A wild night of L.A. rock anthems proves the City of Angels’ music legacy is alive and louder than ever.
The Whisky A Go-Go once again turned back the clock for its long-running Ultimate Jam Night, delivering a high-voltage tribute to the music of L.A. bands on March 18. The night was a celebration of the city’s hard rock royalty—Van Halen, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Buckcherry, Guns N’ Roses—blasting through a two-hour setlist that turned the iconic venue into a time machine straight to the Sunset Strip’s golden era.
Tuesday’s lineup was stacked, featuring go-go dancers, rock trivia, giveaways, guest appearances from Sunset Strip legends Femme Fatale, and fresh blood like arena rockers Classless Act, who surprised the crowd with new material that fit seamlessly alongside the night’s legendary setlist.
Adding to the night’s epic moments were two unexpected Ozzy Osbourne covers—an unofficial nod to the late, great Randy Rhoads, who was born in Santa Monica. With the 43rd anniversary of Rhoads’ passing the next day, the tribute hit extra hard and was one of the most memorable moments of the evening, with BulletBoys guitarist Ira Black effortlessly delivering faithful renditions of Rhoads’ legendary solos.
The show kicked off with Quiet Riot’s “Metal Health,” a fist-pumping, headbanging classic that immediately had the crowd pumping their fists. The Ultimate Jam Night house band delivered a razor-sharp rendition of the metal anthem, setting the tone for a night that felt like a rowdy reunion of rock’s wildest anthems. Host Hal Sparks respectfully gave proper dues to Quiet Riot for igniting the ’80s metal explosion with their genre-defining album, Metal Health.
Ultimate Jam Night celebrates L.A.’s greatest music exports at the Whisky, March 18.
There are few things in life as badass, life-affirming, and—let’s be real—completely free as Ultimate Jam Night at the Whisky A Go-Go. This monthly rock ‘n’ roll blowout is a full-throttle celebration of music, bringing together L.A.’s best musicians (plus a few legends) for a night of epic covers, surprises, and pure Sunset Strip energy.
On March 18, the jam gets even wilder with a tribute to “Bands of L.A.,” meaning anything from the Beach Boys and the Bangles to Mötley Crüe, Metallica, and Slayer is fair game. The setlist is top secret until showtime, but expect a rollercoaster of rock anthems delivered by world-class talent.
KICK OUT THE JAMS: Hal Sparks & guitarist Miles Schon at a recent “Ultimate Jam” event.
For over five years, Ultimate Jam Night has been the city’s premier live-music spectacle, blending rock trivia, giveaways, and jaw-dropping performances. Past guests have included rock royalty like Don Dokken, Black Sabbath’s Bill Ward, Eagles of Death Metal’s Jesse Hughes, and Metallica’s Robert Trujillo—so don’t be surprised if a few icons crash the stage.
Actor, comedian, and all-around rock aficionado Hal Sparks returns as host, dropping music history anecdotes between songs and maybe even jumping onstage himself—no surprise for the multitalented frontman of Nerd Halen.
ERUPTION: Nerd Halen frontman and “Jam Night” host Hal Sparks covering the classics.
And because one insane set isn’t enough, the night kicks off with Mr. Crowley’s Ozzy Experience, delivering face-melting covers of the Prince of F***ing Darkness himself. Plus, free tarot card readings before the show? That’s some rock ‘n’ roll mysticism right there.
HELLRAISER: Mr. Cowley paying tribute to Ozzy Osbourne at a past “Ultimate Jam” show.
This is pure L.A.—a legendary venue, top-tier musicians, a party-ready crowd, and an unforgettable show. And did we mention it’s free?
Details: 📍 Whisky A Go-Go (8901 Sunset Blvd.). Doors open at 6 p.m. ⏳ Free tarot readings at 8 p.m. 🎸 Mr. Crowley’s Ozzy Experience at 9 p.m. 🔥 Ultimate Jam Night at 10 p.m.
Mötley Crüe’s spring Vegas residency is pushed back to fall as Vince Neil undergoes medical procedure.
Bummer news, dudes. The wait for Mötley Crüe‘s high-voltage return to Las Vegas just got a little longer. The band has officially postponed its upcoming residency at Dolby Live at Park MGM, originally set to kick off March 28, pushing the dates to September. The reason? Frontman Vince Neil is stepping back temporarily to undergo a medical procedure due to a vocal ailment.
