'Kickstart My Heart' live in West Palm Beach, FL!

so to mark the occasion, I am going to make a list of memorable Motley moments and share them with you. Annnd here they are!

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Jimmy Kimmel (to the Crue): The fire marshal must love you guys.

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A Narrator (speaking about Motley Crue): The fact that they're all still alive, to me, is testimony to the incredible achievements we've made in modern science. In fact, two of them are probably dead, and they're just sticking them full of adrenaline and electric shocks just to keep them walking around on their stilettos.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=HvvoCyj0TCk&playnext=1&playnext_from=QL

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Nikki: Hey man, someone's gotta snort it, someone's gotta drink it, someone's gotta go to bed with all these girls-It's a hard life, but as long as I get paid for it, imean, I'll do it...

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Nikki: "It's not the brick ya got in your hand.... its the faith ya got in your head that knocks down the wall."

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Vince: We have a Dr. Phil...Thats Nikki.

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Interviewer: When you do check out, what do you want to be remembered for?

Nikki Sixx: I'd feel really good if they said "the guy was honest." Just honest...in everything he did.

Iskevätkö sinuun vaarallisesta ja rankan glamoröösistä, huumehöyryisestä, irtosuhteiden täyttämästä rock-elämästä kertovat eepokset, joissa sattuu ja tapahtuu vähintään kyseenalaisen paljon kaikenlaista epäpyhää ja kaikkea sitä, mitä et omalle kohdallesi toivoisi, mutta mistä olet kuitenkin jollain - osittain kierollakin - tavalla utelias lukemaan aina vaan lisää ja lisää? Siinä tapauksessa saatat olla kiinnostunut seuraavista teoksista:

Rankimmat bändisaagat

Mötley Crüe & Strauss, Neil: The Dirt - Törkytehdas
Kaikkien rock-kirjojen isä, äiti, isoveli, pikkusisko, lemmikkigerbiili, loma-asunnon naapuri, biologianopettaja, nimi hautakivessä, presidentti, toimitusjohtaja, marsalkka, luotto-olkapää ja näyttelyhevonen. Tästä kaikki lähti, tähän kaikki päättynee.

McIver, Joel: Metallica - Thrashtitaanien tie maailman mahtavimmaksi metallibändiksi... ja mitä sitten tapahtui
Fanipojan avoin tilitys, joka toimii ja vetää mukanaan. Ihailtavaa omistautuneisuutta asialle sekä mukava pieni "piikki lihassa" -ote esimerkiksi siihen kuuluisaan Napster-oikeudenkäyntiin.

Leaf, David: Kiss - Maskin takaa, virallinen historiikki
Gene Simmons vs. Paul Stanley, ja ehkä muutakin.

Wall, Mick: Iron Maiden
On vain yksi ja ainoa Iron Maiden, tässä lisää siitä.

McIver, Joel: Sabbath, Bloody Sabbath
On vain yksi ja ainoa Black Sabbath, tässä lisää siitä.

Everett, True: Nirvana - tositarina
1990-luvun alun Seattle on tullut tutuimmaksi lähinnä grungen merkeissä. Tämä ehtymättömän fanipojan (tai nolon hännystelijän, päättäkää itse) teos Nirvanasta ruokkinee suurehkoakin dekadenssinnälkää.

Vahvat persoonat (ei minkäänlaisessa paremmuusjärjestyksessä)

Simpson, Mark: Pyhä Morrissey (Sammakko 2006)
Brittiläisen (80- ja 90-luvuilla suositun) The Smiths -bändin laulajan elämäkerta

Jovanovic, Rob: Kate Bush -elämäkerta (Like 2006)
Omintakeisen brittilaulajattaren mystinen elämä.

Crawford, Sue: Ozzy (Johnny Kniga 2003)
Vähän turhan mässäilevä ja mehusteleva teos Ozzy Osbournesta, mutta toiminee sosiaalipornon ystäville.

Osbourne, Sharon & Dening, Penelope: Täysillä - omaelämäkerta (Ajatus Kirjat 2006)
Metallimusiikin virallinen rokkivaimo, lähes kaiken nähnyt Sharon Osbourne riisuu itsensä alasti ja paljastaa syvimmätkin tuntonsa elämästään paitsi Ozzy Osbournen rinnalla, myös isänsä varjossa. Kirjan rehellinen ote tuskin jättää kylmäksi.

