Tapes that kill

[twonabomber]

WHY would Corabi sing a Crue song that he didn't have anything to do with? Yes, I know he was in Crue, and I kind of don't mind that record, but still.

[twonabomber]

[FORD]

Odd thing about Garth Brooks - at least back in his 90s heyday - was that he was working with two entirely different bands. One for the records & one for the road. I'm assuming the studio musicians were on the payroll of either the producer or Capitol Nashville records. His live band always recreated the songs as good or better than the album versions. You definitely knew Garth wasn't using tracks.... though his live album probably had a few overdubs on it, based on the fact that a few of the songs sounded considerably different than the actual live versions heard in concert.

[Terry]

And put them on stage. A stadium stage with old farts on it is a big space to fill anyway, stop being cheapskates and pay people to sing backup and play keyboards and rhythm guitar upstage.

It's interesting, because the most memorable shows I've seen over the last 15 years were Neil Diamond, Billy Joel, Jimmy Buffett and Garth Brooks.

All of those guys had a lot of musicians onstage with them, but all four of those guys made sure the musicians onstage with them got a bit of spotlight time, introduced them by name, etc.

Same when I saw The Who and The Rolling Stones in 1989.

As opposed to when I saw Def Leppard in 2007 and Motley Crue in 2015, where the backing tapes were as important to the overall sound as anything the musicians onstage were doing.

[Terry]

There's a big difference in doing something like The Who did with Baba O'Riley.... if you're doing a set list that only has one or two songs with keyboard parts ("Won't Get Fooled Again" being the other one) then it makes sense to use a track for those two songs, rather than hiring a keyboard player & having extra instruments & equipment to haul around all over the planet for what amounts to a very minor portion of the show. Of course even with technology, these things can sometimes go very bad, if the tracks don't sync up with the live instruments....

On the other hand, Queen has been playing the "opera" section of Bohemian Rhapsody from tape for years, even when Freddie was alive, and they always seemed to pull it off. With all the multi-tracked vocals in that part of the song, it's not hard to guess why. Couldn't reproduce that live... and certainly not with an inferior singer like LAMEbert.

But there's a big difference between that, and doing what Motley Crue & Kiss are doing with their tapes.... which is covering up for the fact that the old farts simply can't play their own songs anymore.

Personally, certainly when it comes to rock music, I prefer what I'm hearing at a concert to be exclusively produced live by the musicians onstage at the time of the performance.

Realistically, those days are over when it comes to a lot of these aging bands.

Doesn't really matter too much from my vantage point, because my concert going days are pretty much behind me. There aren't any 'living legends' out there touring that I feel I HAVE to see going forward. I've either already seen them or will be fine never seeing them.

[Nickdfresh]

It's official

https://ultimateclassicrock.com/motley-crue-john-5-mick-mars/

Motley Crue has announced that guitarist John 5 will replace Mick Mars in the band's touring lineup.

"While change is never easy, we accept Mick's decision to retire from the band due to the challenges with his health," Motley Crue wrote in a statement. "No doubt will it take an absolutely outstanding musician to fill Mick's shoes, so we are grateful that our good friend John 5 has agreed to come on board and join us moving forward." Mars, a co-founding member who had been in the group for 41 years, recently announced he was retiring from touring "due to his ongoing painful struggle with Ankylosing Spondylitis."

A statement from the band clarified that "Mick will continue as a member of the band, but can no longer handle the rigors of the road."

"To say 'enough is enough' is the ultimate act of courage," Motley Crue continued. "Mick's sound helped define Motley Crue from the minute he plugged in his guitar at our very first rehearsal together. The rest, as they say, is history."

Stepping in for Mars will be John 5, a guitarist with a long resume that includes work with David Lee Roth, Marilyn Manson and Rob Zombie. He also has an extensive history in Motley Crue’s orbit. John 5 co-wrote three of the songs for the soundtrack to The Dirt: "Crash and Burn,” "Ride With the Devil" and "The Dirt (Est. 1981)." He also shared a writing credit on the 2011 Sixx:A.M. single "Lies of the Beautiful People.” In 2021, John 5 joined Nikki Sixx, Zombie and drummer Tommy Clufetos in the supergroup L.A. Rats.