On March 4, Neil shared the news with fans on social media, expressing his disappointment but emphasizing the importance of his health. “Taking care of myself now means I can come back stronger and give you the killer show you deserve,” he wrote. “I can’t wait to hit the stage again.”
His bandmates—Nikki Sixx, Tommy Lee, and John 5—rallied behind him, assuring fans that the wait will be worth it. “Vince’s health comes first, and we’ll be ready to tear up Vegas together in September,” they said in a joint statement.
WeHo prepares to give the Roxy and Rainbow Bar & Grill the iconic status these rock institutions deserve.
The City of West Hollywood’s Historic Preservation Commission will recommend that the City Council approve a Mills Act Contract for two of the city’s most rockin’ cultural icons: the Roxy Theatre and the Rainbow Bar & Grill, both located on the world-famous Sunset Strip’s “Rock Row,” at 9009 and 9015 Sunset Boulevard, respectively.
The Historic Preservation Commission is dedicated to preserving historic structures that represent WeHo’s unique cultural and social heritage. “Protecting these landmarks helps deepen public understanding of the city’s past and ensures that future generations can appreciate its rich history,” says the Commission on its website.
Rock Venues Land a Mills Act Contract
A Mills Act Contract is a legal agreement between the owner of a historic property and the municipality. It allows for lower property tax rates in exchange for the owner’s commitment to undertake specific rehabilitation, restoration, and maintenance work. To qualify, a property must be listed in a historic national, state, county, or city register, be privately owned, and not be tax-exempt.
The Roxy Theatre and the Rainbow Bar & Grill meet these criteria, being listed in West Hollywood’s Register of Cultural Resources and privately owned.
Exciting news for diehard Motley Crue fans! The self-proclaimed “Bad Boys of Hollywood” are ready to deliver on an amazing new project that was reportedly a year in the making.
Although the iconic metal band is keeping things hush-hush for now, fans can sign up to be the first in line for all the juicy details about the upcoming Crueseum.
Fast Times’ totally tubular weekly party at the Whisky is the greatest thing to hit Sunset since Van Halen.
If you’ve ever been fortunate enough to catch Fast Times‘ totally awesome Monday night shows at the Whisky A Go-Go, then you know what it feels like to be zapped back into the awesome ’80s as if you were sitting in a DeLorean with a flux capacitor pushing it past 88 mph.
The L.A. band is one of the coolest live acts to hit the Whisky in a long time, and their infectious grooves never fail to get the crowd moving whether they’re moshing, pogoing, or doing any incarnation of the timeless Axl Rose serpentine dance, the Belinda Carlisle arm sway shimmy, or the Courtney Cox “Dancing in the Dark” awkward Mambo (which inspired the “Carlton Dance”).
The L.A. always sticks with the theme and rocks their set while donned as various iconic ’80s characters, both real and celluloid, from Jeff Spicoli to Motley Crue‘s Nikki Sixx. But it’s their music that really makes Fast Times stand out as a legitimate band of phenomenal musicians who seem to enjoy rocking their set as much as the audience enjoys hearing it.
And these guys skillfully cover every iconic bit of music from Eddie Van Halen‘s guitar solo on “Jump” to Rick Allen‘s anthemic beats of “Pour Some Sugar On Me.”
STILL ON THE FENCE OVER THE PRESIDENTIAL RUN? SUPERSTAR HARD ROCKERS SOUND OFF ON THE CLINTON/TRUMP RACE FOR THE WHITE HOUSE
By David Ciminelli
There’s a growing roster of superstar rockers who are sounding off, sometimes onstage and sometimes off, about their preferred choice for the next President of the United States. Still on the fence? Check out what some of your favorite rockers are proclaiming about Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton‘s race for the White House.
KISS’ GENE SIMMONS
Infamously outspoken KISS frontman Gene Simmons is never one to mince his words. During a KISS concert earlier this year in Eugene, Oregon, while handling vocals on the killer KISS classic “I Love It Loud,” Simmons improvised a request to the capacity crowd: “Vote Trump!”
Earlier this year, Simmons told Rolling Stone: “Trump is not a politician. He does not need your money, and he will speak his mind, God damn it, whether you like it or not. And he has no problem saying ‘F*ck off.’
