Dads, hide your daughters. Daughters, hide your lipstick.
Does it get any louder, crazier or, likely, flat-out fun than a triple bill of Motley Crue, Poison and the New York Dolls?
Not if you’re a fan of ’70s and ’80s hook-rock.
Yes, the trio shares an affinity for a glammy look -- though in recent years, the Crue and Poison have tended more toward jeans and flat hair -- but their mutual road show is also about anniversaries.
This year marks 40 for the Dolls, 30 for Crue and 25 for Poison.
Feel old yet? Well, these guys apparently don’t, since they’re still happily dodging flash pots and brain-rattling explosions on stage and, in the case of Motley’s awesomely entertaining drummer Tommy Lee, adding some insane airborne shenanigans to a performance.
The tour, which kicked off June 7 in Dallas and rolls through Aug. 5, makes a stop at Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood on July 10.
Prior to the launch of this rock ’n’ roll circus, Crue bassist Nikki Sixx had time for a quick conversation.
Q: When did you first start talking about this particular lineup?
A: When the concept to do something this summer came up, the economy is in such a bad state that we were going, "How can we do something that is different and the fans feel like they’re getting a bang for their buck?" We loved the idea of the New York Dolls, so it was a matter of filling in the blank. Fans were really pushing for Poison, and we were like, [they] were something that happened after us [in the ’80s]. It wasn’t really what I or the band wanted to do, but you have to listen to the fans and we’re really engaged with the fans. I talked to [Poison lead singer] Bret [Michaels] and said, do you still believe in rock ’n’ roll? And he said, "I live and breathe it." It will be a great night of hits. And to me, I’m so excited to turn our fans on to the New York Dolls.
Q: For people who been to a Crue show in the past, what makes this tour worth coming to see? And how vital were the fans in choosing the set list and, in a sense, helping create the tour?
A: As always with us, it’s going to be over the top. The show itself, separate from who we’re bringing with us, is a fantastic evening. Add to that all of the songs of Poison and what they’re about live and the New York Dolls, it’s insane. I think the fans really pushed us to do something we probably wouldn’t have done. With Facebook, Twitter, the Motley Crue website -- just hearing from people about what they want and what they didn’t want. Sometimes when things are too far to the left or the right, it can be too extreme.
Q: What’s the gist of your new book, “This Is Gonna Hurt”?
A: It’s photos, but the undertone is what inspired the photography and what inspired me as an artist all the way, including in Motley Crue, how I got into drug addiction and recovery, all of that. It breaks down the fact that I tend to look at what other people think as not beautiful as beautiful. So far, I’ve heard from a lot of teenagers saying thanks for the message you’re sending.
Concert preview
Motley Crue with Poison and the New York Dolls
7 p.m. July 10. $26-$101. Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood, 2002 Lakewood Way, Atlanta. 1-800-745-3000, www.livenation.com.
Motley Crue’s setlist from a recent show in Minneapolis:
“Wild Side”
“Saints of Los Angeles”
“Live Wire”
“Shout at the Devil”
“Same Ol’ Situation”
“Primal Scream”
“Home Sweet Home”
“Don’t Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)”
“Looks That Kill”
“Dr. Feelgood”
“Too Young to Fall in Love”
“Girls Girls Girls”
“Smokin’ in the Boys Room”
“Kickstart My Heart”
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