Johnstone, Nick: Patti Smith - Rock'n'roll nigger (Johnny Kniga 2007)
Veteraanijenkkipunkkarittaren elämäkerta.

Jameson, Jenna & Strauss, Neil: Erotiikan ammattilainen - seksitähden päiväkirja (Readme.fi 2006)
Jenna on VÄHÄN pihalla... Tämä kirja saa olon melko surulliseksi.

Manson, Marilyn & Strauss, Neil: Helvettiin ja takaisin (Like 2003)
Hollywood-satanistin lapsuudentraumakattaus ja backstagesekoilua poikineen.

Sixx, Nikki & Gittins, Ian: Heroiinipäiväkirja (Like 2008)
Jos Törkytehdas ei täyttänyt tarpeitasi, kannattaa tarttua Mötley Crüen perustajan, biisintekijän ja basistin omiin huumekatkuisiin muistelmiin.

Cobain, Kurt: Päiväkirjat (WSOY 2003)
Autenttiset päiväkirjamerkinnät paljastavat Nirvana-keulahahmon ja sittemmin koko 1990-luvun nuorison itsetuhoisuuden ikoniksi nousseen Kurt Cobainin asennoitumisen elämään sekä sen tyhjyyteen ja turhuuteen. Kirja pysäyttää hetkeksi miettimään, oliko heroiini loppujen lopuksi syy vai seuraus moniin tapahtumiin herran elämässä.

Uudemmat bändikirjat, joiden tenhosta ei oikein osaa sanoa juuta eikä jaata

Myers, Ben: System of a Down - Hollywoodin hypnootikot (Like 2007)
Isoksi kasvaneen omaperäisen rockbändin tarina.

Myers, Ben: Green Day - Amerikan idiootit & uuspunkin kukoistus (Sammakko 2006)
Pop-punk-bändin vaiheet kuorrutettuna yleisellä "uuspunk"-käsittelyllä.

Yleisiä musiikki- ja populaarikulttuuri-ilmiöitä

Baddeley, Gavin: Goth Chic - johdatus pimeän puolen estetiikkaan (Like 2005)
Baddeley valottaa hyvin paljon nimenpudottelua hyödyntäen tätä synkkyydestä viehättynyttä alakulttuuria musiikkeineen, elokuvineen ja klubeineen. Suomesta mukana HIM, josta tosin annetaan vähän erikoinen kuva...

Levine, Noah: Dharma Punx (Like 2006)
Ongelmanuoret muistelevat elämäänsä punk-ympyröissä. Osa ilmeisesti kääntyi sittemmin buddhalaisuuteen ynnä muuta ehkä vähemmän yllättävää.

McNeil, Legs & McCain, Gillian: Please kill me - punkin sensuroimaton esihistoria (Like 2004)
Järkälemäinen kirja valottaa nimensä mukaisesti punk-kulttuurin historiaa, kehittymistä ja tiettyä tuhoakin. Paljon haastatteluita henkilöiltä, jotka olivat ns. asioiden ytimessä punkin esihistoriallisella kaudella.

Robb, John: PUNK! Brittipunkin haastatteluhistoria (Like 2007)
Lisää punk-asiaa, entistä enemmän haastatteluja.

McNeil, Legs & Osborne, Jennifer: Alaston Hollywood - Hollywoodin pimeä puoli, pornoelokuvateollisuuden historia (Like 2006)
Onhan tämäkin eräänlaista rockia... Ainakin ihmiskohtalot ovat yhtä surkuhupaisia kuin tietyillä rokkikukoilla kaikessa rajuudessaan.

Lachman, Gary Valentine: Tajunnan alkemistit - Kuusikymmenluvun mystiikka ja Vesimiehen ajan pimeä puoli (Like 2003)
1960-luvulla vedettiin selkeästi lsd:tä yli 400 sivun verran. Mukana all star -kasti kyseisen ajan "maailmanparantajia", aina Mansonin perheestä Aleister Crowleyhin asti.

Mudrian, Albert & Peel, John: Choosing Death - Deathmetallin ja grindcoren hämmentävä historia (Like 2006)
Äärimetallin tapahtumia ja historiaa.

Listan järkälemäisyydestä johtuen laitoin mukaan vain suomennusvuodet, en siis alkuperäisteosten julkaisuaikoja. Jäikö jokin mielestäsi oleellinen teos uupumaan listaltani? Kommentoi asiaa!

