1981

The notorious bad boys of American Rock. MÖTLEY CRÜE, surviving many personal traumas, took the sleazier elements of American Rock n' Roll and made it their very own throughout the 80's. The band led the Los Angeles Glam movement and always maintained their lead in album and concert ticket sales.

17 year old Seattle native Frank Ferrano quit a dim past filled with fledgling outfits like SLEAZE and FORCED ENTRY, heading to Los Angeles via a stint working on his grandparents farm in Idaho. Once in Hollywood, Ferrano found work in a music store and then a liquor store by day and played in the clubs by night. In fact, Ferrano, alias Nikki Sixx, had just left Los Angeles club band LONDON when he met Greek born drumming wildman Tommy Lee Bass, nicknamed 'T-Bone' because he was so skinny. The drummer had been playing in SUITE 19 and just prior to his enlistment with SAPPHIRE alongside future ARMORED SAINT bassist Joey Vera. The latter actually attended Lee's first meeting with Sixx although their relationship would sour when a car which Lee was driving was involved in an accident injuring Vera. There are rumours that the insurance pay out for this crash paid for ARMORED SAINT's debut demo.

Lee and Sixx, working with LONDON's Lizzie Grey, decided to team up by forming the extremely short-lived CHRISTMAS before searching for a guitarist and front man. The duo noticed an ad in classifieds mag 'The Recycler' placed by guitarist Robert Alan Deal, a Baptist minister's son originally from Terre Haute, Indiana.

Deal's history in music tracked back much further than Lee and Sixx's. His first band was when, at aged 14, he had performed as bassist for THE BEATLES covers band THE JADES. Next up would be THE SOUNDS OF SOUL, alongside the Ruiz siblings, Tony on guitar, Johnny on bass and Paulie on drums. The guitarist briefly joined a Soul band in Fresno before journeying back to Indiana, founding WAHTOSHI with comrades Jim Cunningham and Mike Malone. When he was forced out of this band, due to injuring his hand in a laundromat, Deal founded a gospel band, but soon laid this idea to rest. It would be around this juncture that the budding musician discovered he was suffering from a rare, inherited degenerative bone disease Ankylosing Spondylitis.

During the summer of 1973 Deal caught a show by a band called WHITEHORSE at Pier 11 in Costa Mesa. The group, hailing from Ocean Beach, California and previously operational as FAT CITY, struck up a friendship with Deal. WHITESHORSE comprised singer Kenny Morse, guitarist Kevin Kohl and David Day, bassist Harry Clay and drummer Jack Valentine. Both Morse and Clay were ex-CATSEYE members, the bassist also having worked with future POLICE drummer Stewart Copeland in a band out of San Diego. Although officially billed as WHITEHORSE the group had almost adopted the title MOTLEY CROO, at Clay's suggestion. Management steered the band toward WHITEHORSE, after the Scotch whiskey brand, but original tracks were promoted as MOTLEY CROO. Deal would be inducted into the WHITEHORSE ranks, first appearing onstage in January 1974 at Mr. Lucky's venue in Denver, Colorado, taking over from Kevin Kohl and his temp, FRANTICS member Kim Sherman.

Throughout the mid 70s, WHITEHORSE, complete with the novel stage addition of an upside down drum kit, played across the USA, often putting in more than 250 concerts a year. The band had relocated to Huntington Beach. Musical tensions, arising from Deal's wish to pursue a harder direction, would come to a head in November 1975, when both the guitarist and Jack Valentine quit. An effort was made to form a new trio with ex-WOLFGANG bassist Gary Chansley but this floundered. However, Deal returned to WHITEHORSE after Kenny Morse opted out to join HOLY SMOKE. The revised band, Deal, Day, Clay plus new vocalist Buzz Hatton and drummer Bill Forbes soon gained renewed momentum. However, Hatton dropped out in 1997, being swiftly replaced by Micki Marz (a.k.a. Michelle Meyers).

In a quite surreal turn of events the name MOTLEY CROO was to raise its head once again. Rolling Stone magazine had run a review of an album by session players billed "Southern California's WHITEHORSE". With WHITEHORSE in negotiation with several labels, the band members felt this doubling up of their name to be damaging and, backed by Atco Records lawyers and the Musicians Union, took legal action. Part of a proposed settlement would apparently involve a substantial cash settlement and a switch of name to MOTLEY CROO. The deal floundered though when the group pushed for more money. In December 1977, WHITEHORSE broke up.

Deal and David Day started up a covers band, TEN WHEEL DRIVE, whilst Clay founded originals act VIDEO NU-R in 1978. The two joined forces once again though as Deal joined VIDEO NU-R, appearing on the singles 'Gypsy Woman' / 'You Drive Me Crazy' released in December 1978. These tracks were recorded live in an 8 track studio with no overdubs, the second take being used for 'Gypsy Woman'. A review for the first ever Mick Mars recording, in 'LA Music Connection' magazine, described VIDEO NU-R as having a "soaring rock coming from keyboard/ synthesizer player Harry Clay, that often reminded me of DEEP PURPLE or BOSTON" and complimented Mars on his "thick sound, especially on his rhythm work." Only 1'000 copies of 'Gypsy Woman were pressed, sold mainly through Greg Shaw's Bomp Records.

