Music Matters
In Metalmucilpallooza, Mötley Crüe and Poison face their future: The New YorkDolls
Of the bands on the Friday metal-fest at Toyota Center that I have dubbed, "Metalmucilpallooza", I'm not sure who - between Mötley Crüe, Poison and the New Yorks Dolls - is propping up who on this tour (and I mean figuratively... but mostly literally). Hell, I'm not even certain who the headliner is.
On one hand you have Motley Crue who, for six inglorious years in the '80s were the very definitinon of all-things-excess as long as it included the assistance of leather-clad strippers with very teased-out hair. Between 1983-1989 lead singer Vince Neil, drummer Tommy Lee, guitarist Mick Mars and bassist Nikki Sixx, released four albums that all sold at least four million copies each. Former No. 1 album Dr. Feelgood (1989) was the zenith when songs like "Without You," "Don't Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)" and the title track were all radio staples.
On the strength of four Top 40 mainstream singles and 80 million albums sold worldwide over the last three decades, the scales definitely tip toward Motley Crue as the main draw.
Of course... Poison's peroxide-and-lipstick arsenal includes lead singer Bret Michaels who — hands down— is the one artist on this entire tour who has remained relevant into the first decade of 21st century. Sure, the rest of the Poison supporting cast — guitarist C. C. DeVille, bassist Bobby Dall and drummer Ricki Rockett —originally helped Michaels go platinum with skanky chestnuts like "Talk Dirty To Me," "I Want Action" and "Unskinny Bop."
But let's be honest: MIchaels has now outlived his bandmates 15 minutes of fame by about... 25 years. Between three ratings-grabbing seasons of his own personal escort service/reality show, Rock of Love, on VH-1 and last year's victory on Donald Trump's Celebrity Apprentice, he's the over-the-hill glam-metal equivalent of Ryan Seacrest.
Michaels could show up at to the Toyota Center with three paunchy bowling pins with blonde wigs next to him and sing Poison's hits and the crowd would love it.
Speaking of over-the-hill, if there was any justice in the world the New York Dolls should be the rightful headliner of this show. As the '70s band that paved the foundation for what would be come the New York City punk scene highlighted by the Ramones and Blondie, David Johansen and Co. are a living, breathing piece of the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame.
Without the New York Dolls there is no Motley Crue or Poison. Vince Neil and Bret Michaels would be the first in line to agree with that. Unfortunately, in rock n' roll, distance does not make the heart grow fonder and the Dolls haven't released a song of consequence since Michaels, 48, was 11 years-old.
Still, I would arrive early and see what might your last chance (aren't they all?) to see the New York Dolls in concert.
Motley Crue / Poison / New York Dolls, Friday 7 p.m. at Toyota Center
Tickets: $35- $95