Törkyisän täyteläisiä ja hyvillä riffeillä kuorrutettuja heinäkuun hetkiä kaikille!

This right there is the reason I love Nikki Sixx. I don't know why this video is so appealing. It is though, and for that reason I watch it every day (much to my own embarrassment). Anyway, It really sums up '80's Crue pretty well, I think...

Motley Crue - Too Fast for Love (1982, Elektra Records; 1999, Motley Records/Beyond Music)

Track Listing:
1. "Live Wire" ... 3:14
2. "Come on and Dance" ... 2:45
3. "Public Enemy #1" ... 4:20
4. "Merry-Go-Round" ... 3:22
5. "Take Me to the Top" ... 3:43
6. "Piece of Your Action" ... 4:38
7. "Starry Eyes" ... 4:30
8. "Too Fast for Love" ... 3:22
9. "On With the Show" ... 4:00
BONUS TRACKS
10. "Toast of the Town" [Previously Unreleased] ... 3:35
11. "Tonight (We Need a Lover)" [Previously Unreleased] ... 4:27
12. "Too Fast for Love" [Alternate Intro] ... 4:20
13. "Stick to Your Guns" [Previously Unreleased] ... 4:21

Band:
Vince Neil - Vocals
Mick Mars - Guitar
Nikki Sixx - Bass
Tommy Lee - Drums

Produced by: Michael Wagener

This is the one that started it all. Though Motley would later sometime adopt a slick, polished (and calculated) sleazy sound later on, this is one is real, raw and powerful. "Live Wire" is one of the greatest album openers of all time and it's hard to handpick "highlights" because the whole album is an absolute classic. I have the 1999 re-issue and even *those* unreleased songs are great, they should've been included on the album the first 'round.

The whole album is just covered in dirt and sleaze and helped to kickstart a genre that Nikki Sixx hates. =) Whether they like it or not, Motley Crue are some of the founding fathers of hair & sleaze metal.

Highlights: Um... every song.

www.motley.com
www.myspace.com/motleycrue

It has been far too long since the L.A. bad boys have released any good new material. Their last couple of studio albums have been disappointing in my opinion. I have been hoping that Saints of Los Angeles would put Motley Crue back in form.

So was S.O.L.A. worth the wait?

The opening cut, L.A.M.F., sounds like the band was looking for an epic opening ala, In the Beginning from Shout at the Devil. Sadly, this isn't it. This track is annoying, and should have been left off of the album.

Face Down in the Dirt is the song that should have led off Saints of Los Angeles. This hard rocking tune is one of the better tracks on S.O.L.A.

What's It Gonna Take is an o.k. track that feels a little bit like filler to me. It isn't the worst Crue song I have ever heard, but it is far from their best.

I like the tune, Down at the Whisky pretty well. This song would have fit in well with the Girls, Girls, Girls album.

Chances are you have already heard the title track, Saints of Los Angeles a few times as have I. I liked this tune as soon as I heard it, and still do.

Motherfucker of the Year is pretty much the main lyric of this aptly titled song. The song writing is pretty simple stuff, but Motley Crue makes it work. The content has pretty much guaranteed that this tune will get no radio airplay.  I doubt the band cares. I like it.

The Animal in Me is a mid-tempo song that feels like another filler song. It isn't terrible, but just an average Crue song. It does break up the pace of the record, but that is about it.

Welcome to The Machine is not a Pink Floyd cover song (thank goodness). This hard rocking tune is growing on me with each listen.

Just Another Psycho is one of those songs that you either love or hate. Mick Mars has some cool guitar riffs on this song. The lyrics are kind of silly, but this song is catchy.

Anyone that has read the Nikki Sixx book, The Heroin Diaries, will automatically recognize the song title, Chicks = Trouble. This seems like a quick cash in for Nikki Sixx. Vince Neil makes this song work. This song also sounds as if it would have been home on the Girls, Girls, Girls album.

This Ain't A Love Song is another tune that is just o.k.  This isn't as good as Sick Love Song from the 2005 Red, White and Crue greatest hits compilation, but it doesn't suck either.

White Trash Circus has a cool sleazy groove to it.  I didn't like this song at first, but it is definitely another tune that will grow on you.

Goin' Out Swinging is the song that Motley Crue went back into the studio to record, after the album was finished. This late addition was desperately needed on S.O.L.A. Not only is this one of the better songs on the disc, but it gives the Crue a hard hitting tune to close out the album with.