The band followed up with another 7", 'Decadence Plus', issued in September 1979. During this period, Deal briefly financed his musical career by cleaning carburetors in a motorbike factory. Parting ways with VIDEO NU-R, Deal migrated back to TEN WHEEL DRIVE but also had his eye on future horizons by placing a musicians wanted ad which read "Extraterrestrial guitarist available for any other aliens that want to conquer the Earth". He would then re-unite with former WHITEHORSE singer Kenny Morse in his covers band VENDETTA for a tour of Alaskan clubs. It would be upon his return to California in the Summer of 1980 that he adopted the title Mick Mars. It was whilst gigging with a re-branded TEN WHEEL DRIVE, then billed SPIDERS AND COWBOYS, that he chanced upon Frank Ferrano at the Magnolia Liquor store in Burbank.

Sixx and Lee (having dropped his real surname) were extremely interested in Deal's potential. Deal, finding he had much in common with this enticing rhythm team signed up for the cause. A search for a second guitarist led them to infamous Hollywood club The Starwood to check out the rhythm guitarist of ROCK CANDY, James Alverson, but the trio come away impressed with the band's singer, Vince Neil Wharton. This caused a bit of a dilemma for this fledgling new band as Sixx had already offered the vocalist's position to a singer identified only as O' Dean. But Vince Neil (as he became) got the job and Mars, disagreeing with Sixx and Lee's original intention to name the band CHRISTMAS, delved into his past to come up with the name MÖTLEY CRÜE and, a month later, the group made their live debut at The Starwood opening for Y&T.

In desperate need of a manager, Sixx having handled all business affairs since MÖTLEY CRÜE's inception, Mick Mars brought Alan Coffman into the fold, the brother-in-law of one of the guitarist's friends, Coffman's wealth was attributed to a career in the construction industry, a remarkably common pursuit of men seeking to finance Rock bands in the 80's, strangely enough.

With Coffman's money MÖTLEY CRÜE were able to record a single, 'Stick To Your Guns', in June 1981 in a limited edition pressing of 1000 copies, which were promptly given away to fans at the band's subsequent gigs. Today an original copy of the single (it has been bootlegged ), which was backed with 'Toast Of The Town', can command in the region of £100 from collectors.

Increasing their following with shows both in and outside of L.A., the band threw caution to the wind and entered a recording studio once more in December 1981 to lay down tracks for a full blown album, taking three days and costing in the region of $7'000 to complete. The first pressing of 'Too Fast For Love' was in a limited run of 900 copies and can be distinguished from the second pressing by way of its white band logo instead of the red of the second and the fact that Vince Neil's hair has been airbrushed to a ridiculous degree. The second pressing finds the singer's shag-do considerably toned down!

'Too Fast For Love' was manufactured at the Philips Recording Company pressing plant in Dominguez Hills, California and sales were so fast that the group initially could not find enough money to make records enough to cope with demand.

1982 to 1983

The 'Too Fast For Love' album proved to be a sell out, eventually shifting over 20,000 copies in its self-financed format, and rumours abounded in 1982 of an impending British tour opening for, of all people, WISHBONE ASH!! The rumours prove, naturally, to be unfounded. Instead of heading over to Britain, MÖTLEY CRÜE wound up on a rather embarrassing headlining stint in Canada, playing discos and gay bars and suffering the indignation of having their stage props and items of stage clothing confiscated by Canadian customs who considered the items to be offensive weaponry.

With the buzz growing on the band by the day Elektra Records' Tom Zutuat stepped in to sign the band. The label immediately issued 'Too Fast For Love' for major consumption, albeit with a re-mix from producer Roy Thomas Baker and less the track 'Stick To Your Guns' in order to improve the overall sound quality.

At the close of 1982 MÖTLEY CRÜE headline the Santa Monica Civic Theatre and attract new management in the form of the New York based Doc McGhee and Doug Thaler. Early 1983 was spent opening for KISS on the "Creatures Of The Night' tour. In May MÖTLEY CRÜE appeared on the bill of the huge 'US Festival's Metal day alongside QUIET RIOT, OZZY OSBOURNE, JUDAS PRIEST, TRIUMPH, the SCORPIONS and VAN HALEN playing to crowds of some 350, 000 people.

In November MÖTLEY CRÜE's long-awaited second album, 'Shout At The Devil' is unleashed, produced by Tom Werman and featuring soon to be classic Metal anthems in 'Looks That Kill', 'Bastard' (written in honour of former manager Coffman!) and the title track itself.

