John Corabi, former Mötley Crüe vocalist, told Rock Daydream Nation about his four-year stint with the band, which was filled with treachery and frustration.
The band’s decision to bring back Vince Neil saddened Corabi, but it also relieved him. “There was so much drama and turmoil in that band,” Corabi said. When they told me Vince was coming back, I was sad but felt like a 300-pound weight was lifted.”
Corabi found his bandmates’ incessant conflict tiring. Nikki [Sixx] would talk about Tommy [Lee] and Mick [Mars] while we worked out in the morning. Tommy would talk about Nikki and Mick while we wrote songs in the day. I would drink with Mick at his guest house at night and talk about Tommy and Nikki, Corabi added. “It was impossible to follow the drama.”
Corabi expressed his dissatisfaction with Mötley Crüe’s handling of guitarist Mick Mars, who retired in October 2022 due to health difficulties. Mars called the Generation Swine (1997) recording session “the most miserable, worst f*cking time” of his life, while Corabi confirmed the toxic environment. Corabi said Tommy, Nikki, and producer Scott Humphrey mentally made Mick feel like he wasn’t a decent guitar player.
Corabi appreciated his time with the band despite the hardships. He’s realistic about his role in history. “I don’t think they’ll ever celebrate the album I did with them,” he remarked. “Mötley Crüe and John Corabi are themselves. They worked hard to delete that chapter.”
Corabi has no booked gigs, while Mötley Crüe is prepping for their March 28 Las Vegas residency. The band moves forward, but former members like Corabi still talk about their tumultuous past.