Did Mötley Crüe Really Play in Front of Empty Venues Back in the 90s? John Corabi Sets the Record Straight
Former Mötley Crüe and current The Dead Daisies frontman John Corabi recently sat down for an interview with Jimmy Kay of The Metal Voice in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The conversation covered a range of topics, including Corabi’s time with Mötley Crüe from 1992 to 1997 and his thoughts on his portrayal in the movie The Dirt. Known for his contributions to Mötley Crüe’s self-titled album, released in 1994, Corabi shared his perspectives on the film and shed light on his experiences during that period.
When asked about his absence from the film, Corabi expressed his understanding, suggesting that the storyline could have shown the band splitting up and then coming together without including him directly. However, he did note one aspect that bothered him: the portrayal of his live performances.
Corabi expressed his disappointment with the movie’s depiction of his concerts, claiming that it inaccurately showed him playing in high school gymnasiums to minimal audiences. The reality, according to Corabi, was different, with the band often performing for thousands of fans, albeit without every show being sold out. He highlighted that those interested could find videos on YouTube showcasing the band’s live performances from that era, offering a more accurate representation of the crowd sizes they played to.
In our opinion, Corabi is right about this. Although it is not possible to check every single video on YouTube from that era, it is clear that the band played in front of larger audiences back in those days. Sure, it wasn’t the same as in the 80s, but we all know that the period he is referring to was a hard time for all hard rock bands. The damage was done, but maybe Mötley Crüe should stop perpetuating this myth that they themselves created of a band playing to empty venues. It doesn’t do any good for the bands from that era historically speaking. It is okay to admit that there were fewer people in the audience, but to serve and perpetuate the myth that grunge killed glam metal and everything was falling apart is just nonsense. While it may have meant the end for some smaller bands, Mötley Crüe managed to survive it quite well. Aren’t they filling stadiums these days?
You can listen to the whole interview down below
As we think the 90s were not that bad for the band, you can check out the list of the best Motley Crue songs from that era.
Grab a copy John Corabi’s book “Horseshoes and Hand Grenades: Tales from the Other Mötley Crüe Frontman and Journeys through a Life In and Out of Rock and Roll” here.
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