Mo?tley Cru?e returns to Iowa State Fair: A night of nostalgia and rock ’n’ roll
Forty years ago, M?tley Crüe performed at the Iowa State Fairgrounds at the Iowa Jam with Ted Nugent and Ozzy Osbourne, just as they were rising to international fame. Ten years ago, the band held a press conference in Hollywood, where they announced their final tour, which made a stop at Wells Fargo Arena. The hiatus was short-lived, and the band is back touring.
On Wednesday, M?tley Crüe returned to the Iowa State Fair, with band members Nikki Sixx on bass guitar, Tommy Lee on drums, John 5 (John Lowery) on lead guitar, and Vince Neil on vocals.
The heavy rock band, often dubbed "the world's most notorious rock band," has sold more than 100 million albums worldwide and has topped rock radio charts. Due to predicted inclement weather, the band performed a roughly 45-minute set, a shorter set than normal for Grandstand acts, for fans young and old.
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Pop Evil ignites the night
Opening the night were Michigan rockers Pop Evil. The five-piece band that has had many changes to members over the years previously played the Iowa State Fair in 2017, when they opened up for Nickleback.
Starting their set at 7:50 p.m., the band played some of their best-known hits, such as "Walking Lions," "Footsteps," and "Breathe Again."
Dressed in all black, the band played a powerful 30-minute set with heavy guitar riffs and punchy drums, creating an anthemic atmosphere at the Grandstand, with lyrics exploring themes like self-empowerment and perseverance, getting the audience to headbang along to the new age of rock music.
The band, with Midwest roots, expressed their love and gratitude to the crowd, with lead singer Leigh Kakaty saying, "We want to take a quick moment to remind you how much we love all our fans right here in the great state of Iowa."
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M?tley Crüe delivers nostalgic night amid thunderous skies
Minutes leading up to M?tley Crüe's grand entrance, the general admission pit was packed from the barricade to the main floor. The show started with a taped rock ’n’ roll symphony playing as the lights dimmed before a cryptic yet chaotic intro video that had a parody newscaster talking about rioting on the streets before the band opened with "Primal Scream" and "Too Fast for Love."
The band mostly played their standard tunes — "Wild Side," "Live Wire," "Shout At The Devil," and "Girls, Girls, Girls," with lead singer Vince Neil noting, "You guys seem to like the old sh-t, huh?" However, other classic fan favorites from the band, like "Smoking in the Boys Room" and "Dr. Feelgood," were left off the shortened set of 10 songs.
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Since coming back from their hiatus, the Crüe has released numerous singles, but "Dogs of War" was the only recent release to make it on the setlist. It is a thunderous metal song that proves M?tley Crüe is trying to keep up creatively with other new releases in the genre.
The band played well and together; they have certainly been around long enough to be able to. It is clear that Neil's vocal range, which used to be far more vast and powerful, has decreased with age, but he did manage to hit notes when needed. Sixx and Lee still maintain the same skill as they did in the ’80s and ’90s, though it is a skill easier to maintain than vocal ability.
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Sixx played with an aggressive attack and maintained stage charisma throughout the show, moving across the stage and getting fans hyped even as the concert was reaching its crescendo. Lee banged on the drums with precision and speed, and original showmanship qualities like low-angle shots of him drumming were played on the big screens for audience members to see.
John 5, the only non-original band member, embodied original guitarist Mick Mars' techniques. In 2023, Mars retired as a touring band member, citing his ongoing struggle with Ankylosing Spondylitis as the reason. However, John 5 fills his place seamlessly, playing Mars' memorable riffs and expressive string bends with exactness.
At times, it was hard to hear Neil's vocals over the powerful playing of the rest of the ensemble. Perhaps it would be easier to hear him if the band were to balance the live mix of the bass, mids, and treble, but then again, that would be the antithesis of the hard, fast, and loud rock n roll band is known for.
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Throughout the night, flashy light shows, on-screen visuals, and background dancers compensated for the toned-down performance, much different than the over-the-top shows the band became legendary for during the peak of their careers. Still, the band did deliver a night of nostalgia that was easy to enjoy.
The final song of the evening was "Kickstart My Heart," which earned the band an eruption of cheers. Neil said, "Thank you, thank you, good night," in his melodic way of speaking, before the band bowed along with the dancers at center stage, leaving fans anticipating an encore set.
As the lights came up, Sixx and John 5 tossed their picks into the crowd, and fireworks marked the end of the night. As concert-goers exited the fairgrounds, they were treated to a different kind of show--lightning and thunder dancing across the sky.
Next up at the State Fair Grandstand is comedian Gabriel "Fluffy" Iglesias on Thursday at 8 p.m.
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Jessica Rish is an entertainment, dining and business reporter for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. She can be reached at [email protected] or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @rishjessica_.
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Motley Crue performs 40 years of music at the Iowa State Fair
