July 07, 2000

Metal survivors ready to kickstart Odessa

For Motley Crue, every sign on the road to success has read "STOP" or "DETOUR" but they’re still traveling that highway.

Members of the heavy rock band formed in 1980 by bassist Nikki Sixx have faced death, upheaval, lackluster record sales and drug and alcohol problems.

In 1984, vocalist Vince Neil was involved in a major car crash that killed Hanoi Rocks drummer Razzle. Three years later, Sixx came close to death after a heroin overdose. Then in 1992, Neil was ejected from the band and formed the Vince Neil Band, only to rejoin Crue in 1996. Former drummer Tommy Lee drew publicity with arrests, prison time and his explosive marriage to actress Pamela Anderson.

Through it all, Motley Crue has survived to release another album, "New Tattoo," that is founded in the band’s roots.

"Motley has been through a lot of changes and experimental times but it’s come full circle," new drummer Randy Castillo said in a telephone interview from his home in Los Angeles. "The new album is truly what Motley was meant to be: raw, down and dirty, sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll. The songs are the essence of Motley Crue."

The album’s 11 songs are vintage Crue — irreverent lyrics, explosive riffs and anthemic choruses.

The album starts off with "Hell On High Heels," a song that’s actually been floating around the band’s vaults for a decade, and "She Needs Rock & Roll," an addition to the band’s collection of tributes to girls.

The remainder of the album has Crue taking shots at itself ("Treat Me Like the Dog That I Am," "Punched in the Teeth By Love"), delivering shots of its own ("Dragstrip Superstar," "Fake"). It also falls in love with a "Porno Star" and makes a bid to be the "First Band on the Moon."

Of course, no rock album would be complete without a love song. The band has referred to the album’s title track as the ultimate one.

"It’s a song about a guy who gets in a fight with his girlfriend, goes out with the guys, gets drunk and, in the middle of the night, calls his girlfriend and apologizes and says ‘You know what? You don’t even know how much you meant to me. I’m sorry, and I just got your name tattooed on my arm. I want to be with you forever,’" Neil said in a statement issued by the band. "I think it’s one of the most amazing songs we’ve written, hence the album is titled after it."

Also, the Crue adds to their long history of covers — "Helter Skelter," "Smokin’ in the Boys Room," "Anarchy in the U.K." and "Jailhouse Rock" — with another leap into rock history. "New Tattoo" introduces the band’s version of the Tubes’ "White Punks on Dope," a sarcastic song that certainly fits the mood of the album.

"(The cover song) was Nikki’s idea," Neil said in the release. "We threw out a bunch of different songs, but that one, I swear to God, it came together like a heartbeat. It was like, ‘That’s the one!’ "

Castillo said the album is one that the band is proud of.

"The new record is exactly what the fans want and what we want to play," Castillo said. "It’s kind of the devil meets Dr. Feelgood."

Those references to Dr. Feelgood and the devil originated in a couple of the band’s 1983 and 1989 albums. After establishing itself with "Too Fast For Love" in 1981, the band followed up with "Shout At The Devil" in 1983. Probably their most widely respected album, "Devil" was a triple-platinum record that led the way for the subsequent multi-million sellers "Theatre of Pain" in 1985, "Girls, Girls, Girls" in 1987 and "Dr. Feelgood" in 1989.

Along the way, the band has developed an extravagant stage show that continues this summer with the second annual Maximum Rock tour. The road trip will visit almost 50 concert sites across the United States, including one scheduled at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Ector County Coliseum.

"This one is going to rock," Castillo said. "You’re going to be transported into a Motley Crue world. The stage is amazing. There’s a whole other world.

"We don’t go out and preach politics, we just play music and rock your world. "

Currently, the band is touring with Hole drummer Samantha Malone. Castillo hasn’t been able to travel since emergency surgery to repair damage from a stomach ulcer. Castillo is hoping to rejoin the band for the Odessa date, but, as we go to press, the official decision is has not been made.

Odessans may remember Castillo from his 80s’ stint as the drummer for Ozzy Ozborne

"With Ozzy, I felt like I was just doing a job, but it’s the real thing with Motley," Castillo said.

By the "real thing," Castillo means that Motley Crue is truly rock ‘n’ roll. In a time when boy bands and teen pop singers are topping the charts, a hard rock band that is still playing music from 1980 is still alive.

"The radio stations and record companies are trying to dictate taste and they can have that power, but Motley takes it to the people and fights it," Castillo said. "Rock and metal has managed to survive all the music industry changes and about every eight to 10 years, it rears its ugly head. This is that time."

In a triple threat to pop music, Motley Crue will be joined by Anthrax and Megadeath at Sunday night’s concert.

"Motley went through a lot of changes in the past 10 years and now we’re taking it to the people," Castillo said.