In the history of music there’s no band that better encapsulates the hedonistic and over the top lifestyle of rock and roll than Mötley Crüe. There’s been countless bands that told tales of sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll in their music, and a handful who truly lived the lifestyle. And then there’s Mötley Crüe. These crazy bastards ran their bodies into the ground with countless touring that was a nonstop party, filled with live shows that sported guitars spouting flame throwers and roller coaster drum kits followed by copious amounts of partying and drug use following the show, and somehow managed to make it through the whole experience alive. It’s frankly astounding considering the number of collective overdoses the band members all racked up together (“Kickstart My Heart” was inspired by bassist Nikki Sixx’s real-life overdose which required an EMT to deliver two shots of adrenaline to keep him alive in the ambulance on the way to the hospital). These dudes were truly out of their damn minds.
Dr. Feelgood is their most commercially successful album, and somewhat ironically, the first album they recorded sober after entering rehab together following the cancellation of an European tour that “would have killed them if they went on it” according to their band managers Doug Thaler and Doc McGheewho had the foresight to stage an intervention that precipitated their treatment plan. The album is an absolute tour de force of glam metal in all its sonic glory– fast, loud, obnoxious, and just simply fun as hell. “Kickstart My Heart” has been a mainstay on my 2024 running playlist this year and it never fails to give me a little extra gas in the tank to push the pace just a little harder.
Standout Songs: “Kickstart My Heart”, “Dr. Feelgood”, “Sticky Sweet”
