Mötley Crüe (Pronounced Mott-Lee Crew) is an American rock band whose members include Nikki Sixx, Tommy Lee, Mick Mars, and Vince Neil.

History
Mötley Crüe formed in January, 1981 (see 1981 in music) in Los Angeles, after bassist Nikki Sixx left the band London, (a band he and Lizzie Grey started in 1979 when he was fired from Blackie Lawless' band Sister). The band London would also be the first band for the later Guns N' Roses guitarists Izzy Stradlin and Slash and for Cinderella drummer Fred Coury)

Sixx inquired with his London bandmate Greg Leon as to whether he knew of any musicians who could join the new band he was intent on forming. Leon recommended the drummer of one his previous bands, Suite 19; its drummer... Tommy Lee.

They'd meet guitarist Mick Mars through an L.A. music newspaper classified ads section. Still without a name, Sixx recommended using the name Christmas. However, the others quickly deciding against the idea. Then... Mick Mars remembered a comment made by a bassist in one of his previous bands. The bassist walked in, looked at the others in the band and said, "What a motley looking crew!"

So they all decided on the name Mottley Krew, which was eventually spelled Motley Crue. Now all they needed was a vocalist. They'd find their singer almost accidentally. They were watching a band called Rock Candy perform. They were going to try to get their guitarist James Alverson into the band. During that show however, Mick Mars convinced them that they didn't need another guitarist. So, instead they decided to try to get Rock Candy's vocalist, Vince Neil.

Now the four original members were together. In November, 1981, their debut album Too Fast For Love was self-produced and released on Leathür Records. Their success in the Los Angeles club scene earned them a recording contract with Elektra Records in early 1982. The debut album was then remastered and re-released on August 20, 1982.

They soon became one of the most popular bands in the country, known as much for their hedonistic lifestyle and seemingly endless abuse of alcohol and drugs as for their music. Their mixture of metal and glam rock stylings produced several massive selling albums during the 1980s.

The band reached its peak popularity in 1989, with the release of their fifth album, Dr. Feelgood, released on September 23, 1989. On October 14 of that year, it became their only No. 1 album, and stayed on the charts for 109 weeks after its release.

Changing trends in music and the temporary departure of Neil from the band in February 1991 caused a decline in Mötley Crüe's commercial success, although a self-titled 1994 release with new frontman John Corabi and 1997's Generation Swine, recorded after Neil returned, both reached the top 10.

In the 1990s, Mötley Crüe was perhaps better known for the women married by three of its members. Both Lee and Sixx married former Playboy Playmates and stars on the TV show Baywatch, Lee to Pamela Anderson and Sixx to Donna D'Errico. Not to be outdone, Neil married former Playmate Heidi Mark. However, only Sixx's marriage has endured the test of time.

In 1999, Lee left to pursue a solo career, and was replaced by Randy Castillo, the drummer on several Ozzy Osbourne albums. Castillo died of cancer on March 26, 2002. No replacement had been named and the band went on hiatus following a 2001 tour in support of their most recent studio release, New Tattoo.

In recent years, Sixx has played in the bands 58 and Brides of Destruction, Lee in Methods of Mayhem and as a solo artist, and Neil tours on an annual basis as a solo artist, singing mostly Mötley Crüe songs. Mars reportedly suffers from a degenerative back condition, and has not performed since 2001.

A 2001 autobiography entitled The Dirt told their full story. In September 2004, Sixx announced that he and Neil had returned to the studio and begun recording new material. In 2004, the four original members announced a farewell tour which will begin February 14, 2005 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The bands latest album, to be released in February 2005, is Red, White, & Crüe. The album will feature some new songs along with the band members' favorite original songs.

Mötley Crüe are perhaps the best-known users of the heavy metal umlaut.