I played the heck out of this disc while I was on vacation last week.  While I don't think this is Motley Crue's best work, it is most certainly a return to form for the L.A. hard rockers.  For this listener, S.O.L.A. was worth the wait!

Recommended Listening!

Rating:Out of 10

Track Listing:
1. L.A.M.F.
2. Face Down In The Dirt
3. What's It Gonna Take
4. Down At The Whisky
5. Saints of Los Angeles (Gang Vocal)
6. Motherfucker of the Year
7. The Animal In Me
8. Welcome To The Machine
9. Just Another Psycho
10. Chicks = Trouble
11. This Ain't A Love Song
12. White Trash Circus
13. Goin' Out Swingin'

Motley Crue is:
Vince Neil - Vocals
Mick Mars - Guitar
Nikki Sixx - Bass
Tommy Lee - Drums

I'm really, really ready to be done with this and move on with my life. Specifically, iIve been thinking about what my apartment should look like. I actually kind of need to start thinking about it, because apartments in Chapel Hill can't be gotten at the last minute. The Requirements: must have 1 bedroom, 1 bath, a living area and kitchen, and hopefully some sort of other little room I can turn into an "office"---aka, place to store junk. See, I have a bit of a music and memorabilia collection that I don't know what to do with, and it is very important to me that it has a place to live, so I plan on lining the "office" walls with it. Importantly, the door must be easily shut to hide all said junk from my parents when they come to visit.

My main concern is my humongus Brokeback Mountain movie poster that i don't know what to do with. I don't know what that is my primary concern, but it is. I really want to hang it up, but at the moment I have zero wall space and zero money for proper poster-framing.

the second concern is that I have another collection of Victorian prints and Parisian paintings (heyy...I'm an art major, afterall...) that I feel aren't going to mesh with my Bon Jovi "action figures." A clash of interests is what it is called.

Finally, 've decided to paint the walls Deep Purple (hardy har har...that wasn't intentional.) and get some of that fuzzy felt-y wall paper to match, but only put the paper on one wall. yea, you know the kind I'm talking about, your grandma used to have it in her bathroom back in the '70's. What else...floor to ceiling bookshelves, definitely. a place for my piano and other random intstruments I've collected, you betcha! and a lifesize cardboard cutout of Nikki Sixx??!! WHERE CAN I GET ONE.

This room is going to look god-awful. I know it. I don't really care.

I feel like I need to get it out of my system before someone decides I'm worth marrying and won't let me get away with it anymore. So for now, I do what I want. Don't care if you think my decorating is horrendous. what does it matter? At least my Brokeback Mountain poster has a home. And with that, I'll be happy.

Here's a question, I don't know if anyone ever reads this blog, but if they do---whats the craziest decorating idea you ever had?

SAINTS OF LOS ANGELES, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IS NOW ON SHELVES IN STORES ALL AROUND THE WORLD.

finally. seems like I've been waiting for ages. I listened to it yesterday (if you're interested, you can find it free at iheartmusic.com) and I have to say, I was simultaneously surprised and disappointed. I was surprised because somehow, the album went far beyond my expectations, but disappointed because at the same time I didn't think it was as strong as the first all-new-release-in-ten-years should have been.

Frankly, When I first read the track listing, I was more than skeptical. "girls=trouble"? "down at the whiskey?" what the hell. Makes me think of amateur night at a local equivalent of the Wildhorse Saloon. I mean, this is Motley we're talking about. 27 years experience in songwriting should at least pay off in the form of decent titles.

When I listened to the tracks themselves, though, I was pleased to realize many of them weren't half as bad as their stinky titles had led me to expect. "Saints of LA" was a definite winner, to be sure, and "MF of the Year" is catchy and upbeat. Actually, most of the songs on the record are incredibly catchy and fun to listen to. Even the ones I think aren't so great lyrically are still easy to hum along with. What else... "Animal in Me" was a great ballad-ish song, and my personal favorite. IMO, It is also has some of the best lyrics of the whole album. Ok, so it isn't all that profound, but its honest and it reflects an emotion/feeling anyone can relate to. And it doesn't sound forced, like some of they lyrics on the record seem to be.

