I've been sitting in this one for awhile, but this week seemed to be the perfect time.
By 1992 Motley Crue was unquestionably one of the biggest bands in the world. A string of multi-platinum albums and sold out tours they seemed poised to be one of the only 80's metal bands to survive the grunge onslaught...
Then they fired their lead singer and completely changed their sound.
Recruiting former vocalist for The Scream, John Corabi, they spent almost 2 years working on what Nikki Sixx predicted would be "our Physical Grafitti". For a band that had lived in the tabloid headlines for a decade they completely disappeared while working on their next record
Finally released in March of 1994, the self-titled 'Motley Crue' album was put out with a ton of hype and promotion, then completely died. Falling off the charts within a month, it was a total commercial disaster. Once the band hit that road that June, they were playing to arenas that were practically empty. I saw them at the 18,000 seat Starwood Amphitheater and despite having general admission tickets, the entire lawn was sectioned off and I ended up in the 6th row. At most there was 1,500 people. By early August the remaining tour dates were either moved to theaters (and in some cases clubs) or cancelled altogether.
Despite all that, the record stands up today better than pretty much any album released by anyone in 1994. Heavier and rawer than anything the band did before or since, it could even be considered ahead of its time. With a guitar tone that would make Pantera jealous and elements of industrial drums and bass, it was a million miles away from "Girls Girls Girls". Gone were the hedonistic anthems that made the band millions, replaced by songs about child abuse and drug addiction. It wasn't what the band's legion of fans were wanting, but the few people who actually gave it a chance almost unanimously agree it's their greatest work.
2 years after it was released the band caved into record company pressure and rehired Vince Neil. They quickly returned to sold out arenas where they've stayed for almost 20 years. The band no longer acknowledges this era even exists. No songs have been played live since that ill fated tour and none of the singles ever appear on the countless Motley compilation albums that have come out in the last 2 decades.
Tomorrow night I'll be seeing John Corabi and his solo band playing this entire album live. And no matter what Soundscan or Pollstar numbers may say, it'll be a better show than anything Nikki, Mick, Vince and Tommy could do if they wanted.