In 2021, the iconic rock group Mötley Crüe is celebrating 40 years of the band. Known for their wild antics both on and off of the stage, the band has certainly left its mark on the music world. Throughout all of the highs and lows that came with their career, Mötley Crüe has left a legacy that today’s bands could only dream of living up to. Let’s take a look back at some of the most notable moments that stand out in the band’s history. 

The actual 40 year anniversary date for the band was on Jan. 17. It was on that day back in 1981 that Mötley Crüe was formed by singer Vince Neil, bassist Nikki Sixx, guitarist Mick Mars and drummer Tommy Lee. Later that year, the band released their first album “Too Fast For Love,” which included the hit songs “Live Wire” and “Take Me to the Top.”

The band quickly rose to fame, and during their prime time of the 1980’s they came out with a total of five albums. Following their debut album, the band’s second record “Shout at the Devil” brought upon a new era to Mötley Crüe. With high heeled boots, makeup and lots of leather, it was certainly one of the most iconic looks that the band has done. While the title track of the album sparked some controversy, it would eventually become certified 4x platinum and boosted the band’s career exponentially. 

Mötley Crüe’s most successful album was their 1989 release “Dr. Feelgood,” which became their first album to hit number one on the music charts. One of the biggest hits off of the album titled “Kickstart My Heart,” came at number 16 on the Mainstream U.S. chart. The inspiration for the song came from Nikki’s near-death experience when he suffered from a heroin overdose and was declared clinically dead for two minutes during the ambulance ride to the hospital. The paramedic was actually a fan of Mötley Crüe and was able to revive the bassist with two shots of adrenaline. 

In 2001, Mötley Crüe published their collaborative autobiography “The Dirt: Confessions of the World’s Most Notorious Rock Band.” Collectively written by all four members of the band, the book tells of the formation of the group, their rise to becoming global rockstars, and wild tales from the band’s touring. It made the New York Times Best Seller top ten list and spent ten weeks in that position. 

Fast forward several years to 2019, a movie adaptation of the book was released through Netflix titled “The Dirt.” The film starred Daniel Webber as Vince Neil, Iwan Rheon as Mick Mars, Douglas Booth as Nikki Sixx and Colson Baker, aka Machine Gun Kelly, as Tommy Lee. On March 22, Mötley Crüe celebrated the movie’s two year anniversary by inviting their fans to watch the film that evening while the band made commentary throughout it via their Twitter. 

In 2020, a major stadium tour was supposed to happen involving Mötley Crüe, Def Leppard, Poison and Joan Jett and The Blackhearts. However, due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, it has since been rescheduled to the summer of 2021. It will be the band’s first major tour in several years. 

Mötley Crüe has definitely left a legacy of their own in the world of rock and metal music. They remain as one of the most iconic bands in history and their music continues to live on and thrive. Congratulations to Mötley Crüe for celebrating their 40 year anniversary.