Nikki Sixx Says Vince Neil “Has Something That No One Else Has”
2021 has not been kind to Mötley Crüe frontman Vince Neil. His solo band performance back in May, his first since the pandemic began, was so disastrous it went viral. A series of performances since then (after canceling one with no public explanation) haven’t been much better, with the singer constantly struggling for breath, out of key, and relying on his band’s backup singers, pre-recorded tracks and the audience to sing his lines. To make matters even worse, Neil fell off the stage during a performance in October, breaking “a few ribs” in the process.
Neil’s bandmate Nikki Sixx, however, has been exceptionally kind to his singer, slathering some high praise on him in a recent interview. With an eye towards next summer’s twice-rescheduled stadium tour with Def Leppard I’d reckon he’s trying to be supportive (as well as not get in hot doo-doo in the press), but yeesh, has he seen footage of Neil’s recent performances?? He must have.
Speaking with Classic Rock magazine, Sixx was asked who the best musician in Mötley Crüe is, a strange question for an interviewer to ask. But he rolled with it. Like a pro athlete questioned about a teammate’s recent disastrous performance, he demurred, instead offering the equivalent of participation trophies for everyone involved. He said:
“They’re all really fucking good. Tommy is a monster on drums. Mick is one of my favorite guitar players. And Vince has something that nobody else has. Isn’t that what you’re looking for — guys that don’t sound like anybody else?
“I’m not a great player. Like, if I really woodshed for six months, I’m okay. But if I was a different kind of bass player, it would offset the sound of the band.
“Mötley Crüe is an interesting band, because if you remove any one member, it completely changes the sound. We all played against each other. A lot of times, Vince would tell me he struggled with the fact I put so many lyrics in a song. ‘Shout At The Devil’ is a good example. But it was because I grew up with beat generation writers as a teenager, and I would get into this kind of rhythmic frenzy. And because of the way that Vince sang, that was what made his voice excel. His voice was kind of like a Gatling gun. Like, bap-bap-bap.
“I remember the first time the four of us ever played together, we ran ‘Live Wire’. I turned around to adjust my bass amp, and Tommy and I just gave each other a look: ‘Something’s happening here.’”
Nothing says “my singer still sounds awesome” like referencing a bunch of nearly 40 year old recordings, but hey, that’s show biz, baby!
Neil also made headlines in September when he revealed that he was attempting to get in physical shape by using a “a revolutionary non-invasive fat burning and muscle building device that helps trim, strengthen, define, lift and tone your body with incredible ease.” Its creators claim that half-hour treatments “can help you achieve your dream body without sacrificing your lifestyle — because who has time to spend hours at the gym?”.
He also came under fire for promoting and appearing at the DrinksGiving event. Neil has famously struggled with alcohol addiction in the past. In 2016, he was charged misdemeanor battery for drunkenly assaulting a fan. Just last year, a Cameo video he was hired to make for a fan’s birthday went viral because Neil is very clearly intoxicated in the clip.
Mötley Crüe, Def Leppard, Poison, and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts tour dates for 2022:
6/16 – Atlanta, GA @ Suntrust Park [tickets]
6/18 – Miami, FL @ Hard Rock Stadium [tickets]
6/19 – Orlando, FL @ Camping World Stadium [tickets]
6/22 – Washington, DC @ Nationals Park [tickets]
6/24 – Queens, NY @ Citi Field [tickets]
6/25 – Philadelphia, PA @ Citizens Bank Park [tickets]
6/28 – Charlotte, NC @ Bank Of America Stadium [tickets]
6/30 – Nashville, TN @ Nissan Stadium [tickets]
7/2 – Jacksonville, FL @ TIAA Bank Field [tickets]
7/5 – St. Louis, MO @ Busch Stadium [tickets]
7/8 – Chicago, IL @ Wrigley Field [tickets]
7/10 – Detroit, MI @ Comerica Park [tickets]
7/12 – Hershey, PA @ Hershey Park Stadium [tickets]
7/14 – Cleveland, OH @ First Energy Stadium [tickets]
7/15 – Cincinnati, OH @ Great American Ballpark [tickets]
7/17 – Milwaukee, WI @ American Family Field [tickets]
7/19 – Kansas City, MO @ Kauffman Stadium [tickets]
7/21 – Denver, CO @ Coors Field [tickets]
8/5 – Boston, MA @ Fenway Park [tickets]
8/6 – Boston, MA @ Fenway Park [tickets]
8/10 – Buffalo, NY @ New Era Field [tickets]
8/12 – Pittsburgh, PA @ PNC Park [tickets]
8/14 – Minneapolis, MN @ U.S. Bank Stadium [tickets]
8/19 – Houston, TX @ Minute Maid Park [tickets]
8/21 – San Antonio, TX @ Alamodome [tickets]
8/22 – Arlington, TX @ Globe Life Park [tickets]
8/27 – Inglewood, CA @ Sofi Stadium [tickets]
8/28 – San Diego, CA @ Petco Park [tickets]
8/31 – Seattle, WA @ T-Mobile Park [tickets]
9/7 – San Francisco, CA @ Oracle Park [tickets]
