Mötley Crüe, the beloved hard rock band from Los Angeles, has been touring the world for the last time on what has been declared “The Final Tour.” The slogan “All Bad Things Must Come To An End,” has been the basis of the tour, as the band has signed a “tour cessation” agreement, effective January 1, 2016.
If this is the actual final tour, they are going out with a literal bang. Mötley Crüe delivered a testosterone-fueled assault on Matthew Knight Arena in a set bursting with flames, fireworks and a light show capable of inducing seizures. The timed explosions seemed to grow louder as the night went on, and the flames leaped higher until they could be felt from the upper bowl.
Alice Cooper set the standard for the night with a brilliant opening performance. He exploded onto the stage sporting a red-and-black pinstripe suit under the shadow of the Crüecifly roller coaster with “Hello Hooray.” A discomforting black and white backdrop of his eyes illuminated by spotlights created the atmosphere for the shock rocker.
Cooper explored every inch of the stage, with his band following suit in a tightly choreographed act that never felt forced or dated. Many of his famous props made appearances, such as the guillotine which cut his head off (briefly) while he was restrained by a straitjacket and an evil nurse wearing blood-spattered scrubs. With a freshly decapitated head in hand, the rest of the five-piece band sang “I Love The Dead” while the executioner showed off Cooper’s head.
A giant skeleton who danced about during “Feed My Frankenstein” took Cooper’s place after he entered the Frankenstein re-animator machine and disappeared in a blinding flash of light and smoke.
As the house lights faded to darkness, Mötley Crüe slowly materialized onstage surrounded by heavy fog. Mick Mars was the first to appear, as the stage’s spikes glowered a demonic red around him. Bassist Nikki Sixx was next, then drummer Tommy Lee joined in to set the beat “Girls, Girls, Girls,” the fan favorite. It was clear early on that they were aware of the quality performance Alice Cooper had given and started with one of their greatest hits.
For this tour, Tommy Lee performs his drum solos from the “Crüecifly” roller coaster, which takes him above the arena, flips him around and provides him with a bird’s eye view of the crowd. Though the trip could have been a bit shorter, it is still a unique sight to see a musician strapped into a rotating drum set while playing on a roller coaster.
The best song of the night was “Kickstart My Heart” from 1989’s Dr. Feelgood. Not only were the fireworks and lights the best, the band nailed every note and made it impossible not to chant the chorus.
By the end of the night, the taste of stale gasoline hung heavy on the crowd’s tongues. The air was thick with smoke that illuminated the stellar light show.
The pairing of bands combined for a truly entertaining show that reminds us of what a high-end arena show used to be like. Sure, the bands have gotten older, but they never forgot how to put on an unforgettable show that will force an adrenaline-fueled smile that stretches from ear to ear.
Fans in Oregon will receive one final chance to see Mötley Crüe and Alice Cooper at the Moda Center in Portland on Dec. 15.