Motley Crue performs at the Allstate Arena on March 10, 2005.

By Tom Lydde

It’s quite possible that Motley Crue are well on their way to cementing themselves as classic rock icons. Not only did they get the band back together for the first time in 8 years and release a new CD on Island Records, but the 80’s bad boys debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard charts. And the Red, White & Crue Tour is looking pretty legit as the boys are not just headlining the Allstate Arena – they sold it out! A recent announcement from NBC stating that Motley Crue will no longer be welcome to appear on the network, following an obscenity incident on The Tonight Show, shows us that Rock & Roll is, in fact, still alive and well. Maybe the 90’s were just a dream and it’s still 1987 after all?

Motley Crue came out of the L.A. hard rock scene in 1981 with a self-released debut, Too Fast For Love, that sold 20,000 copies and secured the band a deal with Elektra Records. The Crue’s punk-influenced metal sound, outrageous persona and over-the-top stage show struck a chord with teenage fans and the boys spent the next ten years selling out arenas, dominating MTV, overdosing on drugs and keeping their attorneys plenty busy. Four multi-platinum albums followed Too Fast For Love and these represent the band’s glory days. The 90’s were filled with disappointing releases, as the band competed with the popular Grunge and Alt-Rock bands of the day, and numerous break-ups, line-up changes and Tommy Lee’s much-publicized stint in jail kept the band from achieving any meaningful success. Those troubled times could well be behind Motley Crue, though. It’s obvious that their fans haven’t abandoned them, so all they have to do is not abandon each other. Easier said than done.

As of the time this article was posted, Motley Crue’s Thursday night show at the Allstate Arena was sold out. Always check with the venue box office for current ticket availability. For more information, please visit the Motley Crue website.