Anyway, Chicks=Trouble is one song that definitely suffers, although that might be more because I still hate the title, and the White Trash Circus is plain stupid. Just Another Psycho isn't one of my favorites, either. It seemed to me that this album actually focused more on how crazy (literally crazy??!) and f-ed up all the bandmembers are than anything else. I understand that they're just trying to tell their story, and yea, they probably were pretty coked out of their minds for most of the '80's so it'd be hard to not include a song about it...but why so many of them? half the songs on the album referenced the fact that they're a bunch of twisted individuals. I wish instead they would have recalled some of their other notable adventures-the sex and the drugs and the rock-n-roll we all love them for. But then, what would set the record apart from every other Motley release...all which revolve entirely around sex and drugs and rock n roll? I guess thats the predicament.

Would I recommend this record? yea. I mean, the whole thing is definitely listenable, except for the first track-a spoken intro by Vince-which is so cheesy and unremarkable the whole album would gain 5 more stars if it had been left off. Skip that one. And as I mentioned, a couple songs are kind of boring and almost immature from a lyrical standpoint, but I expect you can probably tune them out fairly easily and then tune back in when it is time for the "good" songs. But then, some songs are stellar and completely worth your time and money. I definitely suggest you try the free listen and iheartmusic and see what you think. I will say this--most bands tend to put their best songs at the very beginning of the record, and then the last tracks seem to fizzle out in comparison. Not so with Motley Crue...Actually, in this case you'll be better off starting in the middle and then working your way back around. Leave it to Motley to start their album at track 5...but whatever. Knowing them, I guess I should have expected that.

And of course, good luck to Tommy Lee, Nikki Sixx, Mick Mars and Vince Neil, love you guys! I do wish the best for this record, even if it isn't my favorite so far. And of course, SOLA tour starts this coming week! I'm pretty bummed I'm not going to Cruefest (lack of money and cruefan friends who are willing to go with me) but I'm sure it'll be a good show. And I'm pretty excited about it, even though I'm not going. Can't explain that one, but it is true.

Anyway, it is now time for me to get off here and go to bed. love y'all!!

ROCK ON

Sixx tells the NY Daily News:

"Look, as 20-year-olds we'd sleep with anything that moved. Now we're older and we don't know how we came out of that life without fatal diseases."

That much is true.

He also tells the News about the in-fighting on tour:

"I'll never forget this time Vince and Tommy and I were in a hotel hallway and they got into a fistfight. I was watching them go at it, and some guy jumps into the middle of the fight to stop it. The three of us immediately jumped this guy, threw him up against the wall and Vince told him, 'Don't ever mess with our band.' After that Tommy and Vince finished their fight, and we all went to the bar and picked up some girls. That's the kind of tension that us gives us an edge on stage. When we fight, the shows are like make-up sex."

Hard-core.

Let's hope (for their sake) there is no more in-fighting. Watching 40+ year old men fight each other is really broken-down.

My last blog was all about Iron Maiden being at Madison Square Garden, then last night, Motley Crue dropped in to Fox News to talk with Greta Van Susteren via satellite about the release of their new record "Saints of Los Angeles" that came out at midnight, among other things. Go to gretawire.com for the full scoop.

Can you believe this shirt, and photo op? My good friend Laurie gave it to me a few months ago, and I couldn't think of a better time to wear it, than to meet up with all four original band members of the Crue. Too bad we didn't line up in order of the shirt that's Nikki Sixx to the left, Mick Mars, me, Tommy Lee and Vince Neil, but that would have been too organized. (side note: I can't believe I forgot to take my blackberry off!)

I have interviewed Vince Neil before, when I was doing the rock jock thing in Sacramento, and he was opening for Van Halen at Cal Expo, which is sadly no longer still around. Another time, when I was working for KFI in L.A., I talked with Nikki and Mick when they were doing a book signing on Sunset Strip at Tower Records for the band's autobiography "The Dirt" (favorite sound bite came from Nikki "yea, it's a trip being here signing books, considering we used to come in here and steal records".)

So, last night, the guys got to the studio nice and early to get ready for Greta's interview, which you rarely see with bands. If you are a GretaWire loyalist, you'll know that Greta had Nikki Sixx on the pre-show GretaWire feed. I tried showing Vince how it works in the greenroom, but that computer doesn't have working speakers, so we couldn't hear anything! We talked a lot about living in California, and Las Vegas (he has homes in both) and about his "Motley Cruise" he hosts every year. You heard me right, you too could go on a cruise ship with Vince Neil and other rockers if you dare. You should google it, the pictures alone are worth it.

