Motley May Be Making a Big Mistake
Wednesday, October 15, 2008 at 12:01AM Look, I don't like Hinder. I've written that before. You all came in - somewhat vigorously I might add - to say I should give them a chance. Fine, I'm giving them a chance. I'm seeing them live in December. I have make-up tickets because X-Fest was canceled. Once would be enough.
Now, Motley Crue has announced they will do a winter arena tour with Hinder. Ok, so Hinder slipped and made the announcement, but I figure Motley's big press event is just around the corner. I think Nikki Sixx - and therefore Motley - is making a huge mistake. There are so many reasons. Let's drill it down:
1) The economy is crap and Motley just toured. That means market saturation.
2) AC/DC is touring this winter in North America. There are just a few bands that can withstand economic crisis. AC/DC is one.
3) See number one again. Motley Crue just toured. Seriously.
4) Since Motley Crue just toured (we're driving a point here) the chance of filling arenas ain't looking good.
Ok, so there are my four big points. You'll notice none of them mention Hinder. Here's the fifth point: Hinder may be a great band. Hell, I don't like them, but my opinion doesn't count for too much. I just don't know if they have the draw Motley needs to put butts in the seats. I feel like I'm becoming a broken record here, but I've said "music is a business" over and over to anyone that would listen nonstop the past couple of weeks. I live and breathe music. I do not, however, pay my mortgage through music. No, the individual members of Motley don't have to worry to much about the current economy. Other bands - our favorite smaller Glam bands - do. Big time. When big bands, with big money and big power continue to make big mistakes (notice a buzz word here?) it's the little guys who often suffer. Not to mention that people that do the actual business of making music. You know, tours just don't pop up. Bands just don't land on Larry King Live. Promotions do not fall from the sky. Hordes of people work to support an industry that has been under fire for quite a long time. It's usually the youngest (and therefore poorest) staff members that get the shaft first when a bad decision trickles down. Remember kids, shit rolls down hill. And it always stinks.
So back to Motley Crue and their winter escapade. Will I go? Yeah, I'll buy another over priced ticket to see Motley. Again. Will I watch Hinder, too? Yep. Will I like them? Meh. The point is not everyone is like us. Remember, dearest readers, we're a very special breed. It would not occur to 99% of the population to Google the words "Glam + Metal." The elite 1% of us that get it know just how important it is to make delicate - yet direct - steps in the music world these days. Promotion is so much more than getting a band on the cover of Rolling Stone. It's also giving your fans their money's worth - by touring with acts that add value.
Why isn't Crue Fest 2.0 or Winterfest or whatever the hell this upcoming tour is called a double bill? Is it because Motley hate the term Glam? Is it because they don't want to share the stage? Is it because another headline act would eat too far into the profit margin?
Whew. All that said, I feel like I need to step off the soap box and explain the passion here. Motley Crue are very important to me. I honestly don't give a fig about their opening band - except that I think the act should fit the demographic. I believe Buckcherry was an excellent act to take as the second headliner on Crue Fest this past summer. Maybe Hinder will work. Maybe not. Truth be told, I do not think I can bare watching Motley playing to near empty venues. When I saw Def Leppard a few months ago - the size of the crowd devastated me. In times of recession, people pick and choose. People may very well pick a tour by a band that hasn't been around in a while. That makes fundamental sense. I'm worried that if this winter tour goes belly-up, Motley will either 1) call it quits for good or 2) be forced out immediately again by Live Nation. Neither scenario is great.
Ok, time for your thoughts.
Reader Comments (24)
although I can say right now I don't think the consequences of them touring are going to be nearly as devastating as you make it out to be.
Im going to see Vince on a solo show here in the UK later in the year and i hope Crue follow suit and appear over here again SOON.
AC/DC tic kets go on sale Friday so looks like an expensive winter.
How do u not like them!
and i'll def. go but its not untill next year january and after till the tour starts so it wont really be alongside ac/dc/ in the U.S.A
GO LISTEN TO USE ME!
and mick mars is playing on the title track of hinder's new cd Take It To The Limit!
With the economy in a complete HOLE right now I have to say after hearing this announcement I actually didn't get excited but just STRESSED on yet another tour that will cost me high dollar tickets and I'm sure tickets will be going on sale in December (right when everyone is already overly stressed b/c of Holiday shopping, not such a smart move in my opinion). We all know they are work horses and can't stay off the road. I just hope they step it up with the set list!
Here's an idea though...why don't bands like Motley try to cut down on the pyro and stuff and play a 'back to basics' type tour where it's stripped down, no fluff, and they could charge less. Just think...instead of charging like $50 and playing to a half-empty arena, they could charge $20-30 and probably fill everyplace. I know the pyro, video screens, dancing girls, are all part of the spectacle, but if you can't be good without all that extra stuff, then maybe it's time to hang it up.
As for Motley, if they come around here and the tickets are reasonable, I'll go. With a longer set, they should be able to play more from SOLA (just like we all wanted them to during the summer tour). I've already decided I'm not going to the AC/DC show unless I win free tickets, because $90 is just way too much for me to spend on that. I saw Van Halen for $50ish, and to me VH is WAY better than AC/DC. Motley outranks them both (again, this is for ME), but not sure if I would spend $50 because I've just seen them. I'd love to hear some of the new stuff live, but not $50 love. :)
BUT, I'd be happy to see Hinder tour with Motley. Besides Lips of an Angel, I really like them. And of course, Motley's my favorite band so I'd love to see them again, as long as they hit somewhere like...Raleigh, instead of Charlotte. I'm not going over 3 hours to see Motley, as much as I love them. I'll wait until Cruefest next year to see them again, if that's the case.
And I love Hinder's cover of Bon Jovi's Bed Of Roses. If you haven't heard it, you should listen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNDkKbPQwoc
I would rather see a band like FireHouse or Dokken than Motley Crue.
Motley Crue is the best band ever and will do well at whatever they do. They have already proved this, many many times.
It's not like he has anything else to do during the day... the only thing he has to do is sing for 90 minutes 4-5 times a night. He has a bus or private jet to travel, roadies to do all the work... WTF?!
It's also hard to see Crue (or Def Leppard for that matter) again after they turned on the entire era that made them who they are. I'm sick of all these f**kin' bands acting like they're embarassed about the 80s. You wouldn't be here today if it weren't for the GLAM 80s, you a**holes!!!
I'll gladly pay to see AC/DC... they've changed or tried to be something they weren't... there's a band with true integrity!
Okay, I'm done venting! :)