MÖTLEY CRÜE, AI And The “Abandoned” New Album: Is Vince Neil All to Blame?

What the hell happened to MÖTLEY CRÜE? Rock fans all over the world have certainly witnessed the greatest downfall by a band over the past couple of years. A once unstoppable force has been literally demolished down to broken bits and pieces.

It seems the first place everyone wants to point their fingers is the lead singer.

Vince Neil, the iconic frontman of MÖTLEY CRÜE, has faced increasing challenges on stage, raising concerns among fans and industry observers. The 63-year-old rock legend experienced another unfortunate incident during the band’s performance in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on May 3. During the third song, “Wild Side,” Neil lost his balance and belly flopped, falling hard onto his stomach, drawing concern from both fans and bandmates.

This incident is part of a troubling pattern. In October 2021, Neil suffered a significant injury after falling off the stage at the Monsters On The Mountain festival in Tennessee, breaking his ribs. These mishaps highlight growing concerns about Neil’s physical health, particularly as he struggles with issues related to alcoholism and weight gain.

Neil’s physical decline has been noticeable, despite promises of weight loss aided by a special fat-burning device. His balance and overall stage presence have visibly deteriorated, impacting his performance quality. The situation has become so severe that during rehearsals for their comeback tour, drummer Tommy Lee jokingly referred to Neil as “Vince Meal,” leading to an altercation that resulted in Lee injuring his ribs.

In a 2014 interview, Neil dismissed the need for a rigorous fitness routine, believing that the physical demands of performing were sufficient. He described a typical concert day as including meet-and-greets and relaxation on his bus before hitting the stage. However, fans have noted a decline in his stamina and vocal performance, with Neil occasionally using a teleprompter to remember lyrics and even resorting to lip-syncing during some shows. There was also speculation that Neil was being replaced secretly in the studio with a “ghost singer” (Scott Stapp) by way of AI ‘voice clone’ technology to essentially replicate a youthful AI version of Neil’s long-lost voice. One hint that it went forward is Neil sarcastically saying that he recorded his vocals over a Zoom call.

These issues of being ‘out of shape’ are not new for Neil, who in a 2011 interview likened the physical exertion of performing to running a marathon, emphasizing the added challenge of singing while moving. Years of hard living have taken a toll, affecting his ability to deliver the high-energy performances that have been a hallmark of MÖTLEY CRÜE’s shows. Instead of taking care of himself, the troubled singer opted to binge on $10,000 bottles of booze instead of getting into shape as he promised for the big Crue comeback, which was twice postponed.

“…the singer was seen in Key West, Florida having drinks and ordering a $10,000 bottle of Louis 13th.”

It’s not like Vince was not given more than enough time to prepare himself.

The Stadium Tour certainly amassed over $170 million ticket sales, but the overall damage that was done to the Crue’s legacy is catastrophic. They were handed a lawsuit by their ousted guitarist Mick Mars and accused of ripping him and the fans off with fake concerts aided by the use of backing tracks.

Despite these struggles, MÖTLEY CRÜE continues to tour. They have over a dozen North American shows scheduled for the remainder of 2024, including appearances performed this month at the North Dakota State Fair and various local casinos in the future. Their recent single, “Dogs of War,” released on April 26 under Nashville’s Big Machine Records, has stirred excitement, although it has faced criticism over accusations of AI-generated music. In response to the backlash, Vince Neil and bassist Nikki Sixx have abandoned plans for a new studio album, which would have been their first in 16 years.

The band’s history has been marked by both success and controversy. Their last studio album, “Saints Of Los Angeles,” was released in 2008, followed by a greatest hits compilation in 2009. In 2018, they recorded four new tracks for “The Dirt” movie soundtrack, collaborating with artists like Machine Gun Kelly. The Crue released a lackluster cover of Madonna’s “Like A Virgin”.

In 2022, MÖTLEY CRÜE underwent a significant lineup change when John 5 replaced co-founding guitarist Mick Mars, who retired from touring amid allegations of being gaslighted and financially undermined by the band.

As MÖTLEY CRÜE continues to perform and release new music, Vince Neil’s health and well-being remain a central concern. Fans are hopeful for his recovery and a return to the form that once made him a powerful presence on stage and in the recording studio. This September 6th, Neil will share the stage with Vixen and Ratt’s Stephen Pearcy, despite mounting criticism from fans and Nikki Sixx saying that Neil should stop performing Crue songs with his solo band, because his singing voice is atrocious. At least when he does lip sync at Crue gigs it doesn’t sound like nails screeching on a chalkboard until your ears bleed.