Rock and roll by its very nature is secular music, but few bands have indulged as extremely as Motley Crue. Their exercises in debauchery – girls, booze, drugs, you name it – are legendary. Which makes it surprising that we find drummer Tommy Lee praying on his knees in the middle of a show. Is the 43-year-old rock and roll bad boy looking above for a little redemption?
Not a chance. “Lord?” Lee asks, bowing his head. “God? Jesus Christ?” Dramatic pause. “God bless all the titties in America!” Then Lee stands up, aims his hand-held camera into the crowd and proceeds to film countless Grand Rapids, Michigan, women gleefully baring their breasts. “I was so afraid I had to hide,” lead guitarist Mick Mars, looking as healthy as a corpse, says after the show. “There were so many, I thought I was gonna get bitch slapped by one of them.”
Same ol’ situation, indeed. It’s still sex, drugs and rock and roll all night long with Motley Crue. All the greatest songs are here: “Shout At The Devil,” “Girls, Girls, Girls,” and “Kickstart My Heart” to name a few. Not to mention, of course, the power ballads “Home Sweet Home” and “Without You.” There are few musical surprises in this documentary of their hugely successful reunion tour, but that’s for the best. Who really wants to hear anything but the hits?
The biggest thrill is that the band rocks harder than they did at 21, and the songs hold up surprisingly well. That said,
Carnival of Sins Live is solely for diehard Motley Crue lovers. Fans no doubt will be giddy with teenage nostalgia, but this movie likely won’t win over many new converts. Mediocre bonus features – such as a meet and greet with the band – don’t do much to increase its appeal. But if “Live Wire” inspires you, secretly thrust forward a fist underneath the cubicle desk, this is nirvana.
