Confirming what might have been the worst-kept secret in rock, Mötley Crüe has announced that they’re going to be retiring, but they’re not going quietly. The band revealed the details in a press conference that broadcast live on the band’s web site. Billed as “the biggest announcement of their career,” it was also one of their last. And they might have not anticipated the demand, as the event started about 10 minutes late with hearse-cam footage by Tommy Lee that hilariously had him asking to be let out of the hearse. Once inside, a press conference revealed the tour, it’s sponsors, a country album (more on that later) and details about the long-awaited film version of The Dirt.
As the press conference opened, there was a panel with a bunch of people that weren’t Motley Crue to make a handful of announcements, including people from Live Nation, the band’s attorney, The Dirt director Jeff Tremaine, someone from Dodge and a Big Machine founder Scott Borchetta (more on that later). As expected, Alice Cooper will be opening the tour, which will go on sale this week, with tickets starting as low as $15. Crue’s attorney said that the band have an almost-unprecedented “Cessation of Touring” agreement to not use the name “Mötley Crüe” once the tour is over. “They all agree to lock it away,” he commented. In addition to sponsoring the tour, Dodge will be using “Kickstart My Heart” in advertising as well as sponsoring the Final Tour. And as far as The Dirt, Tremaine said that he hoped they would be filming the movie, based on the band’s book, this Summer.
Alice Cooper was next. He spoke about about how he thought that rock stopped being fun a while ago, getting in a subtle dig at bands like Mumford and Sons, stating “if you have an accordion or a banjo in your band, you’re not rock and roll.” He ended by hoping that there would be more Mötley Crües out there. Finally, the band took the stage, which was adorned with tombstones for each band member.
When asked about the legal agreement, Vince Neil stated “We don’t want to be one of those bands that only has one member in the band, or someone’s brother. We want to go out with the four original members, go out on top and with the legacy that is Motley Crue.” So the band signed a “cessation of touring” agreement stating that they would not go out on the road. Sixx said that other heritage bands are embarrassing themselves by continuing to play when, quoting Tommy Lee, “there’s no milk in the titty,” and that the band didn’t want to rip fans off.
As for Big Machine, they’re a gigantic country label that’s home to Taylor Swift, among others. It was announced today that they’ll be partnering with Eleven Seven Records and Motley Records to release a country tribute to Mötley Crüe. So far, Florida Georgia Line is among the artists committing to be on the album. And while that sounds a little ridiculous, modern country and hair metal aren’t really that far apart from each other.
When asked what they would be doing post-Crüe, it doesn’t seem like any of the band will be sitting idly by. Sixx has Sixx AM, in addition to his radio show Sixx Sense. He’s also developing a Broadway play. Neil will remain in the restaurant business, but said he wants to keep singing. Mars planned on moving to Nashville and recording a solo album, He also mentioned writing a book, but got laughs when saying he was thinking about writing it backwards, from death to birth. Lee said he’s got “big surprises that he couldn’t talk about.”
Tickets will go on sale on Friday and Saturday for the following shows:
7/02 Grand Rapids, MI @ Van Andel Arena
7/04 Milwaukee, WI @ Summerfest
7/05 Noblesville, IN @ Klipsch Music Center
7/06 Cincinnati, OH @ Riverbend Music Center
7/08 Columbus, OH @ Schottenstein Center
7/09 Maryland Heights, MO @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
7/11 Des Moines, IA @ Wells Fargo Arena
7/12 Wichita, KS @ Intrust Bank Arena
7/13 Tulsa, OK @ Bok Center
7/15 Cedar Park, TX @ Cedar Park Center
7/16 Dallas, TX @ Gexa Energy Pavilion
7/18 Albuquerque, NM @ Isleta Amphitheater
7/19 Phoenix, AZ @ Ak-Chin
7/21 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl
7/22 Irvine, CA @ Verizon Wireless Ampitheatre
7/23 Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Ampitheatre
7/25 Reno, NV @ Reno Events Center
7/26 Ridgefield, WA @ Sleep County Ampitheater
7/27 Auburn, WA @ White River Ampitheater
7/29 Chula Vista, CA @ Sleep Train Ampitheater
8/01 Salt Lake City, UT @ Usana Ampitheatre
8/02 Denver, CO @ Pepsi Center
8/03 Kansas City, MO @ Sprint Center
8/05 Sturgis, SD @ Sturgis Buffalo Chip
8/06 Sioux City, IA @ Tyson Events Center
8/08 Tinley Park, IL @ First Midwest Band Ampitheatre
8/09 Clarkston, MI @ DTE Energy Music Theatre
8/10 Toronto, ON @ Molson Canadian Ampitheatre
8/12 Cuahoga Falls, OH @ Blossom Music Center
8/13 Burgettstown, PA @ First Niagara Pavilion
8/15 Pelham, AL @ Oak Mountain Ampitheatre
8/16 Alpharetta, GA @ Verizon Wireless Ampitheatre
8/17 Tampa, FL @ Midflorida Credit Union Ampitheatre
8/19 Charloote, NC @ PNC Music Pavillion
8/20 Virginia Beach @ Farm Bureau Live at Virginia Beach
8/22 Bristow, VA @ Jiffy Lube Live
8/23 Camden, NJ @ Susquehanna Bank Center
8/24 Mansfield, MA @ Xfinity Center
8/26 Saratoga Springs, NY @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center
8/27 Allentown, PA @ Great Allentown Fair
8/29 Wantagh, NY @ Nikon at Jones Beach Theater
8/30 Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Bank Arts Center
8/31 Darien Center, NY @ Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
10/10 Oklahoma City, OK @ Chesapeake Arena
10/11 The Woodlands, TX @ Cynthia W. Mitchell Pavilion
10/12 Bossier City, LA @ Centurylink Center
10/14 Louisville, KY @ KFC Yum! Center
10/15 Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena
10/17 Hollywood, FL @ Seminole Hard Rock Live
10/19 Jacksonville, FL @ Veterans Memorial Arena
10/21 Greenville, SC @ Bon Secours Wellness Arena
10/22 Greensboro, NC @ Greensboro Coliseum
10/25 Atlantic City, NJ @ Borgata
10/26 Montville, CT @ Mohegan Sun
10/29 Syracuse, NY @ The Oncenter Complex
11/05 Biloxi, MS @ Mississippi Coast College
11/06 Southhaven, MS @ Landers Center
11/09 Moline, IL @ Iwireless Center
11/11 Green Bay, WI @ Resch Center
11/12 Madison, WI @ Alliant Energy Center
11/13 Omaha, NE @ Centurylink Center
11/15 St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center
11/16 Fargo, ND @ Fargodome
11/18 Edmonton, AB @ Rexall Place
11/19 Calgary AB @ Scotiabank Saddledome
11/22 Spokane, WA @ Spokane Arena