1984 to 1986

1984 found MÖTLEY CRÜE out on tour with OZZY OSBOURNE and earning themselves a reputation for being one of the wildest bands on the road. In August the band finally hit Britain as the opening act on a particularly strong 'Monsters Of Rock' bill at Donington headlined by AC/DC and VAN HALEN. The CRÜE stayed in Europe at the invitation of IRON MAIDEN to open up for the Brits on the continental leg of their 'Powerslave' tour before returning to Britain in November with a headline show at the Dominion Theatre in London.

On his return to Los Angeles Neil tragically becomes involved in a far more damaging incident when his car was involved in a serious accident. His passenger, Nicholas 'Razzle' Dingley, the British born drummer with HANOI ROCKS, was killed and the two occupants of the other car were badly injured. Neil was subsequently charged with vehicular manslaughter. A lengthy prison sentence was expected, but, extremely surprisingly, the singer is given a mere 30 day jail term, 200 hours community service and ordered to pay a $2.6 million dollar compensation package to Razzle's relatives and the driver and passenger of the other vehicle.

During downtime Tommy Lee forged a union with ex-THE RUNAWAYS members CHERIE CURRIE and bassist Vickie Blue for a projected project band but this act never got beyond rehearsals.

MÖTLEY CRÜE's new album, once again with Tom Werman at the helm, was unveiled in 1985. Entitled 'Theatre Of Pain', a more studied affair in places, it featured a rousing cover of BROWNSVILLE STATION's 'Smokin' In The Boys Room', virtually making the song their own, and allowed the band to begin headlining in America, supported by Japanese Metal band LOUDNESS.

The Arena tour unveiled Tommy Lee's fairground ride drum solo on an outrageously innovative revolving drum-kit. By January 1986 the quartet were back on European soil again, including playing nine dates in Britain with their heroes CHEAP TRICK opening.

On May 10th Tommy Lee married 'Dynasty' and 'T.J. Hooker' actress Heather Locklear back home in California, having first met her backstage at an REO SPEEDWAGON show, of all places. Sixx was Lee's best man. A month later Vince Neil finally found the time to serve his sentence and spends a mere 20 days in the Gardena City slammer. In fact, Neil only served 18 days, as he was given time off for good behaviour.

1987 to 1988

A fresh MÖTLEY CRÜE opus, 'Girls Girls, Girls', was issued during May 1987 and found the band in a far heavier mood than 'Theatre Of Pain'. The tour was bigger than ever (including the introduction of backing singers Emi Canyn and Donna McDaniel as the NASTY HABITS), initially hitting the road with the resurrected WHITESNAKE in the opening slot.

The tour was massively successful, with GUNS N' ROSES also opening a little later on, before MÖTLEY CRÜE played their first dates in Japan. Scheduled European shows in early 1988 were cancelled at the last minute, with the management citing exhaustion as the cause. However, the original press line claimed the band feared the weight of the snow on the venue roofs meant that they wouldn't be able to take the band's lighting rig for fear of damaging the buildings. However, rumours abounded that the real reasons for pulling the dates lay with the band's excessive lifestyle with some reports even speculating as to the death of Nikki Sixx.

The truth, when revealed, had seen Sixx come dangerously close to meeting his maker. Upon arrival back from touring Japan and a vacation in Hong Kong, the bassist overdosed on heroin and was found in his hotel room at the Hollywood Plaza by a couple of members of GUNS N' ROSES blue in the face. Sixx was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics but, after having been given a shot of adrenalin to the heart, regained his life signs. It's estimated that Nikki was actually dead for two minutes.

The curse of drugs was further rammed home when manager Doc McGee was arrested in January 1988 for his part in smuggling 40'000lbs of Columbian marijuana into the United States in 1982. He promptly received a five year suspended prison sentence, a $15'000 fine and ordered to set up the 'Make A Difference' anti-drugs foundation.

1988 also found Sixx embroiled in a rather bizarre lawsuit in which one Matthew Trippe claimed to have been enlisted by McGhee Entertainment to replace the real Nikki Sixx following a car crash in 1983. Trippe claimed to have toured, written and recorded as Nikki Sixx. His lawsuit against the band centered around unpaid royalties following his alleged sacking from the band in 1985 in order to bring the original back following Trippe's arrest in Florida for his incarceration for an involvement in an armed robbery.

The story generated massive press exposure, especially in Europe, but the whole thing was put to bed when Trippe dropped his case in December 1993 and disappeared back into obscurity after attempting an extra run for his money with the formation of a short-lived outfit called SIXX PACK.

1989 to 1993

Doc McGhee saw fit to organize two shows in Moscow during August 1989 as part of his anti drugs campaign, putting the MÖTLEY CRÜE on a bill that also featured BON JOVI, the SCORPIONS, OZZY OSBOURNE, SKID ROW, CINDERELLA and Russian groups GORKY PARK, BRIGADA S and NUANCE. By the time the whole thing was over a row had erupted between MÖTLEY CRÜE and McGhee centering on his alleged favouritism of management stable mates BON JOVI. The fracas led to Tommy Lee punching Doc in the face and a split in the McGhee Entertainment empire. The band signed with McGhee's erstwhile business partner Doug Thaler instead and went back to work on their new record, produced by former PAYOLA man Bob Rock in Vancouver's Little Mountain Studios.