When I got up to go check something out in the other room, I ran into Tommy Lee hanging outside Studio C, where the band was going to do the interview in the next 20 minutes. He wanted to know if I could get him some ice... for, let's just say, a beverage that's never stocked in the Fox greenrooms. (this could explain his frisky behavior on the air with Greta, you know what I'm talking about if you saw it). After someone found him ice (I have no idea where they got it) the guys came into the studio to do get set up. Tommy then wanted to know if he could use my Mac Powder compact, I wasn't really sure what would happen next.... so I broke out my Flip Cam

[wpvideo WB8F5nzz]

What does a group of rockers do while they are in a silent room while waiting for their "hit"? Play name that tune of course. (note Tommy's drink with ice)

[wpvideo QIJFVwv6]

The interview with Greta can be found on FoxNews.com. In the meantime, if you are a Motley fan, here are a couple of extra shots I took. I couldn't really get too close, because this was a two camera shoot, which means that the background areas of our studio are shown in each direction, and you don't want to get in the way. There's a lot going on for The Crue right now. The new album, Crue Fest, the possible new deal to get it's book "The Dirt" made into a movie, and they are doing Letterman tonight too.

If this studio looks familiar, you would know this from watching another rock star... Geraldo Rivera. This is where he does his show every weekend (new time! 10p eastern Saturday and Sunday)

Oh yea, one more thing; check out Vince Neil's watch! I was so distracted while I was talking to him, as he was talking with his hands, I was nearly blinded by the lights hitting all those diamonds. I asked him to show it to me, and when he took it off and handed it to me, I nearly dropped it because it was so heavy. He says there are only 5 of these things that were ever made, and no wonder. I'm not sure many could afford a watch like this one.

This is real rock star Bling!

Motley Crue - Saints of Los Angeles [Best Buy Exclusive DVD Limited Edition] (2008, Motley Records)

Track Listing:
1. "L.A.M.F." ... 1:21
2. "Face Down in the Dirt" ... 3:44
3. "What's It Gonna Take" ... 3:45
4. "Down at the Whisky" ... 3:50
5. "Saints of Los Angeles" ... 3:40
6. "MF of the Year" ... 3:55
7. "The Animal in Me" ... 4:16
8. "Welcome to the Machine" ... 3:00
9. "Just Another Psycho" ... 3:36
10. "Chicks=Trouble" ... 3:13
11. "This Ain't a Love Song" ... 3:25
12. "White Trash Circus" ... 2:51
13. "Goin' out Swingin'" ... 3:27

Best Buy Exclusive Bonus DVD
1. "Saints of Los Angeles" Music Video
2. Crue Fest Press Conference
3. "Kickstart My Heart" live performance
4. "Saints of Los Angeles" live performance

Band:
Vince Neil - Vocals
Mick Mars - Guitar
Nikki Sixx - Bass
Tommy Lee - Drums

Additional Musicians:
Josh Todd - Gang Vocals
Jacoby Shaddix - Gang Vocals
Chris Taylor Brown - Gang Vocals
James Michael - Backing/Gang Vocals, Keyboards
Marty Frederikson - Backing Vocals
Melissa Harding - Backing Vocals

Produced by: James Michael
Co-Produced by: Nikki Sixx & DJ Ashba

When Motley said they were working on NEW material, I was ecstatic. I loved the new stuff, "Sick Love Song" and "If I Die Tomorrow", they added onto the Red, White & Crue compilation. I thought they were a perfect mix of the classic Motley sound and modern hard rock, even if some Motley fans didn't care for'em. I remember seeing them on the Carnival of Sin tour and the crowd just sitting on their hands when they played those songs. So, I was thinking we'd get an album full of sick love songs, but Motley has gone back to their roots with this album and is delivering good old-fashioned Motley hard rock.

Even in anticipation, I was kinda worried, because their last studio album, 2000's New Tattoo fell flat with me. But SOLA definitely has bite and definitely sounds like Motley, despite the fact that Nikki's side project, SIXX:AM, was pretty much the creative force behind it (James Michael & DJ Ashba produced and had a hand in writing every song alongside Nikki). Veteran rock songwriter/producer Marti Frederikson had a heavy hand in the songwriting as well, and Mick did also, to a lesser extent. At least, they didn't bring Bob Rock back. He neutered Metallica for a decade and nearly did the same with Motley in 1994!

