Reviewed on Saturday May 16
It wouldn’t surprise me to hear that there’s a citywide shortage of black eyeliner and hairspray across Sydney today. Over the weekend, thousands of leather-clad revellers were out in force to say sayonara to one of hair metal’s biggest acts.
Ever since word leaked out that all four members of the Crüe had signed a “cessation of touring agreement” (a legally binding document that would prohibit them from playing together ever again after New Year’s Eve 2015), the excitement and anticipation has been building, and emotions at the Sydney farewell were palpable.
The evening kicked off with the Central Coast’s Smokin’ Mirrors. As the local winners of Triple M’s nationwide search to find an opening act, the young four-piece had their work cut out for them. Frontwoman Emmy Mack can clearly wail and seemed to handle the pressure well.
With the night getting on, and still no sign of the Godfather of Shock Rock, Alice Cooper, things started to get a little messy. A handful of drunken punters had already been ejected from the venue before Cooper took to the stage, basking in the uproar of the crowd. What followed was fifty minutes of all killer no filler from Cooper and his impressive band. He opened with ‘Department Of Youth’ and went straight into ‘No More Mr. Nice Guy’, before greeting the thoroughly warmed up audience. He brandished a walking stick while belting out ‘I’m Eighteen’, before wielding a sword and throwing out wads of cash while we rocked to‘Billion Dollar Babies’. During the opening bars of ‘Feed My Frankenstein’ I looked around only to realise I wasn’t the only one having a “we’re not worthy” moment. Only a few years off from becoming a septuagenarian, Alice Cooper is an absolute living legend.
A hush fell over the crowd as the speakers began to pump out The Sound Of Music’s ‘So Long, Farewell’. The moment had arrived to say goodbye as Vince Neil, Nikki Sixx, Mick Mars and Tommy Lee appeared in a haze of smoke and pyrotechnics.
Thousands of voices could be heard in unison as we sang along to all Mötley Crüe’s hits, while ‘Dr. Feelgood’, ‘Shout At The Devil’ and ‘Kickstart My Heart’ are clearly the enduring anthems.
Mars is a medical marvel – despite being riddled with ankylosing spondylitis, a condition that has plagued him for nearly 40 years, his ability to silence the crowd with his guitar solos remains unchanged. Sixx still looked every part the rock star, while Neil seemed flustered as he went through the motions.
Thankfully, to say that Lee’s drum solo – performed upside down on a purpose-built rollercoaster – kept the audience captivated is definitely an understatement. The night ended with high-fives all round and Lee at the piano for an emotional rendition of ‘Home Sweet Home’. Thanks for the memories.
