Don't Go Away Mad, Just Go Away: Motley Crue, Sum 41, Seventh Day Slumber

"DON'T GO AWAY MAD, JUST GO AWAY"   MOTLEY CRUE

Motley Crue:  the Most Decadent, Outrageous, Notorious rock band in music history.   Let's start with bassist Nikki Sixx, died on the table for two minutes from a heroin overdose before they kickstarted his heart with adrenaline.    Lead singer, Vince Neil, while drunk driving killed his passenger friend, years later assaulted one of the girls at the famous Bunny Ranch in Vegas.  Mick Mars, lead guitarist, should be dead by now with his multitude of health issues (he's actually 3 inches shorter after having his spine fused).    Last but not least is drummer Tommy Lee, ex-husband of Heather Locklear and Pamela Anderson.   Famous for his Massively famous sex-tape :)   Read the book, "The Dirt" - no holds barred story of the early years, great bio!

"THE BITTER END"   SUM 41

Anyone who's classified Sum 41 with the pop punk bands hasn't taken the time to listen beyond the radio singles.   "The Bitter End" has a Metallica vibe complete with headbanging guitar solos and a vicious drum beat that would challenge any speed metal band.   Deryck Whibley's vocals aren't as powerful as James Hetfield's but they bring a youthful and aggressive vitality to the song.  
"Chuck" is a top to bottom great CD to check out if you missed it.

"WHEN THE CHILDREN CRY"   SEVENTH DAY SLUMBER

Originally released in the 80's by Mike Tramp and White Lion, Christian rockers Seventh Day Slumber pay homage to one of the deepest meaning power ballads of the 80's.    This version rocks a little harder but still maintains the theme of children paying for the crimes of the adults.    "Oceans From The Rain" is another great song by this band you might want to check out.

Needs More Cowbell: Motley Crue, Alice In Chains, Saigon Kick

"LIVE WIRE"             MOTLEY CRUE

The debut song from 1982 from Motley Crue might be their best song ever.   Saw them in concert this summer, they sound as good as they did back in the 80s!     I went skydiving this summer and used "Kickstart My Heart" as my theme song.     "Live Wire" is the greatest use of COWBELL ever in a song!    The tight rhythm section of Tommy Lee, Mick Mars, and Nikki Sixx put Motley Crue on top of all of all of the 80's hair bands.    

"LOVE IS ON THE WAY"          SAIGON KICK

From 1992, this Miami based hair band put out one of the most beautiful of the power ballads of the decade.   The song features a Spanish guitar strumming throughout the song.   Although the song only hit #12 on the charts, it gave Saigon Kick their 15 minutes of well-deserved fame.

"NUTSHELL"              ALICE IN CHAINS

Layne Staley had one of the most intense, haunting lead vocals ever in Rock Music.   The guitar solo by Jerry Cantrell on this one is as sad as it is uplifting.   Layne was the heart and soul of the Seattle Grunge sound and he left us way too early.     This one is from 1994 from the Jar Of Flies CD.


I saw them perform this live when they opened for Guns N Roses in the early 90s and Daughtry covered it when I saw him in 2008.