The album, titled 'Dr. Feelgood', promoted MÖTLEY CRÜE to global superstardom, going multi platinum status with apparent ease (it hit the number one spot in the States), firing off numerous hit singles and prompting a mammoth almost universally sold out world tour. The album boasted an enviable array of studio guests giving an indicator as to the fact that MÖTLEY CRÜE had definitely arrived in the big league. Guesting were AEROSMITH's Steven Tyler, CHEAP TRICK's Robin Zander and Rick Nielsen, BRYAN ADAMS, SKID ROW and NIGHT RANGER's Jack Blades.

MÖTLEY CRÜE appeared on two compilation albums during the latter part of the year, the 'Make A Difference' release with a cover of Tommy Bolin's 'Teaser' and the 'The Adventures Of Ford Fairlane' movie soundtrack with 'Rock n' Roll Junkie'. Vince Neil played a small cameo role in the movie, playing a singer who passes away whilst on stage...

With all this activity one studio session from 1989 did get lost. The band teamed up with rappers 2 LIVE CREW founding a project titled CRÜE TO CREW and laid down the song of the same name intended for the soundtrack to the movie 'Hanging with the hombres'. The tapes were left to gather dust until their appearance in 1997 on a 2 LIVE CREW compilation album.

In 1990 Mick Mars married Emi Canyn one half of the voluptuous NASTI HABITS duo, whilst Nikki Sixx tied the knot with model Brandi Brandt.

A decade after forming in Los Angeles MÖTLEY CRÜE celebrated their ten year anniversary with the release of the compilation, greatest hits album aptly titled 'A Decade Of Decadence'. The album came complete with two new tracks - 'Primal Scream' (released as the first single from the album) and a cover of the SEX PISTOLS 'Anarchy In The UK'.

Before it hits the stores the band once more play at Donington (as coincidence would have it, the 'Monsters Of Rock' event is again headlined by AC/DC). Three days before the show the quartet performed a 'secret' club gig billed as the FOURSKINS at the Marquee Club in London. The gig, played in sweltering heat, is a sell out and a riot.

In January 1992 Elektra re-issued 'Home Sweet Home' as a single, albeit in the remixed form it appeared in on the 'Decade...' album. The band set to work on a brand new studio album, working towards the punkier approach touched upon with 'Primal Scream', one tentative track boasting the title of 'I'm A Victim Of A Psycho Bitch', but the band's plans began to look rather loaded against Vince Neil. Soon enough the blonde frontman was out of the group.

Neil soon set about work on a solo career creating THE VINCE NEIL BAND, initially in league with high profile players ex BILLY IDOL guitarist STEVE STEVENS and former OZZY OSBOURNE bassist Phil Soussan. The ex frontman's debut proved promising and charted high but reviews and general reception for the follow up were not exactly complimentary. but reviews and general reception were not exactly complimentary. To further enhance the gloom the singer suffered the devastation of the death of his daughter Skylar.

1994 to 1997

MÖTLEY CRÜE had found their new frontman. John Corabi had previously been headhunted by SKID ROW pre- Sebastian Bach as well as being tapped to front BRITNY FOX after the departure of Dean Davidson. Philadelphia native Corabi had resisted both offers to move back East in order to pursue his musical career in Los Angeles opting to join RACER X at a time when they were going through a transitional period when they evolved into THE SCREAM. Corabi had recorded one album with the band, 'Let It Scream', in 1991 on the Hollywood label and that had led to a tour with the BULLETBOYS and a one-off show in London. Although MÖTLEY CRÜE had shown some interest in KIK TRACEE vocalist Stephen Shareaux and had actually jammed with the band, Corabi was the man they wanted.

However, despite a high initial chart placing for the 'Motley Crue' album fans interest soon waned in both Corabi and the new toned down image of the band. Corabi was soon ousted, the man later created UNION with ex KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick, and to nobody's surprise Neil was back in the fold. Sixx announced plans for a solo album release in early 1997 that had been recorded at his home studio in collaboration with BOXING GHANDIS vocalist / guitarist David Darling, but the record had not been released by the close of the year.

The band geared up for a massive promotion campaign to promote the comeback reunion album 'Generation Swine' convinced of its chances. MÖTLEY CRÜE had to this juncture sold in excess of 35 million albums and despite the relative disappointment of the Corabi fronted effort industry hopes were high for a return to traditional rock n' roll values. There was even a new, non-alcoholic beer tied in with the marketing campaign 'Motley Brue'.

The band themselves boosted expectations with their debut appearance at the Livestock festival where a crowd of over 25'000 turned up to witness the event. Further dates upfront of the album were more low key including a somewhat strange pairing as MÖTLEY CRÜE opened for TYPE O NEGATIVE for which, typically, the British 'Rock' press found the need to stick the boot in berate the band for being 'shit'.

album itself, stifling the critics by crashing into the Billboard chart at number 4, which included an industrial rework of 'Shout At The Devil', proved to be a diverse collection of material with Neil singing much lower in range than usual. Both Sixx and Lee also offer lead vocals on one song each, Lee choosing to perform the track 'Brandon', a song dedicated to his son by third wife 'Baywatch' actress Pamela Anderson.

Instead of hosting the usual array of listening parties for the media, MÖTLEY CRÜE chose to perform the album in its entirety on a 10 date nationwide American promotion tour up front of 'Generation Swine''s June 24 Stateside release. MÖTLEY CRÜE fans could actually attend these shows either through winning radio contests or buying a limited number of tickets put on sale. Monies from ticket sales going to the Skylar Neil Foundation set up by Vince in memory of his daughter to aid the care and research for children with cancer. The group participated in Question & Answer sessions following their performances.

Seemingly unconcerned with the then politically correct notions of the media, the MÖTLEY CRÜE tour proceeded to delve into decadence almost straight away. Both Sixx and Lee were arrested in Phoenix for allegedly inciting a riot. Neil was accused of assaulting a member of the audience whilst the whole band were put on a charge for somehow letting a hardcore porn video be aired to their waiting fans at one gig at the Pittsburgh Civic Arena!

The first single in Britain, 'Afraid', was released with 'Rave' mix and 'Swine' mix versions married to a cover of IGGY POP and DAVID BOWIE's 'Lust For Life' and Tommy Lee's 'Welcome To Planet Boom'. The latter track was originally on the 'Quartenary' Japanese released album of 'solo' recordings and also featured in Pamela Anderson Lee's 'Barb Wire' movie.

Now in full swing with UNION, Corabi filed a claim against his former band mates that the band owed him a substantial amount of money.

1998 to 2007

1998 began on a sour note for TOMMY LEE, the drummer not only being served with divorce papers by wife Pamela Anderson but also facing a jail term for assaulting the actress. Indeed, Lee was initially sentenced to six months after breaking a probation order incurred on him for an assault on a photographer some months previously. Lee's prison term came at a time when MÖTLEY CRÜE announced that they had parted company from Elektra and had plans to go it alone on their own Mötley label (distributed by BMG). As the band's immediate future looked uncertain VINCE NEIL spent the downtime continuing his association with motor sport working as a celebrity crew man with the FedEx Champ Car series racing outfit Team Green, who Neil's Canadian buddy Paul Tracy and Scot Dario Franchitti drove for during 1998.

Neil himself was also involved in a sex tape scandal when a video involving the singer and two girls (one of whom was Janine Lindenmulder) appeared although, unlike the Tommy Lee and Pamela Anderson tape, Neil was reported to be unconcerned about its availability.

Upon the eve of the release of MÖTLEY CRÜE's debut live album 'Entertainment Or Death' in a shock move Lee quit the band after an altercation with Neil. The drummer soon got to work on his Nu-Metal project band METHODS OF MAYHEM. During May of 1999 the band pulled in ex-OZZY OSBOURNE drummer Randy Castillo and got back to touring. Castillo's investiture proved to be a completion of a circle, Tommy Lee having first proposed him for the position in Ozzy's band. August arena dates saw German veterans the SCORPIONS as openers.

Nikki Sixx was expected to continue working on his '58' solo project while MÖTLEY CRÜE remained inactive. The bassist also launched his own label Americoma in 2000, first offering being the debut by LAIDLOW produced by Sixx himself.

Summer 2000 had MÖTLEY CRÜE back on the road headlining the 'Maximum Rock' tour to promote new album 'New Tattoo' alongside MEGADETH and ANTHRAX. Interestingly one of the band's new backing singers is MEAT LOAF's daughter Pearl. Things did not run all smoothly though as Castillo ruptured a stomach ulcer while playing with his side act AZUL just prior to the tour necessitating HOLE's Samantha Maloney occupying the drum stool for the first batch of dates much to Courtney Love's amusement.

During the Autumn MÖTLEY CRÜE were due to tour Australia with strong support from THE SCREAMING JETS but these dates were pulled. Castillo was still out of action, the public now aware that the drummer was undergoing treatment for cancer.

As 2000 drew to a close it emerged that in a surprise move Tommy Lee had joined OZZY OSBOURNE's band. However, whatever the validity of this claim, the union was hotly denied and Lee was certainly absent from the next public Ozzy band line up. Two tribute albums emerged the same year titled 'Kickstart My Heart' and 'Shout At The Remix'. In 2001, upfront of the bands autobiography, miniature die cast MÖTLEY CRÜE racing cars arrived in the toy stores.

Another new product arrival for 2001 was a live DVD filmed in in Salt Lake City on July 5th, 2000 on the 'Maximum Rock' tour on the 'New Tattoo' tour. As well as the live tracks on video, backstage footage and the promotional clip for 'Hell On High Heels' the DVD also included a recently found track 'Nobody Knows What It's Like To Be Lonely', actually the first song ever recorded by the band.

