Mötley Crüe promises there's more to where their brand new song 'Dogs of War' came from.
The track and video, out Friday (April 26), are the first releases under a new deal with Nashville's Big Machine Records. It's also the first new Crüe song since Machine Gun Kelly's collaboration “The Dirt (Est. 1981)” from the soundtrack to the 2019 Netflix biopic of the same name, and the band's first recording with new member John5 (Marilyn Manson , Rob Zombie) , who replaced original guitarist Mick Mars last year.
“We want to keep putting out new music so we don't get stagnant,” says frontman Vince Neil. Advertising sign. We recorded '(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party)' by the Beastie Boys, and we recorded that song, too, and I thought it came out pretty good.” And while no firm plans have been set for future material (although it's rumored an EP will be in the fall), both Neil and John5 say there's more Motley music on the runway.
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“There will definitely be new music coming out next year, for sure,” says Neil, “because we've recorded a few other songs. Maybe we'll release one of those by the end of the year, but I can't say. But we want to keep putting out new music — not, maybe, an album but a few songs here, a few songs there, and that's good.”
John5 confirms that “there will be more music coming out, that's for sure. [Bassist] Nikki (Sixx) keeps calling me and saying, “Hey man, check this out” and it sounds like it could be a demo from, like the Too Fast For Love album or the Shout out to the devil album. He just has that in him. he's created this music and it sounds exactly like that time because that's the guy.”
Neil describes the fiery 'Dogs of War' as 'old school meets new school. It has that old school vibe, but it's new music. Nikki thought of it and sent me the music and I thought it was really cool. So I started singing it and we went into the studio and the song was made, I think the fans will like it.” The song was produced by frequent Crüe collaborator Bob Rock, which Neil says was a source of comfort for the band.
“He's great,” the singer explains. “He's a lot of fun. Is smart. He is creative. He knows what he wants. He knows what to get from every man to be his best. That's what a good producer does, he takes what you have and makes it better – and that's what (Rock ) does in Mötley Crüe. That's what we love about him. We know it's not going to change and we didn't want any change. We wanted to do it exactly like we were recording with him.”
The upcoming video, meanwhile, is an animated, all-CGI affair directed by Nick DenBoer that depicts the band in various levels of an apocalyptic video game-like battle. It also features a clever nod to the pig masks worn by the team on the 1997 cover Pig Generation album.
In announcing the new label deal, Big Machine President and CEO Scott Borchetta — the driving force behind the 2014 Nashville Outlaws: A Tribute to Mötley Crüe collection — says that, “Growing up in Southern California, I was in Hollywood when these new sheriffs showed up and took over town. It was loud. It was possible. It was the game changer. (The band) reignited the flame with wild new Crüe Music.”
Neil, who lives in Nashville, calls Borchetta “a good friend… and a good friend of the band. It's just a smart company that knows how to market songs and how to get them on the radio and do whatever you need to do. They are perfect for us.”
However, BMG remains the band's home for catalog releases. A Dolby Atmos remaster of it has already been released this year The Dirt Soundtrack to celebrate its fifth anniversary, as well as a Record Store Day rarities compilation reissue Supersonic and Demonic Relics on vinyl for the first time. Since this year is the 25th anniversary of the legendary band Dr. Feelgood album, fans are speculating about some sort of release to commemorate it later in the year.
In 2014, of course, Mötley Crüe famously signed a “binding” contract for their farewell leg of The Final tour, which stipulated that support act Alice Cooper could chop off their heads if they broke it. But then it came the dirt, which despite overwhelmingly negative reviews was a success, with the soundtrack reaching No. 10 on the Billboard 200 and Top 5 on the Top Rock Albums and Soundtrack Albums charts. The single “The Dirt (Est. 1981)” was also a Top 10 Mainstream Rock hit.
“The dirt it got us so many new fans, a whole generation that hadn't seen Mötley Crüe. That kind of brought us back to wanting to play again,” says Neil. The Crüe reunited for The Stadium tour with Def Leppard in 2022, while John5 joined later in the year to replace Mars, who announced he was retiring from touring. (The band and Mars are currently embroiled in legal action over the latter's departure and his place in the band, which Neil would not comment on.)
“John brings a lot,” says Neil. “He's an amazing, creative guitar player. He hears things that us normal people don't. He brings a lot to the song and a lot to the band, and we're very happy to have him.” The feeling is mutual according to John5, who worked with Sixx on the Sixx AM projects and co-wrote the three new songs on The Dirt Soundtrack.
“I love Motley and I've known Mick, Tommy (Lee) and Nikki for so long, it's like playing with your friends,” says the guitarist. “Their music is something that interests me. I care about the history and the future of this band, so I want to do things with the utmost respect and make sure everything is done right and done with the skill it deserves.”
Mötley Crüe will play select shows this year May 3-4 at Hard Rock Live in Atlantic City, NJ and will include several festival dates.
See the full tour itinerary below:
May 3-4 — Atlantic City, NJ @ Hard Rock Live
May 9 — Daytona Beach, FL @ Welcome to Rockville
June 22 — Milwaukee, WI @ Summerfest
June 23 — Mt. Pleasant, MI @ Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort
July 11 — Calgary, Canada @ Calgary Stampede
July 13 — Ottawa, Canada @ Ottawa Bluesfest
July 14 — Quebec, Canada @ festival d'Ete de Quebec
July 19 — Minot, ND @ North Dakota State Fair
August 10 — Springfield, IL @ Illinois State Fair
August 14 — Des Moines, IA @ Iowa State Fair
August 17 — Thackerville, OK @ Winstar Casino
August 29 — St. Paul, MN @ Minnesota State Fair
August 31 — Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun
September 26 — Hollywood, FL @ Hard Rock Live
September 28 — Louisville, KY @ Louder Than Life festival
October 13 — Sacramento, CA @ Aftershock Fest
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/motley-crue-single-dogs-of-war-1235664724/
