Motley Crue hit the LA rock scene in 1981 with outrageous live performances and antics such as blood spitting into the crowd and lighting fellow band members on fire. Apparently these tactics worked because Motley Crue went on to become the leading rock band of the 1980’s. The band, made up of four members who all met in Los Angeles, was noticed after their first hit “Too Fast for Love” and signed by Elektra Records. This deal produced their first album in 1983, Shout at the Devil, which went on to become triple-platinum album and started off their first national tour.

Touring and playing live all across the US took its toll on Vince Neil (lead singer), Tommy Lee (drums), Mick Mars (guitar) and Nikki Sixx (bass.) They became known as one of rock’s bad boy bands as drugs and alcohol addiction slowly took over each band member. Despite this demise, the band continued to produce multi-million selling albums with 1985’s Theatre of Pain, 1987’s Girls, Girls, Girls, and 1989’s Dr. Feelgood. After touring for each one of the albums they released, the band decided to take a break from the fast-paced rock scene and rehabilitate from all of their various addictions. Everyone was on board with this except for lead singer, Vince Neil, who eventually left the band in 1992 for a solo career. The departure didn’t last long as Neil rejoined the band four years later and attempting sobriety. They made their first live appearance since the reunion at American Music Awards by performing one of their most famous hits, “Shout at the Devil.” A few months later their new album, Generation Swine, was released and debuted in the top ten, proving that Motley Crue still had its charm.

Motley Crue’s legacy over the past 20 years has produced over 40 million albums sold, four top ten singles and some of the biggest and most profitable tours. Motley Crue concert tickets for their current tour (2005) continue to sell out across the nation and their appeal still reached more than 30 million fans. The rock band that helped to define the MTV generation is continuing to rock well into the 21st century.