“I like that, even if I disagree,” said Simmons.
BON JOVI’S JON BON JOVI
He’s with her.
“I pray that [Hillary Clinton]’s going to win,” Jon Bon Jovi told the U.K. site I News in a recent interview. And the Bon Jovi frontman has been trying to make that prayer come through by showing his support loud and clear and rocking the stages of recent Clinton campaign stops in New York, Florida and North Carolina. JBJ, who famously played at Barack Obama‘s inauguration, was joined at a recent Clinton event by fellow rock legend Paul McCartney.
MEGADETH’S DAVE MUSTAINE
Thrash metal legend Dave Mustaine has been vocal in the press about his decision to remain mum on exactly who he will be voting for on November 8. The Megadeth frontman, however, has made it very clear who he won’t be voting for.
“Am I a Donald Trump fan? Well, he’s a very successful businessman, Am I gonna vote for him? That’s none of your business,” Mustaine said in response to a fan inquiry during an interview on Periscope last summer. “And if I did, I wouldn’t tell you,” he added. “If I didn’t, I wouldn’t tell you. I can tell you one thing: I am not voting for Hillary.”
MOTLEY CRUE’S NIKKI SIXX
Judging by his prolific tweets, metal legend Nikki Sixx isn’t exactly pleased with either Presidential candidate, asking fans on Twitter: “So, which devil are you voting for?” And not too long ago, the Sixx A.M. bassist pontificated online during the last Presidential debate: “Why don’t we have random drug testing for the Presidential debates?”
The hit-making Motley Crue founder also vigorously dumped on Trump many times. In September, Sixx tweeted: “If Trump becomes president your children will die because he will cause a world war that will hit American soil.”
TED NUGENT
Motor City Madman Ted Nugent took to Facebook last summer to offer up a 14-item list of reasons to vote for “The Donald.” Primarily, the list reasoned that Trump is top choice after considering those who are opposed to the Presidential hopeful, like “the Pope” and “hateful, racist, violent Liberals.”
KID ROCK
Hard-rockin’ hip-hopper and self-proclaimed “Bullgod” Bob “Kid Rock” Ritchie is raisin’ his fists in support of one particular candidate, telling Rolling Stone: “I’m digging Trump…I fell like a lot of people…if you get Hillary…there’s going to be the same sh-t [as Obama]…My feeling: Let the motherf–king business guy run it like a f–king business. And his campaign been entertaining as sh-t.”
“Don’t take anything personally. Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.”
BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE YOU ROCK & ROLLED? GET SET TO SHOUT AT THE DEVIL & DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY ONCE AGAIN!
Not enough metal in your summer? Bummed about the closing of Rock Row landmark Hollywood SoundCheck? Disappointed by the lack of classic metal bands in the SSMF 2014 lineup? Don’t fret. A good mix of hard rockin’ fan bands is coming to a stage near you to save your end-of-summer partying.
On September 12, a hard rocking trio of cover bands paying homage to three of the biggest rock groups in history–Van Halen, Bon Jovi and Motley Crue–will set their amps to 11 and rattle the roof of House of Blues Anaheim. Giving L.A. rock fans a good reason to make the commute over to The O.C. is Atomic Punks, the L.A. Music Awards-winning tribute band whose spot-on covers of early VH tracks has made fans out of metal aficionados like Bret Michaels and Howard Stern; Crue-worshipping rockers Motley Inc.; and Wanted, which will attempt to rock a million–or a couple hundred–faces with scorchin’ renditions of Bon Jovi’s runaway hits. Get tickets and additional details here.
The next night, on September 13, head over to House of Blues Sunsetfor a trip back to the awesome ’80s with Brit band The Molly Ringwalds. The costumed cover rockers’ roster of retro rock and pop classics generally includes tunes by Sunset Strip icons like Guns N’ Roses, The Go-Gos, Motley Crue and Poison. Timeless tracks by Eighties metal monsters like Twisted Sister and Whitesnake also often wind their way into The Molly Ringwalds’ set list. And considering that these cover rockers are from Sheffield, England, you can expect to hear some anthemic hits from the group’s hometown heroes, Def Leppard.
