The Motley Crue - John Corabi Drama Is Nuts

So it's been all over the music blogs and news sites this week. John Corabi says someone in Motley Crue is ticked that he's been working with Mick Mars. Well, we can easily deduce it isn't Mick himself. It isn't Vince Neil because he doesn't care if it doesn't involve him. Tommy Lee is the same way, so that leaves us with... Nikki Sixx.

Here's an snippet of an interview that was posted on Blabbermouth (the bold is mine):

"The last time I talked with [Mick], the other thing I'm kind of concerned with is… I don't wanna… I'm just guesstimating here, but there's still some things that they have to get situated in the MÖTLEY camp," Corabi said. "And I know that they all signed an agreement, and from what I've been led to believe is that part of that camp is a little bit pissy with me working with Mick. I don't know [why that is]. They had to sign some thing that none of the members would ever work together again. So somehow… I don't know. It's, like, whatever. I don't really care. If Mick needs help, I told him I'd help him. But I just said, 'I think you need to make sure and sort all that out, so that all your stuff is in order."

This is crap because John never signed the agreement. He wasn't part of the band during the contract "end of Crue" stunt so the comment about working with Mick and "someone" being pissy makes no sense. But wait! There's more! John did another interview saying that Nikki hates his guts. That article is below. Personally, I hope John keeps right on working with Mick. This is all ludicrous.

John Corabi: 'I Have No Idea Why Nikki Sixx Feels That I'm the Biggest Piece of S–t to Roam the Earth' https://t.co/n5JTPuhKpx

— Noisecreep (@noisecreep) June 30, 2016

Comments

[Him]

In academic circles, this sort of behavior could be labeled "retrospective sense-making." I think the more common description would simply be revisionism. Sixx seems incapable to taking a stand and staying with it. That time he spent dead must have rattled his brainbox.

Time and again, as has suited Sixx, he takes one strand of facticity and warps it to fit his current needs (or wants, if one wants to ponder what drives him). He also takes a stance that is different, not because it is necessarily his actual opinion (which can change, granted). No, he does it so he can maintain a semblance of speaking outside of convention, even when it comes to something as non-controversial as people--Mars and Corabi, even Neil and Corabi--hanging out or recording together.

This is only one of several interviews of late where Corabi has discussed the situation with Sixx (and also discussed other items that are more interesting). In all of them, he comes across as cordial, funny, and balanced. He makes clear what he does know and what he is, as is quoted above, he is "guesstimating." I have no doubt he can be a royal PITA when he wants, even if I never experienced it (when I met him and when I have seen him play, as a fan).

I hope time allows him to record--and write--with Mars (again). I hope The Dead Daisies project does well with a new label and a new album, and hopefully a stable lineup and tour. I hope the MC tour CD and DVD do well and draw in fans, new and old alike.

My only concern is that this provides--yet again--another target at which Sixx can swipe and paw, one that keeps him in the limelight for no other reason than he wants to be there. Which is a reason, true. But not a very good reason, when one thinks of all those in popular culture who simply exist to be seen, independent of contributing anything notable other than copy for those who want to aggregate it.

[A secondary shout-out to Neil, who in recent interviews made it clear just how business-like the relationship in the Crue had been in recent years. But, for guy who I have given a lot of grief to over the years (some of it just for fun, some not), Neil has come off as more honest/forthright about the band . . . and honest and forthright are not normally terms I would use to describe him. Who knows? Maybe being freed of the burden of MC will provide him with a reason to chose a different path. I doubt it. But stranger things have happened.]

That is the double-edged sword of responding to questions and dealing with squeaky wheels like Sixx: people have every right to rejoinder even as it fuels the very same fire that made the need to respond seem appropriate.

Now let's get ready for Sixx to join Limp Bizkit on stage for an "amped" version of "Shout at the Devil" or "Gir(d)l(e)s, Gir(d)l(e)s, Gir(d)l(e)s."

[Rita]

I've always admired Nikki Sixx as a songwriter and performer. Crüe would not have existed without him, the way it did without Vince, albeit for a very brief time.

That said, he comes across as petty when he criticizes others and complains he had to do all the work. On occasion I've read some comments of his that were spot on (like criticizing Gene Simmons when he said depressed people should just kill them selves) and there were other times like today, where I think " yeah, I don't like him". Maybe he tries too hard to stay relevant. I don't know. Maybe he's full of himself.

That Corabi Crüe album is polarizing for Crüe fans. You love it. Or you hate it. I bought it back in the day, listened to it once, and put it away. That was just me though. But I also never bougt another Crüe album after Dr Feelgood so what do I know.

