smokin' in the Boys Room" and "Home Sweet Home".

The band was due tour the world in support of Theatre of Pain for the majority of 1986 but that February, when they were in London, England, the European leg of the tour was cut short due to Nikki Sixx suffering a near-fatal heroin overdose.

Girls, Girls, Girls, the band's fourth studio album, was released in May of 1987 and featured another change in image for the group, who began dressing like bikers. As with the band's previous two albums, Girls, Girls, Girls was certified quadruple-platinum by the RIAA.

That December, Sixx once again suffered a heroin overdose and this time was declared legally dead for two minutes on the way to the hospital, before being revived by a paramedic. The following January, he entered a rehabilitation unit. Despite plans for the band to tour Europe that year, the group's managers intervened, fearing for their health and safety due to their addictions and decadent lifestyles. The members then jointly entered rehab. In an attempt to keep both their lives and the band together.

1989 saw the band enter a new stage of their career. Freshly sober, they released Dr. Feelgood, their fifth studio album, on September 1st. The album featured Aerosmith's Steven Tyler on backing vocals and was a number one hit, staying on the charts for 114 weeks after its release. Both the title track and "Kickstart My Heart" were both nominated for Grammys in the Best Hard Rock Category in 1990 and 1991, respectively. For two years in a row, the band was nominated for Favorite Hard Rock/Metal Artist at the American Music Awards and Dr. Feelgood was nominated for Favorite Hard Rock/Metal Award, winning in 1991.

The band embarked upon a massive world tour through Fall 1989 and the majority of 1990, bringing them huge financial success.

Decade of Decadence 81-91, the band's first compilation album, was released in October 1991, peaking at number two on the Billboard 200 album chart.

1992-2003: Years of turmoil

In February 1992, Vince Neil left Mötley Crüe, an was eventually replaced by John Corabi (formerly of Angora and the Scream). His debut with the band came on their self-titled sixth studio album, released in March 1994. Despite reaching number seven on the Billboard 200, the album was not a commercial success, and Corabi was eventually fired from the band in 1996 having suggested that they reinstate Neil, who had gone on to release two successful solo albums.

Neil did rejoin the band in 1997 and the group released the album Generation Swine that June. Although it debuted at number four on the Billboard 200, once again, it did not generate the commercial success they had hoped. The band felt this was due in part to a lack of support from Elektra, and they announced the end of their relationship with the label in 1998 after their contract expired, reverting the right for their publishing and music catalog back to the band itself. They then started their own record label, Mötley Records.

In late-1998, the band released the compilation album Greatest Hits, which featured two new songs. The following year, they released "Crücial Crüe" – limited-edition digitally remastered re-releases of all their previous albums that included demos, as well as live, instrumental, and previously unreleased tracks. That June, they also released Supersonic and Demonic Relics, which is an updated version of Decade of Decadence that features the original songs from that album, as well as several previously unreleased B-sides and remixes, in addition to their first official live album Entertainment or Death. Later that year, the group embarked upon a co-headlining tour with The Scorpions.

Tommy Lee left the band in 1999, going on to form the band Methods of Mayhem later that year. He was replaced by Randy Castillo – former drummer for Ozzy Osbourne and a long-time friend of the band. In July 2000, the group released New Tattoo, it's eighth studio album. Castillo fell ill just before the band was due to go out on tour in support of the album, and was subsequently diagnosed with cancer. Former Hole drummer Samantha Maloney filled in for Castillo on tour. In 2002, Castillo lost his battle with cancer, and the band went on hiatus shortly afterward.

In 2001, The Dirt, an autobiography that was co-authored by the band's for original members along with writer Neil Strauss, was released, going on to reach the top ten of the New York Times Best Seller list, spending ten weeks on the list.

Two box sets - entitled Music to Crash Your Car to: Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 – were released by the band in 2003, featuring the music from their entire career.

2004-2007: Reunion and renewed success

In late-2004, Mötley Crüe announced a reunion tour with Neil, Lee, Sixx and Mars arriving at the Hollywood Palladium in a hearse. They embarked upon the tour in February 2005, releasing a compilation album, Red, White & Crüe, the same month. The album charted at number six on the Billboard 200 and has since been certified platinum.

Throughout 2005, the band toured their Carnival of Sins Tour, which was recorded and released as a live album and DVD the following year. Fall 2005 saw the band collaborate with Linkin Park's Chester Bennington on a re-recorded duet of "Home Sweet Home," the proceeds of which went to victims of Hurricane Katrina.

The Route of All Evil Tour, which the band co-headlined with Aerosmith and also involved performers from the Lucent Dossier Experience, took place throughout 2006. The following June, they went on a small tour of Europe.

2008-2010: Saints of Los Angeles

January 2008 brought the Mötley Cruise – a cruise hosted and headlined by Mötley Crüe with support from Ratt, Skid Row and Slaughter.

That June, Saints of Los Angeles, the band's ninth studio album, was released. The album's title track was chosen by iTunes as the number one rock song in their Best of 2008 list, and was nominated at the 2009 Grammy Awards for Best Hard Rock Performance.

Summer 2008 saw the band embark upon the Crüe Fest music festival tour, which also featured  Buckcherry, Papa Roach, Trapt, and Sixx:A.M as opening acts. They spent the latter half of the year on a headlining tour with  Hinder, Theory of a Deadman and The Last Vegas in support.

The following summer, Crüe Fest 2 took place, with Godsmack, Theory of a Deadman, Drowning Pool, and Charm City Devils as opening acts. The band performed Dr Feelgood in its entirety for each show, in celebration of the album's 20th anniversary. The labum was also re-released as a special 20th anniversary deluxe edition to mark the occasion.

The 2010 Ozzfest was headlined by Mötley Crüe, alongside Ozzy Osbourne and Rob Halford.

2011-2015: The Final Tour

In celebration of Mötley Crüe's 30th anniversary and Poison's 25th anniversary, the two bands co-headlined a tour together with the New York Dolls in support, running from May until August 2011. That December, they followed with a UK tour, co-headlining with Def Leppard and featuring Steel Panther in support.

February 2012 brought the band's first ever residency at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. The tours continued after that, with the band setting out on a co-headliner with Kiss from June through September, and then spending spring and summer 2013 touring Canada with Big Wreck, before heading back to the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas for their second residency in fall 2013.

Mötley Crüe announced its retirement from touring on January 28, 2014, at a conference at Beacher's Madhouse Theater in Hollywood. A farewell tour, featuring Alice Cooper as special guest support act, took place from June 2014 through December 2015, finishing its run on December 31, 2015 at Staples Center, Los Angeles with what was intended to be the band's final concert. They released a live album of the concert, titled The End: Live in Los Angeles, on CD and DVD in October 2016.