TOMMY LEE Discusses MÖTLEY CRÜE’s “Togetherness” At Final Concert - “We Never Even Said ‘Goodbye’… Fucking Strange As Hell”
May 24, 2016, 8 years ago
On December 31st, 2015, legendary rock icons Mötley Crüe completed their 35-year touring career as a band with a spectacular final concert at Staples Center in their hometown of Los Angeles, CA, just 10 miles from the Sunset Strip where the band’s infamous and decadent career first launched. The band thrilled the sold-out arena with performances of such mega-hits as “Kickstart My Heart,” “Girls Girls Girls,” “Home Sweet Home” and “Dr. Feelgood.”
Ahead of the upcoming concert film, Mötley Crüe: The End, drummer Tommy Lee spoke to Rolling Stone about the final show and feeling amongst the band members.
Rolling Stone: Let's talk about the final show. Did you feel anxious before it began?
Tommy Lee: “Yes. Oh, my God. So anxious. But I'm always nervous before any show. I always get tweaked out 10 minutes before the show. I'm a fucking basket case. I've told myself, "Dude, the day that you're not nervous before you go onstage, it's time to pack it up because that means your passion is gone’.”
RS: What was the band's preshow ritual? Was it different for the final show?
T.L.: “No. We just see each other up onstage and let it rip.”
RS: There wasn't a sense of "togetherness"?
T.L.: “Yeah. It's kind of strange, man. We're a fucking weird band. Even stranger, after the final night, we had a big party backstage on New Year's Eve, and I never saw the other guys. We never even said "goodbye." Fucking strange as hell, dude. I mean, what the fuck?”
Read the full interview at RollingStone.com.
While not everyone was able to see their Final Show live, Crüe fans can now catch all the action when Fathom Events, Live Alliance, Eagle Rock Entertainment and Tenth Street Entertainment present Mötley Crüe: The End in select US cinemas on Tuesday, June 14th at 7 PM, local time for only one night. In addition to the epic concert footage, cinema audiences will be treated to behind-the-scenes footage of the band’s last global tour.
Tickets for Mötley Crüe: The End can be purchased online by visiting FathomEvents.com or at participating theater box offices. Fans throughout the US will be able to enjoy the event in nearly 250 movie theaters through Fathom’s Digital Broadcast Network. For a complete list of theater locations visit the Fathom Events website (theaters and participants are subject to change).
In January, 2014, Mötley Crüe held a press conference announcing their Final Tour, complete with a “cessation of touring” agreement signed by all members prohibiting any and all future live engagements under the Mötley Crüe name. Mötley Crüe’s two-year concert trek, saw the band — Vince Neil (vocals), Mick Mars (guitars), Nikki Sixx (bass) and Tommy Lee (drums) — perform across five continents (North America, South America, Europe, Australia and Asia) for a total of more than 164 shows in 72 markets grossing over $100 million.
Known for their over-the-top production, Mötley Crüe did not disappoint for their last show ever on New Year’s Eve: from massive, cutting-edge pyro, including Nikki Sixx’s bass guitar spitting fire over 30 ft. into the air, and Tommy Lee’s “Crüecifly” drum roller coaster, amongst many other spectacular elements. Lead singer, Vince Neil, delivered an emotional, “thank you” speech to the audience, while the band supplied next-level, high-octane fueled energy, ringing in the New Year on stage with thousands of balloons raining down on the crowd. The grand finale of the show included a blow-out performance of their hit single, “Kickstart My Heart” with Nikki Sixx and Vince Neil floating above the audience in far-reaching “cherry-pickers.” Leaving fans in tears, the show concluded with an emotional encore rendition of “Home Sweet Home” from the second stage riser in the center of the audience.
Fathom Events CEO John Rubey said, “We’re excited to bring the opportunity for Mötley Crüe’s legion of supporters to experience their Final Show and relive the magic one more time. Filled with their hard-rock anthems and unforgettable stage presentation, this show is not to be missed.”
“Mötley Crüe: The End” was produced and distributed by Live Alliance and Eagle Rock Enetertainment. Christian Lamb directed the concert portion. Jeff Tremaine, creator of the Jackass series, directed the documentary segment.
Watch the official trailer: