Motley Cruise Day 2

We ported in Key West and Eric and I looked at a lot of overpriced clothes and laughed. Hard. Those poor shop people actually thought I was going to try on a pair of $300 jeans. They obviously don’t know me!

After Key West it was back on the boat and another Jacob Lynam sighting. Glam fans, I panicked for whatever reason and didn’t introduce myself to him. Of course we’ve spoken on the phone, but I figure a formal introduction is a professional courtesy. I don’t know what came over me, but I just couldn’t tap him on the shoulder and say “hello.” Today, I hope to hunt him down as I’ve been cursing myself ever since my missed opportunity.

Heavy metal karaoke far surpassed my expectations. Yes, people are usually drunk when they karaoke but this was a whole other level. It’s been a long time since I’ve laughed that hard and then…Vince Neil jumped on stage! He sang ZZ Top’s “Sharp Dressed Man.” Before the music started, he said “I’ve never sang this before.” When he was done, it was all smiles again. Of course I wasn’t expecting a celebrity appearance, so I was sitting in the back of the room. Oh well.

Hours of karaoke later (and no, the glam mistress didn’t sing. She never sings) it was time for Lynam. The Alabama boys performed:

Giving Up On Rock n’ Roll
Better
Tanis (Change Your Mind)
By Your Side
Slave to the Machine
Rock and Roll All Nite
Whitetrash Superstar
It’s All In Your Head
Left for Dead

I’ve already said dozens of times that Lynam is a great new band. Turns out they are also excellent live. In addition to being able to really play, Jacob can really sing. Actually, the whole power trio can sing, which is refreshing. If you ever get the chance to see Lynam, give them a shot.

Today, it’s time to meet Vince Neil!

Motley Cruise Day 1

What an odd world we live in.

My husband and I pulled up to the Miami cruise port, checked our bags and wandered for about two feet before seeing Evel Dick of Big Brother fame. I knew he was going on the cruise, but I didn’t expect to see him straightaway. Since Big Brother is one of my favorite shows – and I rooted for ED to win - I was very excited. Imagine my surprise when I ended up in line right behind him to check-in. I haven’t had my picture taken with him yet, but that’s coming – don’t worry.

If you’ve cruised, then you know the ships are like floating cities with thousands of passengers. To my surprise, I keep seeing the same few people over and over – including band members. I literally brushed by Vince Neil on my way to the bar (notice I said my way!) and have seen Jacob Lynam about 97 times. I also sat at the table across from Vince at dinner. I have to admit, watching the lead singer of Motley Crue drinking a Coke isn’t all that exciting.

The entire point of this vacation is the music and last night was Slaughter and RATT in that order. Eric and I got in line early and we waited…and waited…and waited for the doors of the theatre to open. I suppose it didn’t matter because somehow we ended up in the balcony which disappointed me a little. It’s a trade-off I suppose: better sound, or better pictures?

Slaughter sounded really good in my opinion. I thought Mark Slaughter sounded good at Rocklahoma but no one agreed with me then. Please believe he sounded even better last night. My pen died during their set, so I don’t have the full list but Slaughter did perform “Take Me Away,” “Burnin’ Bridges,” “Mad About You,” “Fly to the Angels” and “Up All Night.” The band also performed a new song; I believe it was called “Inside Myself” (don't quote me on that!). It was slower, but I enjoyed it well enough. Toward the end of the set, the band was having feedback issues, but no one really seemed to care.

A short intermission and it was time for RATT. I was ready to go in my “RATT & Roll” shirt, thank you very much. A new pen means a full set here. The band played:

Sweet Cheater
Walkin’ The Dog
Dangerous, But Worth the Risk
I'm Insane
You Think You’re Tough
City to City
Slip of the Lip
Wanted Man
Nobody Rides for Free
Way Cool, Jr.
Back for More
Lovin’ You’s a Dirty Job
Lack of Communication
Lay It Down
You’re In Love
Body Talk
Round and Round

Judging by the length of the set, you can tell RATT played for well over an hour. This was cool, except the set was a little “gappy.” By that I mean Stephen Pearcy and company would play a song, then stand around for a minute to get back into position. At one point Pearcy said that last night’s performance was the band’s first show together in more than two months. In a lot of ways you could tell. Pearcy’s voice sounded o.k. at the beginning of the set…and sort of went downhill. To be fair, I think it rebounded a little toward the end, so maybe he was just tired. The stage banter was sort of getting on my nerves, but what can you do? I mean, there are only so many times Pearcy needed to say “Are you ready to party?”

Every time I see RATT live, I can’t help but wonder why none of the band members move. I am a John Corabi nut, but he stays on his side of the stage for nearly the entire set…and Warren DeMartini stays on the other side of the stage while Pearcy sort of jumps in the middle. The good news is that most of the feedback was gone during RATT and I was impressed by the concert volume. I probably would have forgotten I was even on a cruise ship except for the fact that the band members kept referencing it and the ship was swaying a little more than usual.

Vince Neil stood to the side of the stage while Slaughter and RATT performed and he seemed to be having a good time. Then again, every time I saw him he was all smiles. At the end of the day, this cruise is a way to raise money for the Skylar Neil Memorial Fund. I’m sure Vince is pleased with the turnout for his charity.

Today I’m in Key West and I see Lynam at midnight. There’s also something called “Heavy Metal Karaoke” which sounds fun. Ah, the drunken debauchery.

Dr. Feelgoods Rock Bar

Traveling is one of my passions, but flight delays put a damper on my good mood. I woke before 4 a.m. to fly from Dayton to Detroit then on to Miami.

Hours...and hours...and hours later I was finally in the Miami heat.

Enough of the negative. On to the positive: 

Did I go to Dr. Feelgood's Rock Bar? Yes.
Is it basically awesome? Yes.
Did the waitresses wear skimpy dresses? Yes.
Did the the DJ play "Wildside" while I was drinking my Bud Lite? Yes.

As you can see by the picture of the giant snake, Dr. Feelgood's Rock Bar and Grill isn't a slum shack. The bar is actually decked out to the nines in rock memorabilia. Some find this hokey, but it's right up my alley. 

In addition to the Feelgood snake, there is a stripper pole, Rat-Tailed Jimmy's car (well, half of it. The car sort of juts out from the wall) and several motorcycles and Motley Crue guitars representing different albums by the Sunset Strip band.

Billed as "Bike Night" a lot of motorcycle enthusiasts turned out for the drink specials and to show off their very fancy rides. I've never even ridden a motorcycle - let alone own one - but it was still fun to watch the bikers in their element.

I was at Dr. Feelgoods early so it wasn't rowdy by any means. Still, I think the bar has staying potential.

Anyway, I'm off to the cruise terminal. More later! 

Motley Cruise Schedule

The tour group running the Motley Cruise has just released the performance itinerary.

Some concerts are contingent on dining times, but basically I will be seeing RATT and Slaughter Thursday night and possibly Endeverafter.

On Friday, I'll probably be seeing Lynam.

Saturday looks like I'll be meeting Vince Neil and the members of Skid Row and then watching Endeverafter.

On Sunday, Vince Neil and Skid Row are slated to perform. A meet and greet with RATT and Slaughter is also scheduled. There's also a chance of seeing Lynam...again, it depends on dining.

Basically you can expect a show review the next day or even the same day depending on timing. Not all the shows are late at night - in fact, some are in the middle of the afternoon!

Internet use on cruise ships is typically reliable, but it's heinously expensive so I'll probably be posting just once daily. Of course, news warrants updates, so we'll see.

In the meantime, watch this video: RATT "Lovin' You's a Dirty Job." God I love Warren DeMartini.

Letting Go and Happy Trails

Today should be big for me.

It's my last day of work before starting a new career...and tomorrow I jaunt off for warmth and the Motley Cruise.

I have a long list of chores that need done before vacation and there just are not enough hours in the day. I started packing Sunday, and I'm very strict with this. I like one big bag, one carry-on and my laptop bag for both me and my husband. He takes way more stuff than me - and his clothes are naturally bigger - so they consume more space. I weighed my big bag last night and I'm over the alloted airline limit, so now I have to add another bag to the checked luggage which I despise. Half the time you get to your vacation destination and you don't need most of what you packed anyway. I digress.

So, I was looking around on YouTube for some video of the last Motley Cruise. Sadly, I didn't find anything worth posting here...it seems more people took video of the "Girls, Girls, Girls Bikini Contest" and not of Vince actually performing. Oh well.

This is my first time Motley Cruising and if all goes well, it will become an annual event for me, just like Rocklahoma.

In case you didn't know, the performers on this cruise are Vince Neil, Slaughter, Skid Row, RATT, Lynam and Endeverafter. Yes, these will be our people on the ship!

I'm excited to see every band, so I have high hopes for this trip. Of course, I'll post my show reviews and pictures here every day.

The boat doesn't actually leave until Thursday, but my husband and I are going to Miami tomorrow to soak up some early sun and probably visit Vince Neil's new bar Dr. Feelgoods. I'd by lying if I said I didn't REALLY want to go there...although I'm sure it is a lot like any other bar in an up and coming area: overpriced. Dr. Feelgoods is located in West Plam Beach...that's a little drive from Miami.

Of course, there is always stuff to do in South Beach so maybe we'll stay put near the hotel.

It's a very odd feeling...leaving one career, going on vacation and never returning to that familiar place of work. In some ways the Motley Cruise isn't just a vacation but an actual bridge to a new life.

My major life change has me thinking about our favorite glam bands and the changes they've experienced in the music industry over the past 25 years. I'm part of the MTV generation...but people like George Lynch, Don Dokken and Nikki Sixx grew up in a time when radio was still huge. Their imaginations helped fuel their desire to become famous musicians in over-the-top bands. By all accounts, a lot of the bands I write about here did achieve a great deal of success...and many are still rockin' today. Just look at Poison: they were often mocked by their Sunset Strip counterparts in the mid-1980s...achieved a massive amount of fame as the decade of decadence wore on and still produced music into the 90s. Now, more than two decades later, Poison is one of the few historic glam bands that can actually tour every summer to at least a shed audience. What's even is better is the boys in Poison actually look like they are having a good time.

So, change can be a good thing. Yes, time marched on and our favorites like Guns n' Roses and Motley Crue fell out of favor with the hipsters...but that is coming back. True passion can keep anything alive: a music genre, a hobby, a wild dream. If things don't change, then nothing evolves...and we wouldn't have glam - or new careers - to talk about in the first place.

Shoo Bop vs. Goin' Crazy

Do you own Diamond Dave (2003, Magna Carta) released by David Lee Roth? I don't own the disc, but I did come across the video for the single "Shoo Bop" and couldn't help but mutter "...What the hell?"

Steve Miller wrote "Shoo Bop" but I don't know if I'd claim author credit. Actually, Diamond Dave is mostly an album of cover tunes. I don't know much about the release other than "Shoo Bop" but if that track is any indication, my guess is the album is spotty. After Diamond Dave, David Lee Roth released Strummin' With the Devil, a bluegrass album of Van Halen tunes. This makes me think all parties involved were correct in getting the Van Halen reunion up and running. Anyway, here's the video for "Shoo Bop." It's completely crazy.

You know what...I actually think we should compare "Shoo Bop" to "Goin' Crazy."

After David Lee Roth left Van Halen in the mid-1980s, he released his phenomenal solo debut Eat 'Em and Smile. Despite his new status as a solo artist, David Lee Roth still had a label deal with Warner Bros. and a big budget for music videos. He also played ringmaster during a very expensive tour.Eat 'Em and Smile was a commercial success, thanks to singles like "Goin' Crazy" and "Yankee Rose." Now we all know Diamond Dave is a creative and zany guy, but some of his videos are pretty over-the-top. Here's the clip for "Goin' Crazy."

So, which is better (or maybe worse depending on your point of view)? "Goin' Crazy" is easily the better of the two songs...the videos, in my mind, are a toss-up.

Brent Muscat: The Bring Back Glam! Interview

If you like Faster Pussycat, then you know the name Brent Muscat. Guitarist Muscat helped form the classic glam band with singer Taime Downe in the mid 1980s. A semi-public feud lead to massive changes in the Faster Pussycat lineup and sound, and Muscat struck out on his own with various music projects. These days, Muscat plays in a Las Vegas band called the Sin City Sinners. Muscat recently spoke to Bring Back Glam! about his health, Faster Pussycat and his autobiography. Transcription follows.  

Bring Back Glam!: People are most concerned with your health. How are you feeling these days?

Brent Muscat: I feel good. I have to go back to the doctor every three months for a check up. As of right now the doctors believe I am cancer free.

BBG!: Tell me about your new band, the Sin City Sinners. How did that band form?

BM: I was looking for a project I can do locally here in Vegas. After I did my 20^th anniversary tour of Faster Pussycat, I still wanted to work with the other guitarist Todd Kerns and we put the Sinners together. It’s really a fun jam band and we play every Tuesday at a place called the Dive Bar. We have been bringing a cool special guest each week. So far we’ve had guys like Phil Lewis, Jizzy Pearl, Donnie Vie, Sami Yaffa, Ron Keel, and Paul Shortino among others. It’s really the only place to see and hear my era of music in town. We play a bunch of hard rock covers including songs from my old band.

BBG!: Do you plan on recording an album with the Sin City Sinners?

BM: It’s possible; we have all been working on songs.

BBG!: Are you still working on your book project?

BM: It‘s still in the works, but on the back burner right now. My writing partner and I both have so many other things going on, that it’s hard to find the time to sit down and work on it. We have a 100 page draft and eventually it will get done.

BBG!: Tell me about the early days of Faster Pussycat. How did you and Taime Downe initially meet?

BM: All these stories will be in my book in more detail, but basically two girls who knew our original drummer Mark Michals put me on the phone with Taime (Downe, vocals) when he was looking to start a band.

BBG!: How long did it take for you to realize you had a special chemistry?

BM: Right away. Back then Taime was really focused and believe it or not was against drugs.

BBG!: When was the last time you spoke with Taime Downe?

BM: I spoke to his answering machine about eight or nine months ago to try and resolve things, but he never responded. I would have given him the name, without him having to waste money on an attorney.

BBG!: Are you still actively involved in real estate, or do you want to move back into making music full time?

BM: I am still involved in real estate and own a few homes here in town. Music is more of a hobby for me at this point. I am not unrealistic; I know I will never be able to recapture what I’ve already accomplished. My priority now is just being a good husband to my wife and dad to my daughter Kat.

BBG!: The music industry has changed so much over the last 20 years. Do you think it's possible that Metal can ever be as popular today as it was in the mid 80s?

BM: No, but more power to all the guys who are out there sticking to their guns and playing the music the way it was meant to sound on the records. Music would really suck if all the old metal/hard rock guys tried to sound like Marilyn Manson.

BBG!: Do you think Faster Pussycat is a glam band?

BM: We used to be, but in my opinion since Taime put it together with a bunch of clowns, it's become a bad Marilyn Manson, NIN rip off.

BBG!: What are your musical aspirations for 2008?

BM: I’ll continue playing every week here in Las Vegas with The Sin City Sinners and maybe do some weekend shows here and there with the band and see where it goes from there.

Sin City Sinners on Myspace

Photo credit: Brent Muscat via the Sin City Sinners