The same year would reveal the bands contribution to the American record industry in terms of sheer album sales. At this juncture 'Dr. Feelgood' was leading the pack in the rankings of American album sales at 6 million and counting with 'Shout At The Devil', 'Theatre Of Pain' and 'Girls, Girls, Girls' all boasting 4 million apiece.

As 2002 broke ex drummer Samantha Maloney revealed her new outfit, THE CHELSEA, an all girl act completed by former SMASHING PUMPKINS and HOLE bassist Melissa Auf Der Maur on guitar and A PERFECT CIRCLE's Paz Lenchantin on bass. Meantime, Nikki Sixx was set to guest on erstwhile MARVELOUS 3 mainman BUTCH WALKER's debut solo record and drummer Randy Castillo forged a fresh band project in alliance with OZZY OSBOURNE and ALICE IN CHAINS bassist Mike Inez.

Sadly Randy Castillo lost his long running battle against cancer in late March of 2002.

As TOMMY LEE announced his debut solo album Universal Records in Japan revealed a massive MÖTLEY CRÜE box set comprising of 8 studio albums, all remastered with exclusive bonus tracks, an additional unique 14 track live album and a DVD. A North American box set would also be planned with the working title of 'Addicted'. Word also leaked that same month that Nikki Sixx was working on a collaborative behind the scenes project with L.A. GUNS guitarist Tracii Guns. The bassist would confirm via his website that he was indeed looking at assembling another band in lieu of any action from MÖTLEY CRÜE, this later being confirmed as being an alliance of Sixx, Guns, L.A. GUNS bassist Adam Hamilton switching instruments to guitar, ADEMA's Kris Kohl on drums and lead vocalist London. First reports had this union titled as COCKSTAR. Within weeks this band title had switched to MOTORDOG.

Nikki Sixx proved himself industrious in the songwriting department spanning a variety of co-scoring three tracks three songs with James Michael for the MEAT LOAF album 'Couldn't Have Said It Better', namely the self-titled album track alongside the tracks 'Love You Out Loud', 'Man Of Steel / Intermezzo', a track entitled 'Rest In Pieces' for SALIVA as well as donating material to DROWNING POOL and TANTRIC. The bassist even presented a song called 'Let's Get It Together' for consideration to the BACKSTREET BOYS. The bass player extended his creative reach into TV too, plotting a sitcom with his actress wife Donna D'Errico billed as 'The Blonde And The Rock Star'.

Former MÖTLEY CRÜE frontman John Corabi would also be in the news, teaming up with BULLETBOYS drummer Jimmy D'Anda and REVEL 8 bassist Stevo Bruno in a brand new band billed as ZEN LUNATIC. Not content with one side venture Corabi also hooked up with his RATT colleague and drummer Bobby Blotzer along with former OBSESSION and IRON HORSE guitarist Robert Marcello for an album project under the band name TWENTY 4 SEVEN.

During September Sixx's MOTORDOG band became doubly attractive to longstanding Crue fans as the rhythm guitar post went to none other than former MÖTLEY CRÜE front man John Corabi, fresh off touring with RATT. The following month it seemed as though Sixx's new outfit had switched names for the third time, now entitled BRIDES OF DESTRUCTION.

2003 opened with a flurry of activity on the band front with Sixx signalling a full blown farewell for sometime in 2004. Vince Neil meanwhile got himself in front of a national TV audience as part of the celebrity reality show 'The Surreal Life' and announced his involvement in a porn movie. The singer would also initially slam suggestions of a reformation tour but subsequently warmed to the idea. The first concrete signals that Neil and Sixx had renewed their relationship came on 15th October when the vocalist was joined on stage by Sixx during Neil's solo performance at the Key Club in Hollywood, California. The duo, along with L.A. GUNS and BRIDES OF DESTRUCTION guitarist Tracii Guns, ran through several MÖTLEY CRÜE classics, including 'Piece Of Your Action', 'Shout At The Devil', 'Girls Girls Girls' and 'Looks That Kill'.

The title of MÖTLEY CRÜE's box set release 'Music To Crash Your Car To' raised more than a few eyebrows, especially bearing in mind VINCE NEIL was responsible for a 1984 car accident that killed his passenger, HANOI ROCKS drummer Nicholas 'Razzle' Dingley. HANOI ROCKS singer MICHAEL MONROE called the move "The most tasteless and murderous gimmick to cash in on the past we've ever heard of".

VINCE NEIL confirmed in interviews during May of 2004 that a 2005 MÖTLEY CRÜE reunion tour had been negotiated. Both Neil and Sixx, the latter with BRIDES OF DESTRUCTION, would be active on the touring front throughout the Summer. Meantime TOMMY LEE would be performing Dance music in California clubs. In preparation for the reunion the 43 year old Neil put himself through the unusual step of a full "extreme makeover" course to be aired on national MTV's 'The Remaking of Vince Neil', involving a fitness regime, lifestyle training and plastic surgery. TOMMY LEE got involved in a television reality show too, a documentary chronicling his entrance into college.