Anyway, song samples posted on Amazon.com a few weeks back didn't give me much hope, but I don't know what I  was thinking at the time, because the album rocks and is one of 2008's best releases. "Saint of Los Angeles" is my favorite track and is classic Motley without any modern influences. It also features "gang vocals" from Crue Fest-mates James Michael (SIXX:AM) Josh Todd (Buckcherry), Jacoby Shaddix (Papa Roach) and Chris Taylor Brown (Trapt). On the flipside, "The Animal in Me" screams modern rock radio to me, but is very good, and should be their next single. Nikki's always had a good ear for writing catchy modern hard rock songs (listen to Saliva's "Rest In Pieces" and tell me I'm lying!).

I picked up the Best Buy limited edition, but the only difference is there's a bonus DVD, but it's pretty cool. There's a music video for "SOLA", their Crue Fest press conference in full and two songs they performed live at the press conference. Plus, photo stills of the band and a bunchload of excerpts from their band autobiography, "The Dirt".

Highlights: "What's It Gonna Take", "Down at the Whisky", "Saints of Los Angeles", "MF of the Year", "The Animal in Me", "This Ain't a Love Song", "Goin' out Swingin'".

www.motley.com
www.myspace.com/motleycrue

***
Part two of a five-part series that I am doing this week on local L.A. bands in the ‘80s that were opening acts on some big gigs at my favorite venue as a kid – Perkin’s Palace in Pasadena California.
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It isn’t often that a bass player is the body and soul of a band…but like the band Talas, this was an exception. Bassist Rik Fox had just been let go from L.A. “should have beens”, Steeler. Fox, who was also in the first generation of WASP (which he also penned the band name) knew just about every big name in the Hollywood rock scene. With Steeler and WASP now behind him, it was time for Fox to form his own band – SIN. Musically, SIN’s approach was a cross between Angel and Judas Priest.

The line-up was made up of relatively unknown L.A. players: Carl James (drums); Howard Drossin (guitar); Vince Gilbert (keyboards); and Art Deresh (vocals). Art Deresh was a pretty good singer, but there was a big rumor going around that he was hygienically challenged. In other words, this guy was 'stinky! People complained and talked about it all the time. Unfortunately, I discovered this for myself first hand one night at an after party at his home…that was some wicked B.O.!!

SIN quickly became one of the fastest rising new bands on the L.A. rock scene, playing a handful of gigs at Perkin’s Palace. Having Rik Fox and SIN open for his former band Steeler that night at Perkin’s Palace was a bold move by the promoter. There was a lot of tension and a lot of curiosity in the audience – this could have opened up a huge can of worms. All the bands killed that night. It was another amazing lineup and quite a bargain at only $7.00.

Photographed with my trusty, smuggled in Canon AE-1 and a cheap, no name 70mm-210mm lens. Shot on Kodak negative film.

Help to save and preserve The Raymond Theatre (aka Perkin's Palace):
www.raymondtheatre.com
RaymondTheatre@aol.com
MySpace – Official Raymond Theatre Site

Have you seen the new Motley Crue E-Card?  It is 2 short days until the release of brand new CD, Saints of Los Angeles.

Click here to listen to the first single, Saints of Los Angeles, read the Crue's bio and more.

Let me start with this statement: Nikki Sixx is, and always has been, the coolest rock star there ever was... the rock star's rock star - (nice guy too; I've met him in '84 and '01). This book is a great read if you're intrigued by rock-n-roll history and the excessive lifestyle that often accompanies it. Ringing with graphic honesty from start to finish, the book is a very disturbing read at times. The complexities of a man at the heights of addiction and adulation are literally laid out for us day-by-day. Some of the most entertaining entries in this book are the insights and comments from many of Nikki's friends and foes, past and present. The Heroin Diaries gives readers an all-access pass around the world with Nikki and Motley Crue circa 1987. This book's accompanying soundtrack is a great rock record showcasing Nikki's continued relevance in rock-n-roll almost three decades into his career. And they said it wouldn't last... what the f#*k do they know anyway?? BUY it here.

01. L.A.M.F.
02. Face Down In The Dirt
03. What's It Gonna Take
04. Down At The Whisky
05. Saints Of Los Angeles
06. Mutherfucker Of The Year
07. The Animal In Me
08. Welcome To The Machine
09. Just Another Psycho
10. Chicks = Trouble
11. This Ain't A Love Song
12. White Trash Circus
13. Goin' Out Swingin'

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I decided it would be a good time to tackle some Blog and Flicker stuff. I had chosen to have a Flicker widget on my blog from the get go. For months it has been random peoples photographs instead of my own because a.) I love photos , anybody's

and b.) I did not know how to get my stream in that lil' widget.