Wanna get rocked? The Whisky A Go Go is the spot to head to on September 16, when fellow Def Leppard lovers Pyromania takes center stage as headliners of the return of AXS TV’s concert show The World’s Greatest Tribute Bands. Get more details and free tickets here.
Stroll the Sunset Strip east the following week and hit up House of Blues Sunset for a night of good times, rad times when Led Zeppelin 2 cranks up its amps on September 25. Winding down its national tour through America, the Chicago-based band sticks so close to Zeppelin’s repertoire that you can expect to get a contact high just by watching. It’s also why Metallica guitar legend Kirk Hammet has publicly declared, “These guys sound fucking exactly like Led Zeppelin!”
SUNSET & CLARK’S TOP 12 GREATEST ENDURING HEAVY METAL BANDS
When Ozzy Osbourne proclaimed in 1982 that “you can’t kill rock and roll,” he and fellow enduring metal icons like Metallica, Motley Crue and KISS have gone on to prove that notion over and over again by keeping arenas packed and the charts rocking decades after first plugging in their amps.
Rockin’ and rollin’ all night and partying every day are only a few of the enviable rewards of rock superstardom, which for some bands, ahem, Quiet Riot, often ends as quickly as it begins. Or, once-iconic groups continue to carry the torch, but in name only, such as the current incarnation of Axl Rose‘s Guns N’ Roses andthe Sebastian Bach-less Skid Row.
But that’s not the case with the monsters of metal below that are as relevant today as they were back when your favorite guitarists wore mascara and had big, poofy hair.
1. METALLICA Launched in Hollywood, California in 1981, Metallica has survived the death of original bassist Cliff Burton, image controversy and an infamous battle with Napster only to come out on top over 30 years later as the reigning kings of metal.
James Hetfield and the band have revealed that Metallica is working on a new album for a possible 2015 release. Lars Ulrich recently confirmed to Rolling Stonethat the project is in the “fourth inning.”
2. MOTLEY CRUE In the Motley Crue classic “Kickstart My Heart,” when frontman Vince Neil sang, “When we started this band all we needed, needed was a laugh. Years gone by, I’d say we’ve kicked some ass,” he wasn’t kidding! Since forming in 1981, the Bad Boys of Hollywood have become one of the biggest-selling American rock bands in history, selling over 80 million albums worldwide. Crue is currently rocking the planet on its farewell tour that makes a stop at Hollywood Bowl on July 21.
3. VAN HALEN Surviving three incarnations of the band and years of behind-the-scenes boozy brawls, health scares, rocky on/off reunions and personality clashes, the near-original lineup of Van Halen, fronted by David Lee Roth, continues to rock arenas and the charts — minus bassist Michael Anthony, who has been replaced by Eddie’s son, Wolfgang Van Halen. In April 2014, on his podcast The Roth Show, the singer teased about currently “working on a great Van Halen project.”
4. KISS In 1973, Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss put on makeup, plugged in their gear and changed rock ‘n’ roll forever, becoming the most iconic and recognizable band in the world. Since then, KISS has endured lineup changes and short-lived reunions to become a certified pop culture institution. The ever-touring rockers recently launched an arena football team, L.A. KISS, and are currently moonlighting as models for fashion designer John Varvatos.
5. IRON MAIDEN Formed in the mid-Seventies, British metal masters Iron Maiden had almost as many different band members as Spinal Tap had exploding drummers. But when Bruce Dickinson joined in 1981, the band released one future classic after another, with “Number of the Beast” and “Run to the Hills” becoming Maiden’s signature songs. Still packing arenas on its 2012-2014 Maiden England World Tour, Dickinson and crew also recently headlined Europe’s Monsters of Rock fest at Castle Donington for a fifth time.
6. JUDAS PRIEST Sure, Britain’s Judas Priest had other frontmen throughout its career, but only Rob Halford really matters.
The on-again/off-again singer has been back with Priest since the early 2000s, and band tells Rolling Stone that their Summer 2014 release, Redeemer of Souls, is going to be a “very heavy record.”
7. BLACK SABBATH Black Sabbath, which formed in England in 1968 and has had various famous lead singers, has regrouped again with original frontman Ozzy Osbourne in 2011. Since then, Sabbath has been rocking the world on a global tour, and the charts with the band’s latest album, 13.
