Can They Last?

 As I posted yesterday, Robin Leach reports on his blog that Motley Crue are the recipients of some major cash. A new 10 year, Live Nation deal is worth 100 million bucks. As part of that deal, the band has agreed to release three new albums and jaunt off on just as many world tours.

Of course, this goes back to the whole "why now" question I asked here just a few weeks ago. 

Does this mean the world is clamoring for more Motley Crue...or is Live Nation bilking die hard fans for cash?

I would say it's a little of both. 

Some fans - like me - will pay multiple times to see Motley. Others will skip the ticket premiums, figuring they've already seen the show and would "prefer to remember the band the way they once were."

Well, "once were and now is" are two totally different things, and I'd rather live in the moment than skip a tour because I've already seen the band. I digress.

Live Nation makes a lot of money on their concert deals. As the group continues to purchase sheds all across the country,  it's going to be virtually impossible to see an act that's not under some sort of Live Nation agreement.

Motley must still be a heck of a draw to get a 100 million dollar deal these days. As the music industry continues to evolve, look for more deals just like this one. Like any contractual agreement, this deal can be both good and bad for the band. They may lose some creative control, but at this point I don't know how much Vince Neil, Nikki Sixx, Tommy Lee or Mick Mars care about innovation.

The fans can surely last three more Motley tours and albums - that's a no brainer. The real question here is...can the band? Is Mick healthy enough to perform off and on for ten years? Will the rest of the band get along well enough to make this venture both profitable and enjoyable? I guess only time will tell.

I do find it curious that neither Live Nation nor Motley Crue has officially announced this massive deal. I hope it's not some sick joke. I plan on traveling a lot this summer to see the Crue multiple times.

On a side note, I wonder what all this means for SIXX: AM? The band has a small tour planned for the spring. I had guessed they would do another album, but it seems Motley really is working on some new material. That's not to say Nikki can't write and record two albums at one time, but I think it's doubtful. I mean, at this stage in the game, why bother, unless to Bring Back Glam?

Update on Tuesday, February 12, 2008 at 10:07AM by Allyson B. Crawford

Like some of you have posted below, Motley Crue founder Nikki Sixx is now denying this big deal.

Here's his statement, forwarded to me from 10th Street Entertainment:

"Motley Crue has not signed any deals.  Any information reported to the contrary is false and misleading."

I said I was skeptical, but at this point, I do believe there is some truth to this rumor. Motley Crue are excellent at still being able to excite fans and manipulate the media.

Take it all for what you will.

Comments

[Sweet Lou.]

Allyson,
Not sure if anyone posted this in your last blog, but Nikki has gone on record via his MySpace and said..NO DEAL HAS BEEN SIGNED CONTRARY TO ANY RUMORS. BUT me thinks that where there is smoke there is fire...
Sweet Lou.

[Christian Graus]

I have been reading a book of old Kerrang interviews, and I just read Mick Mars saying 'Of course Nikki didn't die, how stupid'. So, who cares what they say ?

I had heard there was more Sixx AM in the works, and to be frank, I was more excited about that, than new Motley. Why ? Because it was fresh ? New Tattoo was OK, but it was an attempt to sound like the old stuff, and that will never work in the long run. I've not listened to it for a long time.

[Red6ixx]

i saw the crue on the recent tour and as much as i loved it and would go again - but Nikki has said on his myspace that this isnt true - i agree with christian above - i would love to see some Sixx am - not sure if they would come to scotland but im sure i could travel - should the wife let me out on my own.

[George]

There's no way anyone would sign Motley Crue to such a deal. I really don't think there's that big of a demand for them. Do they draw any more than Poison would these days? They probably only draw more because they don't tour every summer like Poison usually does. $100 million would put them in a league with the likes of Madonnna and U2 and while Motley still has their core fans, they're nowhere near as big as they were in the 80's.

[Gypsy Scarred]

BULLSHI0t!!!

[Gypsy Scarred]

i saw motley back in 06 they changed me for good

[Matty]

I'm not sure if they can last. Good question. I don't see why they couldn't pull it off though. The Carnival of Sins tour was HUGE. They went around the US alone at least 3 times in that span in different venues. I think they are just working to move forward like everyone else. Plus, they have the upcoming hype from their Dirt bio movie, and the album almost being completed. It doesn't seem like such a long shot to me since they have so much stuff to tie together.

[Joe]

No George..Motley Crue arent that big anymore..On the Carnival of sins tour they were just the #3 biggest tour in the world...LONG LIVE THE CRUE!!!!

[Randy]

They are my all time favorite band, so I hope it's true. I believe it is true since the news came from Vince. Nikki lies. Maybe he lies to cover up for Vince breaking the news before he is supposed to. Who knows?
There is a long history of Vince breaking news, Nikki denying it, and then Vince's story turns out to be true. Both reunions are good examples. (Swine and COS)

[don]

first, the dirt movie still hasn't even started filming and doesn't look to anytime soon. second, a new album almost finished? since when? they were just talking about tommy being in or out of the group and now they're almost finished with an album? i highly doubt this. come on, 100 million for 10 years to a group that is in their mid 40s (mick is much older and has medical problems)? they'd have to tour constantly and put out new music constantly and we've seen that at this point they need large breaks from each other before doing it all again. they might get good money but not that good. it doesn't seem fiscally possible from the viewpoint of livenation. livenation's focus is on one thing, making a profit. based on that i just don't see this as being true. maybe i'm wrong but i'm sure we'll see in a few weeks or so either way.

[Vicky]

They're doing it. Nikki is full of poop. Vince spoke out of turn, and shouldn't have said anything to Robin Leach...but apparently, it's happening. I can't see Mick Mars lasting another 10 years though. Mind you...the poor dude has been fucked out of millions from his ex-wives...so maybe he'll struggle through the pain and just do it.

[Tyk]

I still think Motley's best stuff was with Corabi. The Swine album also was great. But if they go back to New Tattoo stuff... forget it. The old Motley was certainly awesome. TFFL and Shout are classics. But I want to hear Motley move forward. I can't even remember any songs on Tattoo except that High Heels song. They can't try to relive the past.

It's like when Def Leppard recorded Slang - a brilliant album from start to finish. The fans freaked out, not hearing the album as it was, so the band recorded Euphoria, another been there, done that record. I rarely listen to that CD.

So if this is true, I hope Motley goes in and records something new and different. The fans, though, have to realize it's not 1989 anymore. We should want our favorite bands to grow and do new things... unless it's AC/DC of course.

[Vince Neilstein]

It's got nothing to do with demand for Crue, Live Nation being money-hungry, or the band being money hungry. Well, maybe a bit of the last two. But it has more to do with this simple fact: Motley ain't gonna sell many albums of new material, but they will make bank on live concerts from now until kingdom come. So it makes sense for Live Nation -- a company who specializes in concerts -- to give them a large advance against shows, the way a record label would offer an advance against record sales.

Madonna just signed a deal just like this, also with Live Nation. Expect more deals like this in the near future for acts who still sell tons of tickets but not many new records.