Motley Crue's Fifth Member

 

 

Grunge has often been credited with killing much of the music of the 80’s metal scene.  But as we now have the ability to look back it sure seems to have taken a bigger toll on bands like Ratt and LA Guns than it has for Motley Crue.  Vince Neil  recently acknowledged as much between Big Mac's and lipo treatment when he told Q magazine "I don't know why people say grunge killed rock. Only people whose careers were on the way out said that. It didn't seem to kill us.”  Hmmm.  Is that really true?  How is it that Ratt’s career was over in 1991 but not Motley’s?  And while Vince can say that now I doubt he felt that way when he released his second solo album, Carved In Stone, in 1995.  Not even I bought that.  And I buy everything.  In retrospect the downfall of the Sunset Strip scene was predictable.  Bloated bands offering nothing real or fresh.  The first single off every album was an upbeat rocker followed by a generic power ballad.  The same pattern.  Same video.  And when Guns N’ Roses broke it was clear there was a void that needed to be filled with angry music and we weren’t gonna get that from Slaughter.  Or 1989 Motley Crue for that matter.  But why is it that in 2014 bands like Ratt, Cinderella or even Judas Priest are viewed as less than Motley Crue?   

 

Let’s be honest.  Motley didn’t release a great album after Shout at the Devil.  Even if you disagree with that you must acknowledge the general population doesn’t care much for anything they released after Dr. Feelgood.  Don’t get me wrong.  I suppose all bands from this era are nostalgia acts at this point, but Motley seems to generate more current buzz.  Yet most of the people going to Motley’s farewell tour right now have no idea who John Corabi is or that they once had a female drummer.  I’m not talking about guys like me.  Guys like me know every detail.  Guys like me would rather hear City Boy Blues than Kickstart My Heart.  Guys like me will buy every Motley Crue record as it comes out.  With the full faith and credit that it will suck.  Guys like me look at going to shows and buying the records as an obligation.  But guys like me don’t fill arenas.  Depending on your city we might fill a club.  So why Motley and not LA Guns?  Tracii Guns had a theory.  He once said LA Guns would’ve been bigger if they'd had a blonde singer.  I don’t know about that but I do have my own theory on why Motley is revered more than any of their contemporaries. 

 

Tommy Lee’s penis. 

 

Far too many of us have seen Tommy and Pam’s “leaked” *cough* sex tape.  And once Tommy honked a boat horn with his dick the course was set and the ship had sailed.  At the time the video was unleashed upon an unsuspecting world, Pamela Anderson was internationally famous for bouncing along a beach in slow motion and showing her enhanced goodies in Playboy every other month.  Tommy Lee, and Motley Crue for that matter, were names that guys like me knew and the general world stopped caring about years earlier.   Then came the most famous sex tape ever (Sorry Kim Kardashian.)  And not long after Tommy and his crank were almost as famous as the tits in that video. 

 

We all know what happened next.  Motley were reuniting with original singer Vince Neil (Who had his own sex tape but with just an average size penis) to record an awful record and tour the world.  They released a book called the Dirt.  And while the road since that point had its ups and downs for Motley, Tommy and his dick parlayed their fame into a handful of really bad solo records.  A really bad reality TV show.  And a  couple of stint’s in jail.  The unintended beneficiary to all of this was Motley.  They became iconic.  Infamous.  And now as they promise to leave us forever as a touring entity, I find it hard to believe that the general public would care as much as they seemingly do were it not for Tommy’s special purpose.   (What do you think he is?  Some kind of jerk?) They had fewer hits than Ratt but would Alice Cooper open for Ratt today?  As the bank accounts of all four members grow, it’s the growth of an uncredited member that should take a bow.  Well, maybe in few minutes.  Not right now. 

  

Does anyone have some hand sanitizer?

Janay Rice Shouldn't Stand By Her Man

*I would like to say I often use this forum to express myself in satirical or sarcastic way.  Snarky.  Among the topics I would never make light of is spousal abuse of any kind.  What follows is in no way sarcastic or meant as a joke

 

I was planning on staying away from this one.  A) It’s getting plenty of coverage and B) standing out against domestic violence in situations like this tend to  be more about the person saying it and less about the actual issue.  I didn’t feel I had anything to offer that others weren’t already saying.  Then the victim spoke out.

 

In a letter to the Baltimore Sun, Janay Rice had the following to say in regards to the video getting out.

 

 

"I woke up this morning feeling like I had a horrible nightmare, feeling like I'm mourning the death of my closest friend.  But to have to accept the fact that it's reality is a nightmare in itself. No one knows the pain that [the] media & unwanted options from the public has caused my family. To make us relive a moment in our lives that we regret every day is a horrible thing. To take something away from the man I love that he has worked his ass [off] for all his life just to gain ratings is horrific.

"THIS IS OUR LIFE! What don't you all get. If your intentions were to hurt us, embarrass us, make us feel alone, take all happiness away, you've succeeded on so many levels. Just know we will continue to grow & show the world what real love is! Ravensnation we love you!"

 

Some will dismiss her as stupid and someone who deserves to be with someone who will abuse her.  Some will speak in terms of concern that she is allowing herself to be part to blame.  There’s a little truth in both I guess.  I have a hard time relating as I’ve never had a problem not hitting people or belittling my spouse.  Suffice it to say I find violence of any kind unnecessary.  I’ll leave any further discussion as to how we handle domestic violence to more qualified people.

 

I do feel comfortable talking about the statement Janay made via the Baltimore Sun.  Two things stick out to me. 

 

How can she not see she is living the stereotype?  Maybe stereotype isn’t the right way to put it.  She is acting like a text book example of someone who has been abused.  Placing blame on herself.  Defending her attacker.  Blaming others for bringing attention to it.  Odds are there were people in power for the Baltimore Ravens and the NFL who knew about all of this back in February and did nothing aside from cover it up.  Maybe Janay is perfectly fine being a Ray Rice punching bag.  But if we allow people in power to cover up this kind of crap, that only serves to ensure it will continue to happen.  As much as I feel for her, it’s bigger than her.  And it’s kind of scary she feels the attention this is bringing on her home is worse than the left hook that left her laying on the floor.  It’s almost as if she’s telling people like my wife that only by the grace of God has she not been punched. 

 

Secondly, and this had nothing to do with the issue and more with what we feel is acceptable when discussing a serious issue.  From either side.  I can’t take someone serious when they end a statement like this with a reference to “RavensNation”.  Now I not only think she’s in denial but I also think she’s stupid.  Any point she was trying to make is now gone because she went to the “LOL” card.  You cannot approach this the same level of sincerity you would when posting on Instagram and be taken seriously.  Not only is she lying to herself, but she lacks the mental capacity to embrace the seriousness of the shit storm her husband put her in.  The only thing the media is guilty of in this case is false sincerity.  But I guess so is Janay Rice.  What don't you all get?  Your use of "us" and "we" for starters.      

 

I don’t own an NBA team so I have no concern saying someone who was raised by his mother should have a higher regard for women.  Funny how we've heard from her but not him.        

 

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