LIVE REVIEW: Mötley Crüe (Dögs Of War) @ The Underworld, London
When is a secret show not a secret show? When you’re MÖTLEY CRÜE masquerading as DÖGS OF WAR of course. Following not-so-cryptic posts on Instagram using the same typeface as MÖTLEY CRÜE’s promotional materials, tickets for The Underworld sold out within 20 seconds. This show contains many firsts for the band; it’s their first UK show with John 5 on guitar, their first time playing a club in the UK since their stint with John Corabi, as well as the band’s first time playing the historic Underworld. With their Wembley Stadium show with DEF LEPPARD imminent, we couldn’t resist the invitation to descend into The Underworld.
A gripe comes with the addition of a support band and it isn’t just us who are confused. Patrons of the heaving Underworld had been led to believe their beloved DÖGS OF WAR will play for the full two hours of “SHOWTIME” (sic). It isn’t until we see a post from bassist Nikki Sixx showing the set times that we see the addition of MOTLEY CREW.
Though with zero expectation, MOTLEY CREW takes to the stage to a relatively warm reception. What we’re greeted with is a cover band. Now now, hold on to the collective groan. Could DÖGS OF WAR have simply played for the full two hours? Absolutely. However there would have been the danger of the band coming out to a cold crowd – it wouldn’t have happened, but there’s a risk nonetheless.
Parking this to the side, MOTLEY CREW take us down memory lane by flirting with the riff of METALLICA’s Sad But True and Enter Sandman. The musicianship is good but the downfall comes with the sound. We’re simply unable to hear the vocals. What we can hear is muddy and muffled. To the point no one can distinguish one song from another. An exception to this comes with ALICE IN CHAINS’ monolithic Man In The Box. The 450 cap venue drowns out the band entirely despite not showing much other reaction. This isn’t to say MOTLEY CREW come akin to a damp paper bag. The crowd is receptive to them but were more interested in grabbing a last minute pint and commenting on the price of booze in Camden.
Rating: 5/10
“Dogs of war and men of hate/ With no cause, we don’t discriminate” PINK FLOYD penned in 1987. This arrogance and bolstered attitude pushes glam metal’s DÖGS OF WAR (who we’ll be referring to as MÖTLEY CRÜE) on stage to an Underworld at boiling point. The screams ring out through the close and sweaty room as John 5 takes the guitar and breezes through the iconic riff of Wild Side. For those looking for a comparison between 5 and beloved guitarist Mick Mars; 5 may play the riffs and hooks slightly lower but he is still every part the exceptional musician. With Sixx and drummer Tommy Lee rolling through the rhythm section as if they’ve never missed a beat, the crowd now braces for vocalist Vince Neil.
From Wild Side into Shout At The Devil, Neil provides a good performance. Arguably one of the better we’ve seen over the years. While lyrics are skipped and notes aren’t held as long, this is nothing like some of the videos plastered all over YouTube. A sigh of relief releases and we’re able to lose ourselves in what’s happening. The glam metal titans steamroll through their breakthrough song and set the temperature soaring. Though it’s with Too Fast For Love we see a slight wobble. Arguably a song many MÖTLEY CRÜE fans are neither here nor there with, it seems the band feel the same, powering through it in very little time.
Returning to material from Shout At The Devil (1983) which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this September, Live Wire is simply that. The euphoria is palpable to the point of addiction as the crowd is left wanting more. Much like with MOTLEY CREW, the band were drowned out for sections of the song. Leading into the bridge, a chorus of “Come on, baby/ Gotta play with me/ Well, I’m your live wire” rings through the room, prompting wide grins from 5 and Sixx (pardon the pun). This moment carries on for a little too long before Looks That Kill decimates the Underworld.
Having just watched a band who played a medley of covers, we possibly could have done without MÖTLEY CRÜE’s own selection. Though Rock ‘n’ Roll (Part 2) (GARY GLITTER), Smokin’ In The Boys Room (BROWNSVILLE STATION), Helter Skelter (THE BEATLES), Anarchy In The U.K (THE SEX PISTOLS), and Blitzkrieg Bop (THE RAMONES) have the room moving nicely to the bass led grooves… even if some are rightfully adamant not to react to a GARY GLITTER song. Smokin’ In The Boys Room is arguably one of MÖTLEY CRÜE’s biggest tracks but there are some fans who still simply don’t take to it. More who are jarred by the obvious change in lyrics to include 5 instead of Mars.
What follows is the live premiere of the band’s version of BEASTIE BOYS’ (You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party!). The crowd become unglued as they launch into one of the most iconic songs of all time. Fists fly into the air and a copious amount of sweat, water, and what we hope is beer soon follow. As this flows into the addictive grind and bounce of Dr. Feelgood, this breath of fresh air into the live set couldn’t have come at a better time for MÖTLEY CRÜE. Before this, they had become predictable and crowds had begun to grow stale. While Neil’s penchant to skip entire lines comes out to play during the 1989 track, we find ourselves not really caring, finding the moment all too intoxicating to pull ourselves from.
No Friday night on Camden Lock would be complete without Girls Girls Girls and these come accompanied by scantily clad dancers attempting to navigate their way around an unforgivingly small stage at The Underworld. Nevertheless, they make themselves at home as Neil pays homage to the legendary dancers of The Seventh Veil. Hell has definitely been raised as the Underworld as the sleaze rock gods push things to another level. We’re pushed further with the salacious Primal Scream. Sixx dominates the bassline, leaving many women jealous of a fretboard and a few strings. The grind sways many hips as we trip to the light fantastic. The only thing which brings it down is Neil’s vocals as mistakes are made and words are missed. Par for the course with this band nowadays.
Kickstart My Heart ends the night on the high it deserves. Both band and audience drip with sweat. Water pours from the ceiling. The air is relentlessly hot and stale. Humidity ruling our minds at this point, we’re forced to sum the show up in a few words. One of MÖTLEY CRÜE’s finest hours transpired in The Underworld. While old issues arose we couldn’t have asked for a better show from one of glam metal’s most notorious bands. It would have been nice to have deeper cuts such as Enslaved or Mutherfucker Of The Year, or even the new track DÖGS OF WAR supposedly takes its name from, played for this once in a lifetime opportunity for some. However the high we leave this show on is unlike any other and that is more than we could ever have hoped for.
Rating: 8/10
Like MÖTLEY CRÜE on Facebook.