A second retrospective, four CD box set, 'Music To Crash Your Car To, Volume II', emerged through Hip-O Records in late June. The collection was notable for its inclusion of a previously unreleased 'Shout At The Devil' era track 'Black Widow' and the first time on CD 'Quaternary' EP as well as demos and alternate takes. The box also came packaged with a comic book, poster and booklet with essay. In August VINCE NEIL revealed that the four band members had all agreed upon a reunion and that following month it was revealed that Neil and Nikki Sixx had demoed up four new songs, 'Black Roses', 'Another Bad Day', 'Entertain Us' and 'Get Out'.

The MÖTLEY CRÜE reunion continued apace in October. Both VINCE NEIL and Mick Mars battled their health issues, the singer announcing he had lost 20lbs in weight whilst Mars treated his Ankylosing Spondylitis problems by undergoing a full hip replacement surgery in a minimally invasive surgical procedure at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. It would also be learned that Stacy Jones of the Boston based quartet AMERICAN HI-FI had co-written a song for the new album with Nikki Sixx and TOMMY LEE. Jones, substituting for an absent Neil, had also rehearsed with the band. Despite individual members remaining coy about the prospects of a full blown reunion, MÖTLEY CRÜE filmed a promotional video for the track 'If I Die Tomorrow' in late November, this song, alongside two other new numbers 'Street Fighting Man' and 'Sick Love Song' for use on a compilation album billed 'Red, White And Crüe'. It would be learned that 'Sick Love Song' was in fact a BRIDES OF DESTRUCTION Sixx / Tracii Guns composition whilst, strangely, the ROLLING STONES cover did not have TOMMY LEE manning the drum kit but Josh Freese from A PERFECT CIRCLE. The Bob Rock produced track, revealed by Sixx to be a co-composition with SIMPLE PLAN (and subsequently learned to be an outtake from SIMPLE PLAN's latest recordings), aired online to AOL users on 2nd December. That same month Sixx also made time to collaborate on material with Norwegian female Pop singer MARION RAVEN.

Reports flew that a MÖTLEY CRÜE press conference was to be held on 6th December in front of the Whisky A Go Go on the Sunset Strip, the historic rock club where the group got their start in the early 1980s. This actually transpired to be a concert performance at the Palladium, the band putting in a special show for wrist band holders comprising five songs - 'Dr. Feelgood', 'Shout At The Devil', 'If I Die Tomorrow', 'Girls, Girls, Girls' and 'Wild Side'.

The band would be announced as among the artists confirmed to appear at the 8th December 2004 Billboard Music Awards held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The first full length show would be held 14th February at the Coliseo De Puerto Rico in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The band kicked off their world tour proper on 17th February 2005 at Fort Lauderdale's Office Depot Center. The first leg of US dates closed in late March, preceding a further sold out second leg. The band, working with director Hamish Hamilton, filmed their 27th April show at the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan for future DVD release. Despite all this activity, VINCE NEIL made time to diversify into some unexpected areas, collaborating with the Hard Rock Hotel chain in a series of motorcycle cafes and launching his own wine label, Vince Vineyards of the Napa Valley. To launch the latter he put in a solo launch gig at the Pussycat Doll Lounge at Pure Nightclub in Las Vegas, Nevada on 17th May.

Latin American MÖTLEY CRÜE shows followed then Scandinavian festivals in June. UK arena gigs would see KILLING JOKE as support. Recognition of the band's status came that same month when the quartet was awarded its Hollywood 'Walk of Fame' star. By mid July, four months of touring had grossed MÖTLEY CRÜE over $21 million. With CRÜE fervour once again at a high, Hip-O Records weighed in with a vinyl re-release of the original Leathür Records mix of the debut 'Too Fast For Love'. This limited edition, restricted to 5,000 individually numbered copies, also added the band's original two single tracks, 'Stick To Your Guns' and 'Toast Of The Town'.

A notable gig would be held on 2nd July when MÖTLEY CRÜE appeared at the Canadian 'Live 8' event as part of Bob Geldof's international poverty awareness action. In the wake of the New Orleans hurricane Katrina disaster, LINKIN PARK frontman Chester Bennington involved himself in a surprising musical union with MÖTLEY CRÜE, entering CMT Studios in Nashville in early September to cut a new version of their hit 'Home Sweet Home' as a benefit single. The two acts also paired up for a live rendition of 'Home Sweet Home' on MTV's 'ReAct Now: Music & Relief' TV show.

Unfortunately this run of good luck ended on 16th September at Atlanta's Philips Arena when Vince Neil reportedly broke his leg mid set. The injury turned out to be not so severe and, with the aid of a cane, Neil resumed touring soon afterward. One factor the band could not control though was the weather, their 24th September stop at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas being postponed due to Hurricane Rita.

VINCE NEIL's bad boy reputation reared its head again on 5th October when during the song 'Shout At The Devil' in Phoenix, Arizona he dived into the crowd to assault an audience member that had thrown a plastic cup at him. On the 12th, onstage in Casper, Wyoming, Tommy Lee suffered minor burns on his arms and face while suspended 30 feet above the stage during a pyrotechnic explosion.

The band closed out the year with November Japanese shows then a joint package tour of Australia allied with MOTÖRHEAD, preceded by free cinema screenings of the 'Carnival Of Sins' DVD, in December. When the dust had settled it was revealed that by Billboard Boxscore that MÖTLEY CRÜE's 2005/2006 US tour grossed $46.3 million and drew more than 960,000 people to 125 concerts.

Revealed in March of 2006, SUPERNOVA was the brand applied to the all star band unit assembled for the second season of reality TV show 'Rock Star'. The core band comprised TOMMY LEE, former FLOTSAM AND JETSAM, METALLICA bassist and current ECHOBRAIN and VOIVOD member Jason Newsted on bass and onetime GUNS N' ROSES axeman GILBY CLARKE.

Suffering from acute tendonitis, TOMMY LEE, undertook shows wearing a brace and taking anti-inflamatory injections. Eventually though his doctors called a halt and ordered recuperation. The band persevered, pulling in Harvey Warren, drummer of Canadian bands ONE NINE HUNDRED and BRÖKEN TÖYZ, to cover for their April 5th 2007 show at the Enmax Center in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. Tommy Lee was also forced to sit out a MÖTLEY CRÜE gig was 12th June. EVANESCENCE and DARK NEW DAY drummer Will Hunt filled in for Lee at that show, although Lee did manage to take to the kit for one number, 'Kickstart My Heart'.

The band hooked up with AEROSMITH for another gigantic US trek, the 'Route Of All Evil' tour kicking off on September 5th at the Germain Amphitheatre in Columbus, Ohio. Vince Neil also conducted solo gigs. Another enterprise saw the singer's Las Vegas tattoo shop, the 2,200-square-foot 'Vince Neil Ink', opened on November 3rd. Meantime, the AEROSMITH 'Route Of All Evil' partnership proved so successful that further concerts were added into December.

Nikki Sixx and former BEAUTIFUL CREATURES guitarist DJ Ashba wrote and produced two songs, 'Light Another Candle' and 'Reason I'm Alive' on the 2007 DROWNING POOL album 'Full Circle'. That March confusion surrounded the progress of the MÖTLEY CRÜE movie 'The Dirt' when Nikki Sixx and Vince Neil issued contradictory staements, the singer stating Christopher Walken was to play the part of OZZY OSBOURNE whilst the bassist claimed Walken was not in the movie.

MÖTLEY CRÜE released their first studio album since 2000, 'Saints Of Los Angeles', on June 24th 2008. The record sold 99,000 copies in the United States during its first week of release to debut at no. 4 on The Billboard national 200 chart, this being the band's highest single week of sales since December 1991.

That same day the group performed on the CBS television show 'The Late Show With David Letterman'. Two days prior the band had performed its first live show of the year headlining the second day of the Heavy MTL festival in Montréal, Canada. A massive live production dubbed 'Crüe Fest' followed, kicking off on July 1st in West Palm Beach, Florida, with BUCKCHERRY, PAPA ROACH, TRAPT and Sixx's side project SIXX: A.M. joining the the band on the 40 city tour.

On 23rd August New Jersey State Police Police arrested 14 people at the 'Crüe Fest' concert Saturday at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel. Three people were arrested for possession of marijuana, ten for underage drinking and one for disorderly conduct.

The group's summer 2009 'Crüe Fest II' US tour saw the 20th anniversary of the 'Dr. Feelgood' album marked by a live performance of the record in its entirity. The supporting cast involved GODSMACK, THEORY OF A DEADMAN, DROWNING POOL and CHARM CITY DEVILS. Quite novelly the group's single 'White Trash Circus' featured a promotional video which included contributions from the entire touring partnership in Sully Erna of GODSMACK, Tyler Connolly of THEORY OF A DEADMAN, Ryan McCombs of DROWNING POOL and John Allen of CHARM CITY DEVILS.

With Tommy Lee sustaining damage to his hand, SEVENDUST drummer Morgan Rose filled in behind the kit for the 14th August concert at the Riverbend Music Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, 15th August at Clarkston, Michigan's DTE Energy Music Theatre, 16th August at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's Post-Gazette Pavilion, 18th August at PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, New Jersey, and 19th August at the Comcast Center Event in Mansfield, Massachusetts. Tommy Lee, with his left thumb and forefinger wrapped in bandages, still took part in the shows, coming on first to explain his absence, then during the encores, play piano on 'Home Sweet Home' and hit a drum with his right hand for 'Girls, Girls, Girls'.

Eleven Seven Music/Mötley Records released a further compilation album, 'Greatest Hits', on 17th November 2009. Best Buy editions hosted a documentary filmed backstage at 'Crüe Fest 2'.

Garry Sharpe-Young