Mötley CrüeYou can read all about Tommy Lee’s Crüecifly, or watch footage of it on YouTube, but nothing can prepare you for the mammoth scale of the thing once it’s set up inside an arena; it really does arc over to the very back of the GA section, behind the sound desk.
“Are you ready to rock’n’roll?” Muscle Car enquire. The band won this support slot via a Triple M competition and, hell, yeah! They’re proficient players. One of the guitarists has dreads so long he could tread on one. Sandra Sully is a standout track. Muscle Car’s singer admits this is the most fun he’s had in his life. And with a “See you tomorrow night,” they’re off.
Did we just see a stagehand dressed as a skeleton? Probably. Alice Cooper’s painted-eyes backdrop features bushy brows and visuals in the pupils. He enters with aplomb, performing before a curtain of sparks in his black-and-red striped suit plus humongous double belt buckle (which incorporates a skull above another skull) that’s nearly the size of his head. Cooper loves a prop; he presents a crutch outward as if it’s a giant phallus and then brandishes what resembles a fencer’s foil. Poison absolutely brings it and Cooper claims, “You’re all poison,” at song’s close. His backing band is extraordinary, particularly guitarist Nita Strauss (who replaced our Orianthi). There’s a killer drum solo during which Cooper changes costume, returning sporting an upcycled top hat from aforementioned black-and-red striped suit. A giant Frankenstein’s monster during Feed My Frankenstein calls to mind Iron Maiden’s Eddie and we all sing along enthusiastically to School’s Out. “Schoooool’s out/For/Ever!” – a given when you bear in mind tonight’s demographic. Even though we have a profile view of Cooper’s beheading, it’s still impressively/scarily realistic. Cooper is an ageless superstar.
So Long, Farewell from The Sound Of Music plays in the lead-up to Mötley Crüe as a humorous nod to The Final Tour. Saints Of Los Angeles opens the show and clapping eyes on our four heroes sharing a stage just never gets old. Back-to-back hits such as Wild Side, Too Fast For Love, Dr Feelgood and Kickstart My Heart remind us what an impressive legacy our favourite miscreants have created. Frontman Vince Neil’s voice holds up surprisingly well and Mick Mars’ guitar solo melts our faces right off. The band’s cover of Sex Pistols’ Anarchy In The UK dazzles. The pyros and timely flames make mouths gape throughout the arena and it’s no wonder the Crüe have to spray fire retardant on their clothes before each gig.
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Nikki Sixx is ferocious (as always) on bass. Lee’s Crüecifly sees him travelling along the track, rotating and pelting the skins from all angles to a variety of songs including INXS’ Need You Tonight, which has us swelling with national pride. His drumming is extraordinary; powerful and measured. At the close of each song we feel simultaneously joyous celebrating the Crüe’s achievements with them and wistful that this will be the last time we get to watch them up there on stage where they thrive. Encore song Home Sweet Home is a teary conclusion and many punters sway with consoling arms around each other’s shoulders.
It just wouldn’t feel right to watch Mötley Crüe limp toward the finish line and they fittingly sign off, match fit and guns blazing. They kick ass for life.