8. BON JOVI Sure, Richie Sambora may be M.I.A., but with Jon Bon Jovi at the mic, Bon Jovi will undoubtedly continue to rock a million faces with sold-out arena shows. Rumors are swirling that Sambora is looking to step back into the band soon, and that’s awesome news, but his sudden departure didn’t damper the success of Bon Jovi’s 2013 Because We Can: The Tour, which proves the iconic band’s superstar success has come near to piquing just yet, not even after 30 years as the best American rock band on the planet.
9. DEF LEPPARD Powerhouse arena rockers Def Leppard lit the world on fire in 1983 with the British band’s third album, Pyromania. Instant rock classics like “Foolin’,” “Photograph” and “Rock of Ages” remain among Leppard’s concert staples, including on the band’s 2014 summer tour with KISS.
10. MEGADETH Legendary Hollywood thrash band Megadeth was launched in 1983 after frontman Dave Mustaine had a falling out with his former band, Metallica. Mustaine has since ended his feud and continues to keep Megadeth on the charts and selling out arenas alongside ’Tallica. Megadeth is currently in the studio working on the follow up to 2013’s Super Collider, which hit No. 6 the Billboard 200 albums chart.
11. SLAYER Southern California rockers Slayer have been bringing their brash brand of thrash metal to the masses since 1981, and the band shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. In Spring 2014, Slayer debuted a new single, “Implode,” and announced that a new album is due in 2015.
12. ANTHRAX Anthrax put NYC’s thrash metal scene on the map in 1981 and went on to release countless hard rock hits, including “Bring the Noise,” “Indians,” “Antisocial” and, from 2011’s Worship Music, the 2012 single “I’m Alive.” Anthrax is currently touring and working on a new album to be released in Summer 2014.
WHISKY SERVES UP DOUBLE SHOT OF METAL WITH HOLLYWOOD ROSES & MOTLEY TOO
Sure, it’s been awhile since Guns N’ Roses and Motley Crue played the Sunset Strip. But if you have enough Night TrainExpress and head to the Whisky A Go-Go tonight, you, like Bowling for Soup, may be able to drift back to 19, 19 1985!
Perhaps the the next best thing to a real Guns/Motley double-bill, local legends Hollywood Roses (right) and Motley Too (below) will be visiting the Whisky tonight to do a little dancing with Mr. Browntstone and shouting at the Devil while keeping the spirit of Sunset strip-launched heavy metal alive!
SoCal rockers Never Justified, who cite GN’R as a key influence, along with Foo Fighters, Zeppelin and Slash, are also on the bill and making the Saturday night event the band’s record release showcase for Never Justified’s debut EP.
Also set to hit the Whisky stage tonight, Sept. 14, is OC Bay, a local duo delivering original tunes and familiar covers. Get more deets here.
1. RONNIE JAMES DIO – BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW AND DIO
It takes cajones the size of Texas to fill Ozzy Osbourne’s boots, and Ronnie James Dio proved he had the chops to keep Black Sabbath’s legend alive on two stellar Sabbath albums, 1980’s Heaven and Hell and 1981’s Mob Rules. Before that the former Elf singer created future metal classics as a guest vocalist on Deep Purple bassist-songwriter Roger Glover’s 1974 concept album The Butterfly Balland the Grasshopper’s Feast and as frontman for guitar god Ritchie Blackmore‘s Rainbow.
The former Ronald James Padavona’s 1983 solo debut, Holy Diver, is unarguably one of the greatest metal albums of all time, and it’s all thanks to Dio’s supreme vocals, which remain unmatched by any other vocalist three decades later. We hold up a two-fisted devil’s horn salute to Dio every time we crank up “Rainbow in the Dark.”
2. JON BON JOVI– BON JOVI
As one of the best and most badass rock singers-songwriters on the planet, Jon Bon Jovi has earned his famous Superman-inspired tattoo. His anthems are timeless, and every track on his band’s self-titled debut sounds just as stunningly kick-ass today as it did in 1984. Plus, we’re sure that the former John Francis Bongiovi, Jr. is probably the only dude with Francis for a middle name who can still kick your ass without breaking a sweat! 3. STEVEN TYLER – AEROSMITH
Aerosmith‘s Steven Tyler, the artist formerly known as Steven Victor Tallarico, is the best thing to happen to rock n’ roll since the invention of the Stratocaster. And we’re not just saying that because he wrote one of the best pro-tolerance anthems ever inspired by 1992’s L.A. Riots, “Living on the Edge.” Although that certainly gets him some extra points.