It took a while but I figured it out and now the Flicker photo bar on my blog is me all me.

After a few days of drooling over  Stoopidgerl's Flicker, a magnificent feast of hundreds of photos, I knew I had to push myself.

 This is a Stoopidgerl's photo of a Nikki Sixx resin necklace she made. It rocks for days and days.

There will be no whimp in my soul when it comes to cultivating my own aesthetic.

 The Dalai Lama at a bus stop.

I like to remind myself that Tibetan monks are praying for our liberation at this very moment.

Now here is something else that I was thrilled to encounter recently.

CBTsCloset at etsy has made divine earrings.

if you didn't know already, I'm a big fan of Nikki Sixx. And this is his new band. and their new video! yess

1. nikki sixx and donna d'errico

life is beautiful? really? ya think?

2. the PROFESSIONAL rocker wife...pam anderson.

please. dont lie. you'd sell your soul to add your name to the list....even after tommy lee and kid rock.

3. hottest EX wives kate hudson/shanna moakler/liv tyler

kate was married to chris robinson of the black crowes. i think my brain just died.  kate, obviously, you dig guys with beards....check my page, k, thx, bi.

shanna was married to travis barker from blink 182. she also gets points for trying to beat the $%^& outta paris hilton

liv tyler just seperated from the hubby, lead singer of spacehog (in the meantime). the triple threat, cause her dad is a rocker as well (aerosmith, dummy) AND was in the lord of the rings movies. the nerd in me just swooned.

4. dirtiest rock wife. tera patrick. married to evan seinfeld from biohazard.

i was looking for some pics, and my computer nearly burst into flames. yowza.

ok....i think im gonna stop now. ive had so many warnings about the corporate porn filter that they're probably tracking my every move now.

it's not my fault rockers love the naked ladies! i'm just trying to write a blog!

1. nikki sixx and donna d'errico

life is beautiful?  really? ya think?

2. the PROFESSIONAL rocker wife...pam anderson.

please.  dont lie.  you'd sell your soul to add your name to the list....even after tommy lee and kid rock.

3. hottest EX wives kate hudson/shanna moakler/liv tyler

kate was married to chris robinson of the black crowes.  i think my brain just died.

shanna was married to travis barker from blink 182.  she also gets points for trying to beat the $%^& outta paris hilton

liv tyler just seperated from the hubby, lead singer of spacehog (in the meantime). the triple threat, cause her dad is a rocker as well (aerosmith, dummy) AND was in the lord of the rings movies.  the nerd in me just swooned.

4. dirtiest rock wife.  tera patrick.  married to evan seinfeld from biohazard.

i was looking for some pics, and my computer nearly burst into flames.  yowza.

ok....i think im gonna stop now.  ive had so many warnings about the corporate porn filter that they're probably tracking my every move now.

it's not my fault rockers love the naked ladies! i'm just trying to write a blog!

Anyone who has followed Motley Crüe knows they have lived a hard, glamorous and messed up life - to put it mildly. After forming his own trio Sixx: AM, Nikki Sixx (also the bassist for Motley Crüe), has produced one of the most open and honest albums I have heard in a long, long time. I haven't ready his book. Quite frankly, I really don't need to either. Sex, drugs and alcohol is about all you really need to know, especially with a title like The Heroin Diaries.

Once you get passed the mature subject matter, the song writing and performances are amazing. The album, The Heroin Diaries Soundtrack, has thirteen songs blended with personal commentary by Sixx and lyrics that can leave you feeling sorry for Sixx as he he struggles to overcome drug addiction. Each song correlates with a chapter in his book. Each song also carries a life of its own that displays Sixx's true talents as a song writer. At a time when growly nu metal singers seems to be the thing to do, James Michael surprises with some moving vocals that won't disappoint.

At the album's core, this is a story of redemption. (And, a guy with nine lives.) This album is a treasure for any rock/metal fan. If you are thinking about writing a soundtrack to a book, you have a hard act to follow. As long as it's personal, sincere, well-written, and well-performed, writing songs to accompany a book can increase the emotional connection for a reader or listener. Maybe I will check out the book sometime in the future, but for now, I will stick to the soundtrack.

Here is their first video. It was released a while ago, but it never disappoints me. Enjoy!