Web: motley.com
Players: Vince Neil, vocals; Nikki Sixx, bass; Tommy Lee, drums; John 5, guitar
More column inches have been written about hard rock veterans Mötley Crüe than some former presidents. Movies and TV shows have been made, and books have been written (notably, in both cases, The Dirt). Band members have exited and, in the case of frontman Vince Neil and drummer Tommy Lee, returned. There have been scandals and wild anecdotes, all told, if we’re being totally honest, with a public in mind that will gobble up with an insatiable appetite all manner of lascivious, debauched and decadent goings-on. Pearls will be clutched while scrolling continues.
Three members of the classic Crüe lineup are in the current incarnation: Neil, Lee, and bassist Nikki Sixx. When they reneged on their promise to retire a decade ago, guitarist Mick Mars gave the reunion a go but retired as a touring member in 2022 due in part to his ongoing battle with ankylosing spondylitis, an aggressive form of arthritis. So here we are in 2026, and Mötley Crüe is still out there on the circuit. John 5, the bag-of-tricks guitarist who has previously played with David Lee Roth, Marilyn Manson, and Rob Zombie, has taken Mars’ place. Business as usual.
Well, not quite. See, here’s the thing: While the guys still dress and speak as if they’re young bucks raising hell on the Sunset Strip, they’re actually in their mid-60’s. Even new lad John 5 is in his mid-50’s. This current tour, which we experienced in Long Beach, CA and Phoenix, AZ, is dubbed the Return of the Carnival of Sins and, before the band emerged onto the stage from behind a sort of “big top,” an animated, monstrous ringmaster, a lecherous take on P.T. Barnum, told the crowd about the insane sights that they were about to soak up. Crazy, crazy shit was to be expected. The dude really built it up, like we were about to be dropped into the last days of Sodom and Gomorrah. And then… four middle-aged chaps ambled up and, surrounded by some female dancers who were likely a third of the band members’ age, played some absolutely decent rock ‘n’ roll.
The show was far from bad. A lot has been made of the state of Neil’s voice nowadays, and there are definitely moments, sometimes entire songs, where he does struggle. One of the set’s great surprises, the song “Afraid” from 1997’s underrated Generation Swine, should have been a highlight but ended up falling flat due to Neil sounding like he’d only just learned it. But the yin to that yang is Crüe’s power ballad “Home Sweet Home,” which the singer grasped with both hands.
The three musicians sounded phenomenal, in fairness. Sixx and Lee have always been a powerhouse rhythm section, and that remains the case. The rumble they create at the start of “Dr. Feelgood” in particular, is unparalleled. And while Mars is known for his bluesy riffs, John 5 is a wildly unpredictable, maverick guitarist. It’s a bit like when Buckethead joined Guns N’ Roses or, going back a bit further, when Steve Vai joined Whitesnake. They can do far more than the songs require. 5 had the chance to shine during a solo that saw him cover his eyes with a towel, the big, ol’ showoff!
The setlist in Long Beach was great; all of the hits you want to hear, plus some deep cuts. “Louder Than Hell” is a killer track from 1985’s underappreciated Theatre of Pain, and it was great to hear that get an airing. The raucous Too Fast for Love debut was represented in the form of the title track, “Live Wire,” and “Take Me to the Top.”
The killer cover of Brownsville Station’s “Smokin’ in the Boy’s Room” was a riot, as was “Primal Scream” from the Decade of Decadence comp.
“Shout at the Devil,” “Kickstart My Heart,” “Girls, Girls, Girls,” “Wild Side”—all gave the crowd something to sing and dance to ( a crowd that, earlier on, had been warmed up expertly by Extreme and Tesla).
Ultimately, this was a perfectly adequate Mötley Crüe show. They’re not kids anymore, and it’s impossible to capture the fire and energy that comes with a determination to succeed and a desperation not to fail. The lads did just fine.
Photos by Alex Kluft, taken at the Talking Stick Resort Amphitheater, Phoenix, AZ
