Old Rockers in Town
Seeing that it would be over 110° in the afternoon I made no effort to get tickets to the recent KISS / Mötley Crüe show in town, as much as I would have loved to see each of them. But, I saw an online article that got me to thinking and I thought I would reply, as a fan of both bands. Here is an excerpt.
Motley Crue, surprisingly, outperforms Kiss in Phoenix
by Jim Louvau - Aug. 11, 2012 10:03 AM
Special for The Republic | azcentral.com
There's nothing better than a good old-fashioned rock slugfest and that's exactly what occurred on the hottest day of the summer at Ashley Furniture HomeStore Pavilion when Kiss and Motley Crue battled it out on Friday night.
Going into this prizefight, Motley Crue was easily the underdog. Everyone know Vince Neil is notoriously one of the worst live rock singers in the business. He is bloated and either doesn't finish or shortens every phrase he sings. Guitarist Mick Mars isn't very mobile due to health conditions. Drummer Tommy Lee would rather be spinning dubstep at a rave. In other words, expectations were very low that the Crue would make it out of the first couple rounds with Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, and the other two guys dressed as Peter and Ace.
I got the feeling from reading the review that the reporter had heard a lot about each band, but not bothered to ever see either live, because the outcome was not only not surprising, it was inevitable. Do not get me wrong, I am no KISS basher.... I love them. But, I was 16 years old when "Christine Sixteen" was released... and I am in my 50's. The original KISS Army members are in large part now AARP Army members too. KISS has developed a formula that they stick too to the letter. If you love the formula, you love KISS. Same original recipe. Nice "hard" rock, sex, drugs, and rock and roll formula. Crüe on the other hand, despite now being a little long in the tooth, are harder, faster, and nastier. They still want to shock and awe... and a show can be the best ball-busting extravaganza ever, or a total fiasco. It can end in numerous encores, or in a rain of chairs when the opening act does not get allowed back on stage. "Shout at the Devil" will always be the anthem for their devoted and psychotic fans... and Mötley Crüe has always been ready to kick ass and take names. Now, if Metallica invites them on tour as an opening act and he thinks they are the ass-kickingest of the two bands, THAT will be a shocker. KISS and Crüe forever.
Motley Crue, surprisingly, outperforms Kiss in Phoenix
by Jim Louvau - Aug. 11, 2012 10:03 AM
Special for The Republic | azcentral.com
There's nothing better than a good old-fashioned rock slugfest and that's exactly what occurred on the hottest day of the summer at Ashley Furniture HomeStore Pavilion when Kiss and Motley Crue battled it out on Friday night.
Going into this prizefight, Motley Crue was easily the underdog. Everyone know Vince Neil is notoriously one of the worst live rock singers in the business. He is bloated and either doesn't finish or shortens every phrase he sings. Guitarist Mick Mars isn't very mobile due to health conditions. Drummer Tommy Lee would rather be spinning dubstep at a rave. In other words, expectations were very low that the Crue would make it out of the first couple rounds with Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, and the other two guys dressed as Peter and Ace.
I got the feeling from reading the review that the reporter had heard a lot about each band, but not bothered to ever see either live, because the outcome was not only not surprising, it was inevitable. Do not get me wrong, I am no KISS basher.... I love them. But, I was 16 years old when "Christine Sixteen" was released... and I am in my 50's. The original KISS Army members are in large part now AARP Army members too. KISS has developed a formula that they stick too to the letter. If you love the formula, you love KISS. Same original recipe. Nice "hard" rock, sex, drugs, and rock and roll formula. Crüe on the other hand, despite now being a little long in the tooth, are harder, faster, and nastier. They still want to shock and awe... and a show can be the best ball-busting extravaganza ever, or a total fiasco. It can end in numerous encores, or in a rain of chairs when the opening act does not get allowed back on stage. "Shout at the Devil" will always be the anthem for their devoted and psychotic fans... and Mötley Crüe has always been ready to kick ass and take names. Now, if Metallica invites them on tour as an opening act and he thinks they are the ass-kickingest of the two bands, THAT will be a shocker. KISS and Crüe forever.