Rock legends MÖTLEY CRÜE find themselves entangled in a web of controversies, internal disputes, and now a serious setback as drummer Tommy Lee sustains a hand injury amid an escalating feud with singer Vince Neil.
The latest clash erupted during a band Zoom meeting, following the cancellation of their New Year’s Eve show due to poor ticket sales. The exchange turned heated when Lee, known for his outspoken nature, once again targeted Neil’s alleged drinking problem and binge eating, causing tension that culminated in Lee injuring his hand when the drummer punched a wall in frustration.
The pair had previously got into an alleged physical altercation at the Crue’s final band rehearsal before kicking off the Ill-fated The Stadium Tour which saw Lee himself get busted fake playing during a concert and accused by legendary heavy metal journalist Randy “Rocket” Cody of the world’s most famous heavy metal music news site TheMetalDen.com of using backing tracks. Cody’s story was subsequently stolen by the rock news media and jumped from over 500,000 impressions online to over 11 million, reaching fans all over the world, including England and Brazil.
Subsequently ousted 72-year-old guitarist Mick Mars launched a lawsuit against his former band last year for ripping him off and claimed that Nikki Sixx, Tommy Lee and Vince Neil are all indeed guilty of fraud due to using prerecorded tape at shows for main instrumentation and lead/backing vocals. It’s said during the final band rehearsal that Lee called Neil “Fatboy” and “Vince Meal” before the rotund singer tackled Tommy Lee and attempted to bite off Lee’s genitals. During the recent band meeting conducted via a Zoom call it’s said that Lee once again was highly critical of Vince Neil and called him “The fattest muthafucker in rock music history!” and next punched a wall in his home so hard that it seriously injured it, although Lee waited several days before getting medical attention.
Vince Neil himself has been seen to have gained all the weight back that he had lost for The Stadium Tour and is believed to be consuming $10,000 bottles of booze again, while eating enough for three people each time he dines.
Amidst the chaos, concerns have arisen about Mötley Crüe’s ability to meet upcoming tour commitments and finish their first studio album in 16 years. The band, currently on a break from touring, is scheduled to resume performances in May, but with Lee’s recent injury, uncertainties loom over their readiness.
It also adds fuel to the speculation that AI technology and “ghost performers” (unnamed studio session players) are being used to compose and perform all of the music, including producer Bob Rock being the ghost bassist for Nikki Sixx, due to Sixx not actually knowing how to play the bass guitar well enough, thanks to years of wild drug abuse, culminating in his purported Heroin overdose.
The band’s upcoming touring, including major events like Welcome to Rockville 2024 and Summerfest 2024, is capped by a performance at the Ottawa Bluesfest in July. Additionally, a special show at the North Dakota State Fair has been announced, indicating an attempt to regain popularity despite the challenges.
While excitement builds for a potential 2024 album release, Nikki Sixx’s teaser remains unfulfilled, as no new singles have been released. Replacement guitarist John 5 assures fans of an imminent release, but internal strife within the band continues to cast a shadow over the completion of their highly anticipated new studio effort.
As Mötley Crüe faces this period of uncertainty, fans anxiously await updates on Tommy Lee’s recovery, hoping the band can overcome its internal conflicts and deliver on its promises for a triumphant return to the music scene.
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