Mötley Crüe (IPA pronunciation: ['mot-lee kru]) is a popular American rock band from Los Angeles, California. The band is made up of Nikki Sixx, Tommy Lee, Mick Mars, and Vince Neil. Mötley Crüe is considered one of the most successful American heavy metal and hard rock bands, having sold over 41 million albums worldwide and 24 million records in the US alone. Their ninth studio album is due to be released sometime in 2007.
[edit] History
Mötley Crüe was formed in California during 1980, after bassist Nikki Sixx left the band London which he had started in 1979 after he was fired from Blackie Lawless' band Sister. Drummer Tommy Lee had previously played in a band called Suite 19 with vocalist/guitarist Greg Leon. Sixx, Lee and Leon started rehearsing but Leon decided not to continue, and the bassist and drummer looked for new members.
Sixx and Lee met guitarist Mick Mars — at that time still performing in blues based heavy metal acts under his name Bob Alan Deal — through an ad in The Recycler reading "Loud, rude, aggressive guitarist available." When they first met Mars, Sixx's first reaction was, "I can't believe it! Here's another one like us!", and Lee later said in interviews that Mars "came in looking like Cousin Itt from The Addams Family." Mars' equipment was quickly set up and shortly after, he was playing the opening riff to "Stick to Your Guns". Mars proceeded to, according to Lee, "play the shit out of his guitar." After getting drunk and jamming for an hour, Sixx and Lee hired Mars, and Mick fired the band's guitarist, who was a musician known only as Robin (a "pansy" according to Lee).
It was Mars who came up with the band's name. While in his former band, White Horse, one of the band members walked in and called the group "a motley looking crew." Mars copied the name down on paper, with the original spelling Mottley Kru. The name was later applied to the band he was to join in 1981 with Sixx and Lee. However, there is much talk about the band floating the name "Christmas" before they settled on Mötley Crüe. According to Nikki in the band's VH1 "Behind The Music" episode, it was his suggestion, thinking that a familiar, popular word for a name would attract fans by itself.
Lee and Vince Neil originally knew each other in high school (Royal Oak H.S.) in Covina. They had performed in different bands in the garage-band circuit. Mars suggested Mötley Crüe hire Vince after seeing him perform with the band Rock Candy at the Starwood in Hollywood. At first Neil rebuffed the band when they asked him to audition. Then, as fate would have it, Rock Candy dissolved; Vince broke down and agreed to audition for Mötley Crüe after Lee called him once more.
Current Members
Vince Neil - lead vocals (1981-1992, 1997-present)
Mick Mars - lead guitar (1981-present)
Nikki Sixx - bass, backing vocals,(1981-present)
Tommy Lee - drums, backing vocals (1981-1999, 2004-present)
Past Members
John Corabi - lead vocals, rhythm guitar (1992-1997)
Randy Castillo - drums (1999-2000)
Samantha Maloney - drums (2000-2001)
Temporary Players
Harvey Warren - drums (2006) (Played April 5 at the Enmax Center in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada when Tommy was injured)
Will Hunt - drums (2006) (filled in for injured Lee on the last few dates of their just-completed North American tour)
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