I've been waiting so long for another Poison tour and it seems like they've disappeared off the radar again. So, I'll go back to my other love, the one no one thought they'd see again, MOTLEY CRUE! Here's the report done April 29, 2005, the day after the Crue showed up in Peoria, Il.

 

Wow. Holy shite. I have seen the best stage show of all the concerts I've been to. Motley Crue's "Better Live than Dead" tour stop at Peroia last night was freakin awesome. The best part? THE SHOW IS BEING MADE INTO THEIR VIDEO FOR "SICK LOVE SONG."

 

The whole stage was rigged up like a big warped carnival tent with a big box up front that hid a trap door. I want to say trap door, because a midget in a warped clown costume and mask popped out of it along with two chicks in scant outfits. He started singing in this high pitched voice, stirring the crowd up like crazy. Lights started pounding behind the curtian on the stage, and the curtain started to rise, giving way to four characters shilloutted by the fire lining the stacks of amps on either side of Tommy's drum set. Opening Song? Shout at the Devil!!

Mick moved pretty good for a guy with as many problems he has with that spine locking up and shit. Nikki ran around the stage like crazy, changing his outfit four times...all into very memorable outfits, like the one from "If I die Tomorrow". I'm going to need to go shopping soon....Vince kept to a simple black tank-top, blue flair jeans, and a jean vest with a simple black headband. Also black gloves, fingerless. Tommy? Tie, orange pants...I think he was wearing make-up. I'm not sure. Mick, classic and simple; black jeans, black tank-top, black jacket, black hat. He discarded the jacket after awhile.

The guitar solos were freakin crazy. Mick isn't known for being a guitar virtuoso, but he plays from the heart, something a lot of virtuosos have yet to accomplish. It was a pyromaniacs' wet dream, man. Strobes, fire shoots, fire works! Not to mention the guys had fun. Near the end, Tommy did a massive drum solo. The first section he did on electronic set right next to his regular. Then the regular. He walked out on stage and strapped on a vest harness, grinning. At a simple cue - his arms going up in a superman fashion - he was lifted up to a set high above the stage, what looked like a steel drum set. Or chimes. They were pretty high pitched. He went back and forth between that one and an electronic drum set right across from it on the other end of the stage. The electronic one spat fireworks too.

They had girls doing aerial stuff over their heads during the power ballads, and they rode in on motorcycles - MOTORCYCLES! - after a quick break. I guess with Mick as badly off as he is, he needed some time to cool down. Mick didn't ride in. If anyone's seen the Guitar World article he was in, he's in a bad enough condition that he can't drive. at all. It puts it all in perspective when he said that the only thing he wanted in the world was to be able to move his head a bit. You can sell out arenas and still feel like shit.

Before they ended, they had a half hour with Nikki and Tommy running around onstage with a hand video-cam. Tommy instantly started yelling, "C'mon, let's see those boobies! Titties!" and got the majority of the chicks in the front row to flash everyone, because the cam was linked up to the big screens. Sad thing: I instantly heard my obnoxious bass player screaming the same thing. Difference? Tommy's probably 38 or so. My bass player's 16.

Anyway..They finished the set with Kickstart My Heart. Nikki stood in the middle of what looked like medical equipment to monotor his "condition" And sparks started flying out of everything. You couldn't see him after a few minutes. Then, a loud monotone drone was the only thing you heard...flatline. Dead.

Mick's guitar cuts through it like a bloody scythe.

They emptied out the whole damn budget for the last song. I never saw a more stunning finale. There were few songs left out, but the showmanship of the Crue was definately something to see. They've been off the road for five years, so it may sound a little rusty to the die-hards, but I think they're just happy to hear something.

As for me? Scratch another band off my must-see-before-they-die list. I've seen some pretty great shows before, but as for the kings of over-the-top, the crown goes to the Crue.

 

I should start at the beginning; Jeff, Reaper, my mother and myself had tickets to go to last night...well, several hours ago..concert. All we knew was that Van Halen was playing. Hells, isn't that enough?

Anyway, the air was freakin charged with anticipation. They had a HUMONGOUS collection of VH memrobillia for sale. I took one look at a tank top there and just about died. It was the trademark "frankenstien" guitar design of Eddie's. I just had to have it. Even though it left a big hole in my pocket *cough$50cough* I was estatic. Then came the disappointment of the opening act.

