Motley Crue - Shout at Toronto

Those were the times. I clearly remember when I first got my hands on “Shout At The Devil“ of the shock rockers MÖTLEY CRÜE in 1983 when everybody in the Metal/Hard Rock scene listened to that album. This was evil and heavy! Just look at the title and the pentagram on the cover, these were the things that fascinated a 13-years old teenager like me. At that time, I didn’t know that the guys around band leader Nikki Sixx were the bad boys and the biggest losers of the entire LA-scene if not the whole global Heavy scene due to their sex, alcohol and drug escapades.
“Shout At The Devil” was their break through in 1983 followed by big concerts in California, an Australian tour as support for KISS and US tour with OZZY OSBOURNE. In Europe, they played together with IRON MAIDEN. But no success without a scandal: at first, a “Committee On Pornography In Rock Music” of the US senate criticized the band for violent and sexist lyrics and then there was the car accident of vocalist Vince Neil, who was drunken and crashed into another car. His co-driver Razzle, drummer of HANOI ROCKS, died and the inmates of the other car suffered on vital wounds. Their next album “Theatre Of Pain” was dedicated to the victim. Shit happens! But “Shout At The Devil” is still their best and heaviest album so far. I don’t know what stuff Sixx, Neil, Lee and Mars smoked or sniffed but you never heard such songs again from THE CRÜE.
The title track with its stomping beat is a classic. “Shout, shout, shout at the devil” – nobody knows how much I shouted along to this line. “Looks That Kill” is another song of this category and it still has an impact today. “Bastard” was the heaviest song on the disc and it’s a true banger. The BEATLES-cover “Helter Skelter” was never my cup of tea. This is the only little mistake on this classic piece. It’s not a bad song but it can’t compete with their own tracks. “Knock Em Dead Kid” is another heavy killer and the ballad “Danger” is always good for some goose flesh. This song shakes me still today. “Red Hot” is another uptempo song and a rhythm you can’t escape. “Too Young To Fall In Love” is another hit. Not to forget “Ten Seconds To Live”, a straight Party Rock song with balls and a sing-along chorus.

Here they are taped live in Toronto in 1984 while opening for Ozzy Osbourne.

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