In 1984, I was 17 when my parents allowed me to attend my first concert. It was Motley Crue opening for Ozzy Osbourne at the Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Oregon.
The Crue was it with the red hot ‘Shout at the Devil’ fueling their rise that year and stealing some of the thunder from old man Ozzy who was touring without Randy Rhoads and a ‘Bark at the Moon’ record that didn’t matchup to his first two albums.
Fast forward 31 years later and here I was attending the final Motley Crue concert in Portland with my 16 year old son, which turned out to be his first concert… a surreal moment for his old man for sure. He loves the band and we had a great time rockin’ out one last time with Vince, Nikki, Mick and Tommy.
As expected, #RipMotleyCrue played all the Crue classics, opening with ‘Girls, Girls’, Girls and ‘Wildside’ before rolling through some of their biggest pop hits: ‘Primal Scream,’ ‘Same Ol’ Situation (S.O.S.),’ ‘Don’t Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)’ and ‘Smokin’ in the Boys’ Room.’
Those songs are all fine, but most Crue fans cut their teeth on the earlier stuff that came later in the show: ‘Looks That Kill,’ ‘Shout at the Devil,’ and ‘Livewire.’ Click Here for full setlist.
The show was great, but Tommy Lee’s roller coaster drum solo was even better. “This has been a lifetime dream,” he yelled out.
This is really the end for Motley Crue, bringing mixed feelings for an old timer like me. They don’t have the edge of their youth anymore, so it’s probably best they wrap this up. However, these 80’s metal bands have been such a huge part of our lives, it can be tough to let go of the past. My son loves the Crue, but he loves what they were and fortunately with the classic recordings, we can hear them in their prime until our final tour.
