Mötley Crüe
Hollywood's loudest, roughest crew since 1981.
Mötley Crüe formed in Hollywood, California, in 1981 when bassist Nikki Sixx and drummer Tommy Lee joined forces with guitarist Mick Mars and lead vocalist Vince Neil. This American heavy metal band quickly gained a reputation for their hedonistic lifestyles and wild, sometimes androgynous style. Their sound evolved from the hard rock and heavy metal origins of their first two albums into the glam metal wave that defined their third release. With elaborate live performances featuring flame thrower guitars and roller coaster drum kits, they established themselves as one of the most visually striking acts in rock history.
- Artist
- Mötley Crüe
- Album Type
- Debut Studio Album (Too Fast for Love)
- Release Era
- Early 1980s
- Key Members
- Nikki Sixx, Vince Neil, Mick Mars, Tommy Lee
- Label Affiliation
- Leathür Records / Elektra Records
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
The band's name originated from an incident when Mick Mars played with a group called White Horse; a member described them as "a motley looking crew," which Mars later adapted to "Mottley Cru" before Vince Neil suggested adding metal umlauts, inspired by the German beer Löwenbräu. Their early lineup formed after Greg Leon and Tommy Lee decided to create a new band following a farewell gig for London. Although Leon initially felt Sixx was "awful" on bass, Lee hired him anyway. They found Mick Mars through an ad in The Recycler seeking a "Loud, rude and aggressive guitar player." After brief stints with other vocalists, Vince Neil joined on April 1, 1981, having known Lee from high school at Charter Oak High School in Covina.
In Their Own Story
On November 10, 1981, the band self-produced and released their debut album, Too Fast for Love, on their own label, Leathür Records, selling 20,000 copies. Their manager Allan Coffman later negotiated a deal with Elektra Records in early 1982, leading to a remix by Roy Thomas Baker and a re-release on August 20, 1982. During their "Crüesing Through Canada Tour '82," the band staged several PR stunts that made headlines: they were arrested at Edmonton International Airport for wearing spiked wardrobe deemed "dangerous weapons" and carrying porn magazines labeled "indecent material." A fake bomb threat against them landed on the front page of the Edmonton Journal, and Tommy Lee threw a television set from the Sheraton Caravan Hotel, resulting in a lifetime ban from the city.
Reader's Guide
Mötley Crüe's discography includes seven platinum or multi-platinum certifications and nine Top 10 albums on the Billboard 200. Their 1989 album Dr. Feelgood remains their only studio album to reach number one. They achieved twenty-two Top 40 mainstream rock hits and six Top 20 pop singles worldwide, selling over 100 million records. After a hiatus following their planned final show on December 31, 2015, the band reunited in September 2018. In March 2019, they released four new songs for the Netflix biopic The Dirt soundtrack, which reached number one on the iTunes All Genres Album Chart and number ten on the Billboard 200. Following Mick Mars's retirement from touring in October 2022 after 41 years, John 5 joined as his replacement.
Did You Know?
- Vince Neil suggested adding the metal umlauts to the band's name after drinking Löwenbräu beer.
- Mick Mars was hired based on a newspaper ad seeking a 'Loud, rude and aggressive guitar player.'
- The band's 2015 final show was filmed for a theatrical and Blu-ray release in 2016.
- During their 1982 Canada tour, a fake bomb threat made the front page of the Edmonton Journal.
- John 5 replaced Mick Mars in October 2022 after 41 years of service.
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