Motley Cruise Day 4

The final day of the Motley Cruise meant performances by Vince Neil and Skid Row plus a meet and greet with RATT and members of Slaughter.

First, the meet and greet.

It’s a shame that Stephen Pearcy has to be a jerk and ruin the fun. Right before the meet and greet a security guard told everyone that Pearcy wouldn’t be taking any photos – only singing autographs. Turns out, no one in RATT took any photos - presumably because of Pearcy’s rule. Well, I had nothing that needed autographed and I had nothing to say to Pearcy so I spoke to John Corabi and went on around the bend. There were other tales of Pearcy acting like a jerk during the cruise, too. Apparently, one Motley passenger told Pearcy she loved his music. His reply was something to the effect of “Good. Buy a CD.”

This doesn’t sit well with me. First, the people who sailed during the Motley Cruise spent thousands of dollars for the opportunity to meet with band members and get photos. Second, Pearcy should be glad that people are still interested in RATT and his music. Third, a little tact goes a long way. I’m sure if I was quasi-famous, I’d get sick of being approached non-stop, but that goes with the territory. After all, it’s better to be a has been than a has never. Perhaps Pearcy should be grateful people still know the words to “Nobody Rides for Free.”

After Pearcy put me in a bad mood, I got a very nice photo with Mark Slaughter and Timbo of Slaughter. The photo didn’t really improve my mood but I was glad to see that Mark Slaughter is still pretty.

In an odd twist, Skid Row and Vince Neil performed in the middle of the afternoon. Skid Row sounded pretty good but there were times that Johnny Solinger’s voice was weak. The band played nine songs total, which included all the obvious hits like “18 and Life,” “Monkey Business,” “I Remember You,” “Slave to the Grind,” and “Youth Gone Wild.”

Skid Row (minus Solinger) also performed “Psycho Therapy” by the Ramones. This seemed pointless to me, but whatever. The song sounded good and I guess that’s all that matters in the end.

Vince’s concert was set as the centerpiece of the entire cruise. The performance was marred by technical difficulties from the start. Somehow the audio went south between Skid Row and Vince. Jeff Blando’s guitar didn’t work at the beginning of the show, speakers were blown and feedback was common. As the show wore on, the sound got better but not before Vince was forced to play a guitar that barely worked. Per usual, Vince did not sing any of his solo songs. Here are some of the songs from the set:

Live Wire
Dr. Feelgood
Piece of Your Action
Looks that Kill
Don’t Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)
Same Ol’ Situation
Whole Lotta Love
Rock and Roll
Kickstart My Heart
Girls, Girls, Girls
Wild Side
Teaser

By the midpoint of the set, the sound had improved immensely and Vince seemed to be in a better mood. The crowd wasn’t nearly as rowdy as I’d expected. After all, at least three of my fellow Motley Cruisers were either thrown off the boat or put in “cruise jail” for bad behavior. I guess I was expecting people to be jumping from the balcony but most people stayed relatively calm. The fact that Vince was playing around 5 in the evening probably didn’t hurt.

I can safely say this is the most interesting cruise I’ve ever taken. It has also been the least relaxing by far. Sadly, it’s time to return to the cold chill of Ohio. I need to go home so I can recover!

Motley Cruise Day 3

Kids, my mission of securing a photo with Vince Neil is complete. Notice I’m wearing a one of a kind Bring Back Glam! shirt just for the occasion.

After the vessel docked for Cozumel, Mexico it was time for a beach party. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen so many people crammed into a Margaritaville restaurant before, but somehow it all worked. After a charity auction, some beer, and a bikini contest (and no, the glam mistress didn’t enter. Snickers aside) it was time for a special music guest.

Of course the guest was Vince with Slaughter. Well, actually it was Vince, his backing band which is basically Slaughter and then Mark Slaughter jumping around on stage a few times and singing when the spirit moved him.

They played four songs:

Looks That Kill
Live Wire
Rock and Roll
Wildside

After the concert I finally met Jacob Lynam and he is sweet as pie. Incidentally, he must be about seven feet tall because he completely crunched down for the photo and was still towering over me. Perhaps it’s the hair that gives the illusion of extra height?

Vince Neil and Skid Row perform today. More later!

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.