Mötley Crüe was formed by a group of castoffs from club and garage acts around Hollywood in the early 1980s—and they quickly ascended to become kings of the glam metal era. But what might be most remarkable about the Crüe is that they managed to survive at all. Together they compiled a rap sheet of arrests that—measured by length—rivaled their discography. They destroyed hotel rooms and clubs on the road. They fought with the police, fans, rival bands and each other. And along the way their off-stage antics became part of the show, just as loud, excessive and explosive as any of their firework-filled concerts. At their peak, the Crüe was young, happily unhinged and unbothered by critics. Fans flocked to their music and gawked at their lifestyle. It was a party without rules, and everyone was invited to crash. Despite it all, the Crüe has endured. They have sold more than 100 million albums with 22 top 40 hits. They are a band that everyone remembers—with a smile or a shake of the head—because, let’s face it, how could anyone forget? This is the story of Mötley Crüe, in all of its defiant, destructive and decadent glory.
THE STORY OF MÖTLEY CRÜE TOO FAST TOO LOUD TOO BAD
SINNERS AND SURVIVORS • THEY WEREN’T KNOWN AS “THE WORLD’S MOST NOTORIOUS ROCK BAND” FOR NOTHING
AIN’T IT GLAM • MÖTLEY CRÜE WAS A FRANKENSTEIN’S MONSTER OF MUSICAL DECADENCE
NIKKI SIXX • LONG BEFORE HE BECAME THE INFAMOUS “NIKKI SIXX,” HE WAS FRANK CARLTON SERAFINO FERRANA JR., A QUIET BOY FROM A TROUBLED FAMILY.
SEX • IN THE ERA POST-PG AND PRE-PC, THE CRÜE REVELED HEDONISM
TOMMY LEE • TOMMY LEE WASN’T BORN WITH DRUMSTICKS IN HIS HAND, BUT IT WAS CLOSE. HIS FATHER BOUGHT HIM HIS FIRST PAIR WHEN HE WAS JUST 4 YEARS OLD.
DRUGS • MÖTLEY CRÜE BECAME ADDICTED TO THE PITFALLS OF FAME LONG BEFORE THEY WERE FAMOUS
VINCE NEIL • WHEN TOMMY LEE FIRST ASKED VINCE NEIL TO JOIN HIS NEW BAND, NEIL SAID NO. THE SINGER WAS HAPPY WITH ROCKANDI, WHICH HAD REGUIAR SHOWS AT THE STARWOOD.
ROCK & ROLL • THE STORIES BEHIND 1O CRÜE CLASSICS
MICK MARS • THE CRÜE’S LEAD GUITARIST GOT HIS START PLAYING IN A BEATLES COVER BAND IN INDIANA. AND HIS INSPRRATION FOR HIS CAREER? A COUNTRY SINGER NAMED SKEETER BOND THAT HE SAW AT 4-H FAIR.
TALES OF INFAMY • SOME OF THE MOST COLORFOL—AND NOTORIOUS—MOMENTS IN THE HISTORY OF THE HANO
GREG LEON, JOHN CORABI & RANDY CASTILLO • GREG LEON WAS ALMOST A FOUNDING MEMBER OF MÖTLEY CRÜE, BUI HE DECIRED TO GO HIS OWN WAY.
LEARNING FROM THE MASTER • MÖTLEY CRÜE AND OZZY OSBOURNE WERE A MATCH MADE N HEAVENLY HEIL
MAKING ENEMIES • THE BAND’S MOST NOTORIOUS FEUDS
THE SURVIVORS • MORE THAN 40 YEARS SINCE THEY FIRST BEGAN, NOT MUCH HAS CHANGED’
The Story of Mötley Crüe
PHOTO CREDITS
THE STORY OF MÖTLEY CRÜE TOO FAST TOOLOUD TOO BAD