4.GLENN DANZIG – MISFITS, SAMHAIN AND DANZIG
New Jersey’s Glenn Allen Anzalone, known better as Glenn Danzig, not only created three of hard rock’s greatest bands — Misfits, Samhain and Danzig – but his first one inspired some of the best musicians out there, from Henry Rollins to Metallica. And it’s not every dude who can carry off that Chippendale’s hairstyle for over three decades and remain one of the most badass vocalists in rock history. 5. RIVERS CUOMO – WEEZER
This former Tower Records Sunset clerk not only fronts one of the best L.A. bands to ever surface from the Sunset strip scene, Weezer, but he also played a pivotal role in showing the world that heavy metal fans are smarter than Tipper Gore ever gave us credit for by earning a degree in English from Harvard in 2006! He may look just like Buddy Holly, but he’s also as smart as Stephen Hawking! 6. GARY CHERONE – EXTREME AND VAN HALEN
Because, as frontman for Extreme, Gary Francis Caine Cherone also gave us killer metal anthems like “Kid Ego,” “Mutha (Don’t Wanna Go to School Today),” “Get the Funk Out,” “Hip Today” and, of course, “More Than Words,” it’s easy to forgive him for Van Halen III.
7. GERARD WAY – MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE
Even before starting up one of the coolest art-rock bands of the 2000s, MCR’s Gerard Arthur Way had already earned piints with us after revealing that his stellar music career was inspired by his love of fellow Italiano Bon Jovi. Also, like smartie Rivers Cuomo, Gerard and his younger bro Mikey helped up respect for metalheads everywhere by naming their band after a respected novel, Irvine Welsh’s Ecstasy: Three Tales of Chemical Romance. Plus, 2006’s The Black Parade and its successive music videos remain some of the most awesome art-rock to ever hit the charts.
8. DAVEY HAVOK – AFI
Even if the former David Paden Passaro didn’t front one of the best ’90s bands out of NorCal, we’d still give him a two-handed devil’s horn salute just for his role as a straight-edge and vegan activist. In addition to AFI’s “Silver and cold” and “Love Like Winter,” Davey Havok also dropped some of our favorite guest vocals on timeless tracks by some of our other fave bands, including The Transplants’ “Quick Death” and The Dance Hall Crashers’ “I Don’t Wanna Behave.”
9. RICHIE SAMBORA – BON JOVI
Although we are still feeling a bit angsty about Richie Sambora’s split from Bon Jovi and his recent maybe/maybe not trashing of Jon Bon Jovi in his latest song, we’re still man enough to admit that we kind of liked his three solo outings, especially 1991’s Stranger in this Town. While Sambora is no JBJ, his backup vocals and co-songwriting duties definitely made Bon Jovi the band that it became. And, hey, Italians can be a bit too passionate with their emotions sometimes, so we’re gonna give his feud with Jon some time to cool down because we think these two rock icons will eventually patch things up. In fact, we’ve already said a couple prayers to the patron saint of forgiveness, St. Maria Goretti, in hopes that they reunite soon!
10. NIKKI SIXX – MOTLEY CRUE AND SIXX: AM
OK, we know it’s sort of a stretch to include Nikki Sixx in the vocalist category, but we didn’t want to have a chart about Italian rockers without somehow including its most badass addition to the heavy metal scene, the former Frank Carlton Serafino Feranna Jr. Plus, Nikki’s backup vocals on Motley Crue’s classics give the timeless tracks an extra edge, and we totally dig hislead on “Rocketship,” too.
Summer is about to get a whole lot louder beginning July 17, when Motley Crue releases its titillating new single, “Sex.” The new track drops three days before the Hollywood band kicks off a co-headlining summer tour with KISS on July 20.
Although this is great news for fans, unfortunately, “Sex” is just a random one-off release to hype the tour, but the band has no plans to release a new album anytime soon. In other words, “Sex” is kind of a one-night stand as far as new Crue music goes.
Motley Crue’s Vince Neil and Tommy Lee face the cameras at the Sunset Strip’s House of Blues last year.
