Motley Crue reveal upcoming album is inspired by Channel 4 hit series after bandmate was ‘dumped’ from group’
THREE years after their last release, rock legends Motley Crue are back with a growling new tune, Dogs Of War.
The group, now made up of Vince Neil, Tommy Lee, Nikki Six and John 5, dropped the new song yesterday after signing a major new deal with Big Machine Records.
And while the ferocious track is steeped in Motley sounds, the band’s co-founder Nikki said he got inspiration for the song from something totally unexpected.
“I was watching A Handmaid’s Tale,” Nikki explains.
“There was a phrase in Latin that said, ‘Don’t let those b******s grind you down’.
“So I wrote it all, and then came back to the studio and I was like, ‘Hey, what about this?’”
John added: “He had all the lyrics and the melody done, and sang it over the drum beat, and I was like, ‘That’s really impressive’.
“It’s very cool to be in a room with that much creativity flying around.
“So it all came really quick, and we had a great time doing it – and a lot of laughs.”
John 5 joined the group after Mick Mars’ messy departure two years ago, which has them now locked in a rather unsavoury legal row.
While the band insisted in statements that they only have love for Mick, who said he wanted to step back from touring over health issues, he claims his bandmates ousted him from the group entirely.
Putting that behind them, the group are now focused solely on new music and worked with their long-time producer Bob Rock for the record.
And although Nikki said creating the tune was simple, they ran into trouble when Bob suggested they lay down some lead vocals – a job usually reserved for Vince.
Nikki said: “He goes, ‘You, Tommy and John are all going to sing a lead vocal, and then we’re going to have Vince join you.
“I said no. I think all you could hear were my knees knocking.”
In the end, and after some persuasion, the lads did give it a go and Dogs Of War sounds great for it.
After forming in 1981, Motley have now sold over 100 million records worldwide and have no plans to slow down.
But could they go on for as long as The Rolling Stones, who are preparing to kick off a massive tour in the US on Sunday night?
“It depends on the medical and technology,” Nikki laughed.
“They could maybe cut our heads off, and put us on new bodies.”