Mötley Crüe goes out in a brainless blaze of glory in Vancouver

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      At Rogers Arena on Friday, November 21

      Mötley Crüe performed its final show in Vancouver last night.

      Or so the story goes.

      Before embarking on its current tour the L.A. sleaze-rock kings got some lawyers to write up a contract wherein they declared that they would never go on the road again after this. That allowed them to charge an exorbitant amount of money for tickets to their "final tour", and their devoted fans—like the ones who packed Rogers Arena last nighthave been happily shelling out for the chance to bid their heroes a last goodbye.

      To Mötley Crüe's credit, the quartetsinger Vince Neil, guitarist Mick Mars, bassist Nikki Sixx, and drummer Tommy Leehave been going out in a blaze of glory. Their two-hour show takes place on a huge, hulking stage, and features an array of special effects, including shooting flames, cascading sparks, and an upside-down drum kit on a roller-coaster-type track.

      Steve Newton

      The thing is, they need all that eye-catching stuff to avoid being overshadowed by the sheer awesomeness of their "special guest", shock-rock legend Alice Cooper.

      During his 13-song warmup set, Cooper pulled out all the tricks of his trade. He wrapped himself in a huge snake for "Welcome to My Nightmare", he shook phony bills from the tip of his rapier on "Billion Dollar Babies", he lost his head in the guillotine during a snippet of "Killer". But even his trusty theatrics took a back seat to his best songs, deathless '70s riff-rock gems like "Eighteen" and "Under My Wheels", and the haunting "Ballad of Dwight Fry".

      It was kind of shocking--and a bit sad--that the crowd didn't show much enthusiasm until Cooper performed his so-so 1989 single, "Poison". But they were there to hear the hits of the '80s, after all.

      Mötley Crüe served up its share of radio staples from the hair-metal heyday, including raging rockers like "Looks That Kill" and "Kickstart My Heart", and its famously watered-down version of Brownsville Station's "Smokin' in the Boys' Room".

      At one point Sixx ordered everyone in the hockey rink to sit down while he told the story of how the group came together and rose from the scuzzy bars of the Sunset Strip to become whatever the hell they are today. "This is not farewell," he proclaimed, "because our music is gonna haunt you till the day you die!"

      Then he went on to illustrate how lasting Mötley Crüe's legacy will be by using his bass as a flamethrower to shoot out massive blasts of fire while two hottie backup-singers/stripper-types gyrated along. The Crüe's eternal importance to the music world was further driven home when Lee's drumkit got carried along that roller-coaster-like track and turned upside down while he raved like a schoolboy about how fucking incredible that was.

      The crowd loved it.

      For its encore the band set up shop on a small stage where the roller-coaster track ended, and Lee banged on a piano to lead his mates into "Home Sweet Home". When that tiresome ballad had run its course, it was all over. Tragic as it might seem, Mötley Crüe would never perform in Vancouver again. (Not legally, anyway.)

      But that's okay, because Alice Cooper still might. 

      Steve Newton

      You can follow Steve Newton at twitter.com/earofnewt and check out his website about rock 'n' roll and horror here.

      Comments

      31 Comments

      BigD

      Nov 22, 2014 at 5:18am

      What. The. F*ck. Is. Your. Problem. This is a pissy review by a pissed off person. If you hate the band to begin with then why on earth did you set out to review the show?

      Steve

      Nov 22, 2014 at 6:41am

      So who is going to sue who when they book the reunion tour?

      deano

      Nov 22, 2014 at 6:58am

      Funny how the other 15000 people there all loved the show.
      Not sure who you think you are, but you shouldn't be writing reviews of rock shows.
      Go fuck yourself

      Huh

      Nov 22, 2014 at 7:00am

      ..so how many people attend this show? 500, 10000, sell-out?

      Common Sense

      Nov 22, 2014 at 8:47am

      That escalated quickly.

      crue fan

      Nov 22, 2014 at 10:55am

      your comments about one of the biggest bands in history prove why no one has ever heard your name you piece of shit.

      Beth

      Nov 22, 2014 at 11:03am

      Nobody puts Alice in a corner!

      PS - to deano: back off. Steve has known rock 'n' roll since before you were born. He knows the difference between true talent and shiny objects.

      Rocker D

      Nov 22, 2014 at 11:34am

      It was amazing , they were ALL in fine form ... I say Motley you say Crüe ... The Crue will always be Rock Gods.. Loved Tommys solo , Vancouver fans are the bomb!

      critics of the critics

      Nov 22, 2014 at 12:08pm

      why do people think a writer doesn't have the right to review if they didn't like the show? should you only be allowed to write positively then what is that even worth? that's what PR firms are for.
      also, opinions of taste will never be right nor wrong, no matter how much you're convinced of it.

      Melo

      Nov 22, 2014 at 12:12pm

      25 years ago I saw the Crüe and they rocked, last night was a great rockin experience with loud music,awesome effects and the aroma of grass was great. The fans of all ages rock out and the memories came back . Thank you Motley Crüe.