John 5 had served as Zombie's guitarist since 2005, but he was noticeably absent from the singer's recent performance. During an Oct. 6 set at the Aftershock festival in Sacramento, John 5 was replaced by Mike Riggs, who previously served in Zombie’s band from 1997 to 2003. No reason for the change was given at the time. "I'm honored to carry on Mick's legacy and am looking forward to playing these songs," John 5 noted in a statement.

Mars' departure from Motley Crue's touring lineup leaves Sixx as the only constant member of the group since its formation. The band recently announced plans for a 2023 world tour alongside Def Leppard, who co-headlined alongside Motley Crue for the successful 2022 Stadium Tour.

Who's replacing the other three posers?

[Seshmeister]

And put them on stage. A stadium stage with old farts on it is a big space to fill anyway, stop being cheapskates and pay people to sing backup and play keyboards and rhythm guitar upstage.

[twonabomber]

On the other hand, Queen has been playing the "opera" section of Bohemian Rhapsody from tape for years, even when Freddie was alive, and they always seemed to pull it off.

"When you want something done right...hire good people to do it."

[twonabomber]

It's official

https://ultimateclassicrock.com/motley-crue-john-5-mick-mars/

Motley Crue has announced that guitarist John 5 will replace Mick Mars in the band's touring lineup.

"While change is never easy, we accept Mick's decision to retire from the band due to the challenges with his health," Motley Crue wrote in a statement. "No doubt will it take an absolutely outstanding musician to fill Mick's shoes, so we are grateful that our good friend John 5 has agreed to come on board and join us moving forward." Mars, a co-founding member who had been in the group for 41 years, recently announced he was retiring from touring "due to his ongoing painful struggle with Ankylosing Spondylitis."

A statement from the band clarified that "Mick will continue as a member of the band, but can no longer handle the rigors of the road."

"To say 'enough is enough' is the ultimate act of courage," Motley Crue continued. "Mick's sound helped define Motley Crue from the minute he plugged in his guitar at our very first rehearsal together. The rest, as they say, is history."

Stepping in for Mars will be John 5, a guitarist with a long resume that includes work with David Lee Roth, Marilyn Manson and Rob Zombie. He also has an extensive history in Motley Crue’s orbit. John 5 co-wrote three of the songs for the soundtrack to The Dirt: "Crash and Burn,” "Ride With the Devil" and "The Dirt (Est. 1981)." He also shared a writing credit on the 2011 Sixx:A.M. single "Lies of the Beautiful People.” In 2021, John 5 joined Nikki Sixx, Zombie and drummer Tommy Clufetos in the supergroup L.A. Rats.

John 5 had served as Zombie's guitarist since 2005, but he was noticeably absent from the singer's recent performance. During an Oct. 6 set at the Aftershock festival in Sacramento, John 5 was replaced by Mike Riggs, who previously served in Zombie’s band from 1997 to 2003. No reason for the change was given at the time. "I'm honored to carry on Mick's legacy and am looking forward to playing these songs," John 5 noted in a statement.

Mars' departure from Motley Crue's touring lineup leaves Sixx as the only constant member of the group since its formation. The band recently announced plans for a 2023 world tour alongside Def Leppard, who co-headlined alongside Motley Crue for the successful 2022 Stadium Tour.

[FORD]

There's a big difference in doing something like The Who did with Baba O'Riley.... if you're doing a set list that only has one or two songs with keyboard parts ("Won't Get Fooled Again" being the other one) then it makes sense to use a track for those two songs, rather than hiring a keyboard player & having extra instruments & equipment to haul around all over the planet for what amounts to a very minor portion of the show. Of course even with technology, these things can sometimes go very bad, if the tracks don't sync up with the live instruments....

On the other hand, Queen has been playing the "opera" section of Bohemian Rhapsody from tape for years, even when Freddie was alive, and they always seemed to pull it off. With all the multi-tracked vocals in that part of the song, it's not hard to guess why. Couldn't reproduce that live... and certainly not with an inferior singer like LAMEbert.

But there's a big difference between that, and doing what Motley Crue & Kiss are doing with their tapes.... which is covering up for the fact that the old farts simply can't play their own songs anymore.

[silverfish]

Is Performing With A Backing Track Cheating? My Opinion...

[twonabomber]

He'll be bored playing Mick Mars' parts. Kind of like Steve Stevens having to play them when he was in Vince Neil's first solo band.

5 didn't play with Rob Zombie a month ago, Zombie's original guitarist played the show. Reading about that was like reading a celeb breakup story on TMZ: "John 5 and Rob Zombie don't follow each other on Insta any more! Does that mean John 5 is out?"

I guess I'd rather have John 5 in Motley Crue than Dave Navarro.

Blabbermouth added this to their Mars story:

Speculation about John 5's involvement with CRÜE gained strength after the longtime ROB ZOMBIE guitarist failed to appear with the shock rocker at this year's Aftershock festival in Sacramento. Rob was instead joined on stage by returning guitarist Mike Riggs for the first time since 2006.

John 5 has reportedly already dismissed the rumor of him touring with CRÜE. After a fan commented on an old photo of Mars and John 5 on the latter's Instagram, and asked whether the 52-year-old guitarist was indeed joining CRÜE on the road, John 5 replied in a since-deleted comment: "No, just a rumor."

John 5 spoke about his close friendship with MÖTLEY CRÜE bassist Nikki Sixx in a 2019 interview with Outburn. At the time he said: "Nikki, he's my best friend. We love each other. He has inspired me and taught me so much about life in general. He's a phenomenal songwriter, lyricist, author, everything. He's always telling me to listen to this audio book or see this movie. He has a happy marriage, a happy life, a successful band he started from the ground up. He's one of the most inspiring people. He'll text me all the time to read something or try something. It's wonderful. He's a phenomenal photographer as well. I remember him telling me that he’s going to take bass lessons again and get into playing with his fingers. He was so dedicated. We worked on 'The Dirt' soundtrack together. When we went into the studio, he did it all with his fingers. [MÖTLEY CRÜE drummer] Tommy Lee was like, 'Look at you.' He's just such a dedicated person. I loved ['The Dirt'] movie; it was killer."

[Seshmeister]

I'm glad if John 5 is getting a big pay day, he's a great musician and seems to have a good attitude. Also a friend of the site through Von.

I got messaged immediately last week to tell me Crue and Leppard are playing the stadium here next year but as I said above I'm not interested unless I get a freebie VIP. John 5 playing actually makes a bit more interesting but I imagine he will stick very close to the albums.

[twonabomber]

John 5 is rumored to be Mars' replacement.

Mick Mars Retires From Touring

https://ultimateclassicrock.com/motley-crue-mick-mars-retires/

Motley Crue has announced that guitarist and founding member Mick Mars is retiring from touring.

A statement from the band, published by Variety, noted that Mars' retirement was "due to his ongoing painful struggle with Ankylosing Spondylitis (A.S.)." The statement further clarified that "Mick will continue as a member of the band, but can no longer handle the rigors of the road."

Mars had always been the elder statesman of Motley Crue. Born in 1951 (though some have questioned the accuracy of that year), the rocker originally named Robert Alan Deal was more than seven years older than all of his Crue bandmates. Health issues plagued Mars throughout his career, most notably the aforementioned ankylosing spondylitis, a chronic, inflammatory form of arthritis that has gradually impaired his movement.

This is certainly not the first time one of the core members of Motley Crue has departed. Among the more memorable lineup changes, frontman Vince Neil was replaced by John Corabi from 1992 to '96, and drummer Tommy Lee left the group for three years around the turn of the millennium to pursue other musical endeavors. Still, Mars has been a mainstay in the famously volatile band. Assuming this is indeed the end of his touring Crue tenure, the final stop of the Stadium Tour, Sept. 9 in Las Vegas, will prove to have been his last performance with the group.

Motley Crue recently announced plans for a 2023 world tour alongside Def Leppard, who co-headlined the wildly successful 2022 Stadium Tour trek. The band has not yet officially named a replacement for Mars in their touring lineup.

[Seshmeister]

I don't know the Steely Dan song but that works well- just enough Vince.