Motley May Be Making a Big Mistake

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.

Comments

[Jess]

/headdesk/

I come here a lot. I've noticed one thing: Why do you always pick on Motley Crue? Seriously, you do a lot. It's nit picking at that, too.

I think that it won't matter about how often they tour,because when I hear people talk about the Crue, they always want to go see them.

I saw them last summer for Crue Fest. It was amazing. I'm a little biased as I'm a die hard fan of the band--my favorite. I will defend them even if they don't really need me defending them.

I don't know. Hinder is pretty good. Are they not metal enough for you, is that it? Some of their songs are wonderful even if "Lips" is overrated. I asked myself what Motley were thinking inviting "Trapped" along on Crue Fest 1. I mean...huh? That's not metal. That's...something entirely different.

You say Motley Crue is important to you but I'm beginning to wonder. They have to move in new directions to keep on, and to stay updated. They can't just keep shelling out remakes of their old stuff.

I think Motley can sell as well as AC/DC. You just wait and see. Maybe then you'll stop nit-picking everything the Crue does.

[Valentine]

Sigh.

1. When posting to a message board where everyone can see your comments don't post in ALL CAPS. It's just lame.
2. When posting to a message board where everyone can see your comments please use punctuation.
3. "Seen" should be used as in "I have seen Motley Crue 454 times," not "I seen 'em on the last tour and they were amazing."
4. The word "amazing" is really over used and has lost all it's worth.
5. Motely Crue are a great band that have released some classic material over the years and are in large part responsible for much of the genre we love but don't fool yourself, if they weren't getting paid they wouldn't be touring.
6. NO band is ticket pricing should be more then the cost of groceries or a tank of gas. I don't care who they are.
7. Motley has tried to tour behind a "stripped down" set and lost a lot of money. People want to see the big show.
8. Motley won't sell more tickets than AC/DC, although I won't go see either band.
9. Hinder does suck. But then again, so does Trapt.
10. Guns and Roses have been over for years. Axl has made the public wait 13 years for a "new" album and after the initial curiosity is satisfied, ("hey... this sounds like... shit."), Chinese Democracy will be in the bargain bins faster than you can say "Used Ta Be Mine."

Sigh.

[don]

valentine, stop holding back and tell us how you really feel.

[PBF666]

I think the crue could've SERIOUSLY chosen some WAYYYYY better bands to open for them. those bands were one of the reasons i didn't go to cruefest. god help us.