The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, August 02, 2000, Page 6, Image 6
Quote of the Week
“Asking a writer about critics is like asking a lamp post about
dogs.”
- Rueben Aitchison
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The resurrection of Motley Crue
*
by John Huiett
News Editor
out of
In 1984, Motley Crue was on the-cutting edge of rebellion.
Anchored by their first two releases, Too Fast For Love and Shorn
at the Devil, their thick, three-chord raunchy anthems spoke to
a legion of pubescent metal heads too lightweight for early Metal
lica and justifiably nauseated by Bon Jovi’s fluffy-haired, watered
down schlock rock. The Crue was just loud enough to draw dis
approving stares at stoplights and just outrageous enough to anger
Bible-toting parents. So what if their theatrics, makeup and numb
skull subject matter were all but a blatant Kiss rip off? At the time,
Kiss had gone cosmetics free, Gene Simmons was wearing wigs
and Paul Stanley’s multi-colored outfits and onstage prancing made
him seem more like a certain frizzy-haired weight-loss guru than
the Starchild. The Crue had a void to fill.
And fill it they did. By 1989’s Dr. Feelgood, the band was one
of the top-selling hard rock acts in the world, having even sur
vived silly career moves such as their 1985 Theatre of Pain for
ay into dressing like Prince and writing syrupy ballads.
But the band wouldn’t survive two other things: grunge and
their own excesses. An attempt to replace lead singer Vince Neil
resulted in major commercial disappointment (remember “Hooli
gan s nonaay ana ms tnumpnant return ior iyy/ s venera
tion Swine was a desperate fumble to try to seem relevant to the
modem rock world by incorporating psuedo-industrial elements
and even grunge (a few years late, guys) into their dated sound.
Now, however, Motley Crue is back from the dead. New
Tattoo (Beyond), their first new studio album in three years, is a
loud, lewd and refreshing return to their classic sound typified by
the swirling 1987 opus Girls, Girls, Girls. Yes, drummer extra
ordinaire and reluctant porn star Tommy Lee has been replaced
by ex-Ozzy Osbourne skinsman Randy Castillo. And, no, the band
is no longer on a major label, revealing the lack of faith the in
dustry has in the band’s return to form. But New Tattoo is the
sound of a band on fire, the sound of four hard rock veterans just
glad to be alive and playing their music anywhere for anyone.
I
Album opener “Hell on High Heels” (yeah, I know it’s stu
pid) has the catchiest hard rock chorus in years, and “1st Band
on the Moon” (yeah, I know, even more stupid), with its brood
ing intro and spidery riffs can make the car stereo speakers rattle,
even when it’s not cranked up.
There are even a few surprises. Notably, the acoustic-driven
blues wail of the title track, in which Neil tames his girlish shriek
to an almost sincere croon, is a treat. And most of all, the per
formance of guitarist Mick Mars, once a two-word punch line
among holier-than-thou guitar players, is clean and articulate, full
of punch and dazzle. Of course, with bassist Nikki Sixx remain
ing the principal songwriter, the lyrics on New Tattoo are pre
dictably trite. Neil can’t have a straight face when he sings lines
like “Better wear your rubber boys/ If Betty is your date tonight”
fmiri “Unll nn T-TinrU Uonlc ” rvr u/rtrco mactor rrr\ factor/ Vrvn Vq
my bitch and I’m your bastard,” from “Treat Me Like the Dog I
Am.” Heart warming, sure, and just try holding back the tears as
Neil yelps, “I’m checking out the heavens above/Yeah, I just got
punched in the teeth by love,” from, you guessed it, “Punched in
the Teeth by Love.” Ridiculous.
True, there’s nothing really new about New Tattoo, other than
its 2000 copyright. Plus, its fifth grade lyrical mentality would in
sult the intelligence of most males over 13 and offend the liber
ated sensibilities of most females of any age. But for pure, raunchy
rock-n-roll, the kind you can’t get these days without some an
noying turntable scratching in the background and a dopey white
guy feigning hip-hop credibility, Motley Crue has the market cor
nered.
'Hollow Man' the latest twist on
an old fascination: being invisible
by DavidGermain
The Associated Press
Los Angeles - The Invisible Man has never looked so good.
The notion of a man pulling the ultimate disappearing act
has fascinated people since ancient times. Now the special ef
fects of “Hollow Man” add a grisly realism to the concept,
which has come a long way from the bandages and goggles that
enshroud Claude Rains in the 1933 classic, “The Invisible Man,”
based on H.G. Wells’ novel.
Invisibility’s appeal has always been part personal fantasy,
part bogeyman terror. Matt Greenbeig, who created the new
Sci-Fi Channel series, “The Invisible Man,” said it’s a univer
sal fantasy.
“Growing up, I had dreams about being invisible, but not
for the usual reasons about eavesdropping or peaking in at peo
ple,” said Greenbeig, whose show deals with an ex-buiglar im
planted with a gland that makes him invisible. “For me, it
was about escape. I was a shy child, so I’d imagine being in
visible and going to school and nobody would be able to see
me.”
Kevin Bacon, who stars in “Hollow Man,” also dreamed
- III —
Coutesy of Columbia Pictures
as a boy about what he might do if no one could see him.
“When I was a kid, I used to fantasize about it all the time.
Girls’ locker rooms, girls’ showers. It’s the best way to take a
peek,” Bacon said. “I’ve since had the luxury of seeing naked
New cable channel
aims at 'fine living7
by Duncan Mansfield
Associated Press
Knoxville, Tenn. - Ah, the good life!
What is it? Well, paradise comes in many forms.
A 24-hour cable channel launching next year called Fine Living promises
to capture its rich, rare and relaxed essence. In other words, upscale TV.
Scripps Networks, a growing purveyor of lifestyles programming includ
ing Home & Garden Television and the Food Network, has dreamed up Fine
Living.
What exactly will be on the new channel hasn t been decided, scripps is
somewhere between an idea and a product at this point.
If it were a magazine, Fine Living probably would be closer to Town &
Country than HGTV-like Good Housekeeping. Magazines, in fact, were part
of the inspiration — publications like The Robb Report, Wine Spectator and
Cigar Aficionado.
“We did some research to tell us if we are crazy or on the mark in terms
of concept,” said Susan Packard, president of Scripps’ New Ventures divi
sion, adding that Scripps liked the answer.
“Never has there been a moment in history where we have seen so much