The Crüe Calling It Quits (Eventually)

Written by Jon Williams

In a press conference held yesterday in Hollywood, rock icons Mötley Crüe announced their impending retirement as a band. The foursome, citing a desire to go out while still on top of their game and not carry on with anything other than their original lineup, signed a legally binding “cessation of touring” agreement that will dissolve the band at the end of 2015.

Fear not, though, Crüe fans, as the boys are planning to send themselves out with a bang, announcing a few things fans can look forward to between now and then. One is a film adaptation of their collaborative 2001 book The Dirt, detailing the music and debauchery that have highlighted their career, to be helmed by Jeff Tremaine, who directed Bad Grandpa and the rest of the Jackass films. There will also be a Mötley Crüe tribute album, in which a number of big-name stars will cover the band’s hits in a country music style. Florida Georgia Line has been confirmed as one of the groups taking part, with names like LeAnn Rimes and The Voice winner Cassadee Pope also being mentioned. That album is slated for a summer release; keep an eye out for details as they become available. When asked about the possibility of a new original Crüe album, bassist Nikki Sixx replied, “We’ll just have to see.”

The biggest news from the event, however, was the announcement that the band will take to the road one final time, for the “All Bad Things Must Come to an End” world tour. The first 72 dates, making up the North American leg and running through November of this year, have already been set, kicking off July 2 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The Crüe will be supported on their tour by Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Alice Cooper, who pioneered the type of theatrical “shock” rock that allowed Mötley Crüe to thrive.

When the band finally walks off the stage for the final time, it will close a 30+year chapter that began with their formation in Los Angeles in 1981. They self-produced and released their debut album, Too Fast for Love, in November of that year. Their outrageous style and antics brought them a great deal of attention, and soon they were staples on the fledgling MTV network. They helped usher in the popularity of hair metal in the ‘80s with a string of hit singles and albums: Shout at the Devil (1983), Theatre of Pain (1985), Girls, Girls, Girls (1987), and Dr. Feelgood (1989).

Shortly thereafter, as hair metal’s star fell and grunge rose to popularity in its place, Mötley Crüe went through a period of turmoil, with singer Vince Neil and drummer Tommy Lee both leaving the band for periods of time. They actually recorded one album, 1999’s self-titled Mötley Crüe, with John Corabi on lead vocals, and one, 2000’s New Tattoo, with Randy Castillo on drums. The entire original lineup reunited for 2008’s Saints of Los Angeles, and has been together ever since.

Mötley Crüe’s upcoming tour and retirement are sure to bring interest in their extensive catalog, as well as that of Alice Cooper and other rock and metal acts as well. Fill in the gaps in your collection by using the SmartBrowse feature on our homepage.