Nikki is a character for sure. As are all of the Crüe members. But they did create magic collectively and I will miss them. The show I caught last year was fantastic. Probably enjoyed it the most of all 4 times I've seen them.

[fletch]

John Corabi just posted this on his official facebook page:

OMG!!!!!! I officially have NOTHING to say about any member of Motley Crue ever again!!!! I was asked a question a few days ago about why Nikki dogged the Motley record, and I said I have no idea why...blah, blah, blah...This isn't news kids!!!! I don't really care. Never did, never will!!!! Motley has retired. Motley IS, NIKKI,TOMMY,MICK, and VINCE!!!!!! And its been that way since 1997, as it should be...I'm not backing this BULLSHIT stirring that is happening to start a feud...It ain't going to happen here...If you want to know about The CRUE, ask the CRUE!!!!!
Peace,
Crabby

[Gary]

Rita,I'm going to quote the sentences where you answered your own conundrum (and IMHO hit the nail squarely on the head). "Maybe he tries too hard to stay relevant. Maybe he's full of himself." Ding Ding Ding,we have a winner!!! Tell Rita what she's won Johnny.....

PS, Girdles Girdles Girdles,you're f@cking KILLING me Him!!!!

[Kenny Ozz]

My take is Sixx is such an egomaniac that he blames Corabi for the commercial failure of the S/T record, and IF the Corabi/Mars project does well, it would hurt his feelings.

[Bkallday]

It's like this, Nikki is mostly responsible for Motley's success. Conversely, he's also most responsible for their downfall. At least imho. He turned into a ego maniacal prick long ago, unfortunately. He now thinks he's J.C. himself, and that Sixx AM is some sort of relevant act....they're really not. Back in the day though, when Motley was his baby, they were sure something to behold.

[Him]

Some stellar posts on this one.

And thanks to Fletch for posting what Corabi recently said. I think it proves he is aware that "poking the bear" (I picture a club in San Francisco) will lead to nothing but . . . well, more of the same.

I think all of you are right. Creative people don't tend to be easy to get along with and/or as aware of their own short-comings. If they were, they probably wouldn't create brilliant art, overcoming obstacles and the roadblocks that others throw up in their way. The Crue created something special back in the day (like Metallica, or Lep). Without Sixx, no Crue. But without Mars or Neil or Lee, no Crue either. That's the magic of art, the luck--and, yes, drive--that creates something memorable as against the supposedly "sure" things that never go that far.

But when the bloom is off the bud, it must be disorienting adjusting to the descent. What normally was a given right of way turns into a rather constricting cul de sac. And the key term is this: relevant. What is at one point rarely is at another. Some manage to move between eras and genres with a grace that is shocking. Most don't. You might still have a pulpit (a radio show, say). But it is a narrow one, one that exposes you for who you actually are and fails to shadow what you have become.

So you get the artist who is trapped in amber, raging against being irrelevant all the while being held to a standard that they upheld many, many years ago. Only the loyalist of fans will see the past in their present (myself included, esp. when it comes to someone like DLR). But that is just a trick of light that we allow to fool us. Where others see a haggard approximation of something amazing, we still see the thing we want to see. Thing is, that's the same thing for the artist. Emperor and subject wear no clothes. Shh. Don't let it get around.

Exposed to harsh light, Sixx is much like Simmons. He desperately wants to be a topic of conversation and does anything he can to make it so. He now chases trends; once, he had a pivotal role in starting them.

[Dj]

I respect Nikki as an amazing lyricist and songwriter. When he has an idea for a band he will make it work. But His ego has become horrible, not as bad as Simmons but it's getting steadily worse. Back in the day he was all for the new sound of the 94 album and now he says he dosent like it??? Sure opinions can change but his seem to change all the time into something that would benefit him in the press and make him look good. Corabi has always seemed like a class act, cares for his fans, honest, and also a great songwriter. Nikki and John are both great in that way, that's why the 94 album turned out great and still holds up (in my opinion). I do think Nikki is the one that has a problem with John and Mick working together, it's a damn shame because the teasers I heard of them were pretty cool. Whether it's Nikki or somebody else from Motley that has a problem with it sure is robbing a great opportunity for killer music.

[fletch]

Him: great analysis in this line..."What is at one point rarely is at another."

(almost) perfect capsulation (because there ain't no absolutes).

[Him]

Thanks Fletch. Context is always key. And the board is always sticky. So I try never to mistake a solid opinion for a locked in place fact.

I hope you had a good holiday.