I've never heard of these guys, and there's probably a reason. They aren't exactly the greatest band in the whole world, nor are they really even the average. The lead singer had Diamond Dave's attitude and ego, without the talent to back it up. I felt about the same when some guy shouted as they walked off the stage: "It's about F*ckin time!"

Now I should say a bit about the stage itself. The VH logo with the circular spikes (the one on the first "best of" album) was the stage. In the middle in the back was a friggin big spiked landmine sort of thing, which the main screen was placed. There was a stairway leading to it (which Sammy used during "Dreams" and "Jump") and the main stage. To the right of Alex's huge drumset (complete with brass Gong) was the trademark Eddie amps (in the frankenstien design) and to the left was Mike Anthony's bass amps. Both sets of amps reached a good several feet over the oriental brass gong.

It was a unique decision to enter to "You really got me", but god, did they get you. Mike was wearing jeans and a black-and-white button up shirt, sporting what I wanna say was a Fender Bass. Eddie had camo pants on, and a EVH Peavy Wolfgang guitar (shameless self-promoter that he is), and Alex just had black pants on. Sammy runs out in shades, red t-shirt and shorts, his mass of hair tied behind his head. For a song that they did once with Diamond Dave, Sammy hit it well.

They shared the stage pretty well for a band that was known for some of the egos that drove it. Sammy did his thing, working the crowd around the stage. People threw all manner of clothes at him (mostly shirts, you hopefulls) with Van Halen-related stuff on it. The very first one that he picked up was a white t-shirt saying "EDDIE IS GOD". Sammy instantly put it on his head like a turban before smacking Eddie with it. Eddie got him back with a playing kick in the butt. Sammy has gotten good at the art of multitasking. He would sing with the mic in one hand, sit down on the stage, and sign autographs with his other hand.

Eddie jumped and moved around less, but that was to be expected with his hip-replacement surgery. He also sang less, but after recovering from tounge cancer, you would too. I loved watching the cameras zoom up on his playing. There were times when you could barely see the pick, it was moving that fast. I've found that while Eddie can revel with the best of them, he's really a family man at heart.

Picture this, if you will: the stage is mostly black, with a few lights shining down on the VH in the center. Eddie has launched into a great improv, his hair drenched and clinging to his shoulders. He looks up, smiles, and says into the nearest mic "You guys mind if I just f*ck around for another five minutes?" The audience shouts back "HELL NO!". It seems like he's been going on forever since, and he still won't stop. Eddie drops to his knees, playing this softer sort of screaming solo, then falls to his back, right up front. The audience reaches out towards him. But wait..he isn't doing anything, and the solo's still going. Everyone's attention is directed back to Eddie's amps, where a slightly shorter brown-haired kid in a VH t-shirt walks on stage..playing Eddie's Frankenstien guitar. The cameras cut back to Eddie, still laying on his back, and a shot of his right arm, a tattooed heart with the name "Wolfgang" in scrollwork. And the audience explodes. It was nice to see him carrying on the tradition.

Mike Anthony can sing. He did most of the backround vocals that night, even having his own song/solo. Since Mike had opted for a wireless plugin to his amp setup, he danced around as much as Sammy did. When Mike would scream into the microphone, Eddie would imitate it perfectly on his axe.

Alex is a killer when it comes to drums. I couldn't catch how many pieces were in his set, but there were at least four bass drums sitting around him. His solo was longer than Mike's, but way shorter than Eddie's. The cameras had one hellufa time trying to catch him on screen; he moved so fast, it was like watching in slow motion.

They each had their moment alone on stage; Each of them played their hearts content. They had their hilarious moments as well.

Sammy started drinking Tequila on the stage, while Mike downed a shot and a mini bottle of Jack. Eddie took a shot along with Mike. During one of their new songs "Its about time" several banners and shirts made their way up on stage, where Sammy immeadently put them on. He had on a red and white shirt with big bold lettering on the back, while the banner he used for a kilt had a similar phrase: "It's about F*CKIN time Van Halen!"

They played five Diamond Dave songs, including "Jump" "Panama" "You really got me" "Unchained" and "Ain't Talkin 'bout love". Their final solo was "When it's Love." Overall, I was in shock. It was something we all thought impossible. Yet here it was, and here I was as well.

For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge, I remain a Van Halen fan to the end. Sammy or Dave makes no difference. They still rock all the same.