TOMMY LEE BLASTS OVERZEALOUS FANS ON FACEBOOK
Bad news for Motley Crue fans: It seems Tommy Lee has major issues with fans showing the love! Well, at least, showing the love at times Lee deems inappropriate.
Motley’s mega-talented drummer took to the Crue’s Facebook page recently to lash out at fans – you know, those folks that have helped to make the L.A. band the biggest thing in rock music for nearly 30 years – who have the gall to ask for a photo should they have the awesome once-in-a-lifetime fortune of running across Lee in public and want a cherished memento of one of their heavy metal heroes.
“I f–king LOVE my fans!” Lee asserts before kicking off his pitch for privacy. “…What I have a problem with is…Taking pictures! I hate it! Irritates the f–k out of me when people say…you owe it to your fans, they put you where you are, etc etc! I certainly dont owe anybody anything! ..wtf people? You dont admire something so that it can give back… You just cherish it! And to those who say..you should be grateful that people wanna take your picture maybe one day they wont want it!…. That day cant come soon enough! BTW..I’m not here to take pictures with you, I’m here to entertain you!”
Now, it’s understandable that Lee wants to enjoy his private time when he’s out in public having lunch with his family, or, as he reminds us in his Facebook rant, when he’s taking a whizz at a urinal. That’s not an issue, and he deserves that respect. But…his rant is rather harsh, and it would have been a bit more respectable to his fans if he tossed in a footnote about when he might be a bit more open to chats with fans and allow a photo should someone who has worshipped Crue for decades crosses paths with one of the band’s members in public – at the beach, the Venice boardwalk, shopping at Guitar Center Sunset?
To his credit, the “Home Sweet Home” songwriter does mention that he’s OK with fans saying hello – just don’t even think about whipping out that evil cell phone camera.
“The fastest way to get me to leave is whip out a camera!” he writes “Maybe just say hello and I’ll probably take ya home with me! Well I’d have to ask my girlfriend first! Hah!” ads the self-professed “Picture Taker Hater!”
Lee’s cranky open letter to his “fans” won’t deter us at SunsetandClark from continuing to support and go to see one of our favorite bands in concert whenever they’re in town. But as longtime die-hard Crue fanatics, we were a bit disheartened by the random rant and hope Lee loosens up a bit when it comes to interacting with fans.
SUNSET STRIP LEGENDS LONDON & TUFF HEADLINE 11TH ANNUAL CRUEFEST AT THE WHISKY, JULY 28
L.A. local legends London — Nikki Sixx‘s pre-Motley Crue band whose earlier lineups included every metal superstar from Blackie Lawless to Slash — is headlining the 11th Annual Cruefest Hollywood at WeHo’s Whisky A Go-Go on July 28. Fellow Sunset Strip refugees Tuff are also on the bill, along with DC4, SkinMask, Stonebreed, Alterna-Chicks and Gutter Boys.
The yearly charity rock event was launched in 2001 by Crue fans and benefits the Skylar Neil Foundation, which was founded in honor of Vince Neil’s daughter, who died of cancer in 1995. The Foundation raises funds for organizations working to find cures for cancer, AIDS and other diseases.
Cruefest is not only a great night of rock for a cool Crue-approved cause, it also always draws out some very cool guests. Ratt‘s Stephen Pearcy, original GN’R drummer Steven Adler and L.A. Guns‘ Tracii Guns made it to last year’s event. Plus, Cruefest also offers a chance to collect some cool rock gear via auctions and raffles, including signed Crue art.
Admission is $25. Or get pre-sale tix for $20 here.
STILL ON THE FENCE OVER THE PRESIDENTIAL RUN? SUPERSTAR HARD ROCKERS SOUND OFF ON THE CLINTON/TRUMP RACE FOR THE WHITE HOUSE
KISS’ GENE SIMMONS
BON JOVI’S JON BON JOVI
MEGADETH’S DAVE MUSTAINE
MOTLEY CRUE’S NIKKI SIXX
TED NUGENT
On September 12, a hard rocking trio of cover bands paying homage to three of the biggest rock groups in history–Van Halen, Bon Jovi and Motley Crue–will set their amps to 11 and rattle the roof of 
SUNSETandCLARK.blog 