by Tom Funk

Created on: October 02, 2009

Motley Crue was the epitome of rock n' roll in the 1980's and have continued to carry most of that tradition on with them into today. Never before had there been such a raucous, in your face, over the top, cantankerous band as the Crue, they blazed a trail for 'glam-metal' bands and set the bar for rock n' roll legends. The band, and the four misfits that created it, was a staple of the airwaves in the 80's and still continue to tour today.

Motley Crue was formed by bassist Nikki Sixx and drummer Tommy Lee in January of 1981. Joined shortly thereafter by guitarist Mick Mars and vocalist Vince Neil, the band that would go on to become a juggernaut of success, controversy, and tragedy, was born. Taking their name from the comment of a fellow musician, that the boys were a 'motley looking crew', then altering the spelling and adding the umlauts thanks to inspiration from Lowenbrau beer, the Crue set off to dominate the Los Angeles music scene.

Dressed in ragged clothes, spiked bracelets, platform boots and make up, Motley Crue went out to be everything they could that was out of the ordinary. Right from the beginning they set out to provide amazing stage acts, going so far as to light Sixx's leather pants on fire during a show. Living in squalor in L.A., the boys would frequently steal anything they could, take advantage of girlfriends and abuse every form of illegal substance they could get their hands on. Their escapades would become legend, and their tragedies would echo through the pages of rock history.

One such tragedy happened in 1984, when the drummer for the band Hanoi Rocks was killed while a passenger when Neil was involved in a drunk driving accident. Neil was sentenced to 30 days in jail, serving only 15 of them, and five years probation. Alcohol abuse would continue to haunt Neil for years to come, causing him to fall off stage at live events and embarrassment being video-taped doing the Chicken Dance.

Tragedy also struck other members of the band. Guitarist Mick Mars was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis, a disease that would severely hinder his movements and cause scoliosis. Tommy Lee has had his issues with well publicized accounts of his marriage and relationship with Pam Anderson, and subsequent feuds, as well as contracting hepatitus. Nikki Sixx endured one of the band's most tragic episodes when he was clinically pronounced dead after overdosing on heroin. Sixx survived the event, but did not kick his heroin habit until years later.

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