MÖTLEY CRÜE Concert Review Reduces Band To Nothing More Than “Opportunists” Held Together By Mick Mars! (Chicago Tribune)

According to music journalist Bob Gendron of the Chicago Tribune MÖTLEY CRÜE’s The Stadium Tour crashed and burned hard at Chicago’s Wrigley Field last night on July 8th, and like everything they do, they did it in spectacular fashion. Gendron levels the most brutally epic dressing down of the bad boys of rock ever published in their 40 years plus history. Here are some excerpts from his scathing review, and while he definitely targets Sixx and Lee’s poor stage performances, he saves the harshest criticism for Vince Neil:

“In retrospect, perhaps Mötley Crüe should have reconsidered. Understandably, the four original members who took the stage in the wake of an exaggerated intro punctuated by throat-choking clouds of sulfurous smoke no longer resemble their youthful bad-boy selves. But time has also taken a harsh toll on the band’s abilities. Ironically, the oldest member, guitarist Mick Mars, seems to have changed the least. Thin, pale, and quiet, he still resembles a vampire that just awoke in a coffin. Primarily sticking to the shadows, Mars executed his parts with a competency that frequently served as the glue that held tunes together. If anything, his instrumentalist cohorts, drummer Tommy Lee and bassist Nikki Sixx, overplayed. The duo repeatedly generated a muddy, bass-dominant rumble that devoured the contours of songs and saturated the mix with an indistinct sameness. They slowed down several well-known songs, including a deflated “Don’t Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)” and dulled “Looks That Kill.””

“Motley Crue’s sound was horrible, the bass was so thunderous you couldn’t hear the guitarist most of the time.” – A Fan

It seems the band’s constant infighting has taken a toll on the chemistry of the Crue and the group’s ability to rise above the drama and deliver a sonically pleasing rock concert the way they were always known for during their Sunset Strip heyday,

“For Neil, the 80-minute set amounted to a chore…”

“Watching Neil trudge around was almost as uncomfortable as listening to him try to sing. During verses, he often failed to project over the din of his mates. Or he simply gave up, choosing to hold the microphone stand away from his mouth and toward the audience. Unable or unwilling to break from a tedious walking gait, he lacked enthusiasm in the same ways Mötley Crüe hurt for chemistry. For Neil, the 80-minute set amounted to a chore, a task to get through rather than a chance to entertain. His out-of-tune vocals on favorites such as “Home Sweet Home” and tendency to duck backstage for breaks couldn’t help but raise questions. Indeed, the few bursts of energy came not from Neil or the now-tame Sixx but three female backing vocalists/dancers that did the heavy lifting on many choruses.”

“Career opportunists, Mötley Crüe last released a new record 14 years ago.”

“Vince Neil’s screeching vocals, which have seen much better days.”

In the end, Vince Neil is decimated by the reviewer, for not getting into concert ready shape as he promised two years ago.

“Indeed, the few bursts of energy came not from Neil or the now-tame Sixx but three female backing vocalists/dancers that did the heavy lifting on many choruses.”