Fellow Crueheads took over Atlantic City last night to gather for two intimate performances before the band heads out on their 2023 World Tour. Even though I attended the Stadium Tour this past summer, I felt like this was a show I would not want to miss. What made the AC shows so special is that they took place in a smaller venue, which is an opportunity that has not happened recently. I knew that this show would make for a special memory and I did not want to miss out.
After putting on my rock n roll barbie outfit for the concert, I headed over to the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, which was the perfect location for two legendary rock and roll bands. As I made my way into the venue I was surrounded by a crowd ranging from young and old, and I immediately could feel the excitement from fellow concertgoers. I even ran into a group dress up in what looked like Motley Crue costumes, with the signature 80’s style of big hair and extravagant tight clothes.
The first show in AC marked a significant change in Motley Crue history, as this was the first time John 5 would be performing as the band’s guitarist. The band announced back in October that founding member and guitarist Mick Mars will be retiring from touring due to health issues he has battled for many years. After seeing the band over the years I always admired Mick’s guitar skills even though he probably struggled to perform due to his health. Like other fans, I was curious to see if John 5 would be able to fill Mick’s shoes while keeping an open mind to the lineup change.
As fans packed in the arena, Def Leppard hit the stage as the opening act. The band played some of their classic hits like “Love Bites”, “Hysteria” and the all time crowd favorite “Pour Some Sugar On Me”. The crowd went wild as the English rockers played an 18 song set filled with laser lights, a shirtless guitarist and giant size backdrop screens. I was impressed to see drummer Rick Allen play only using one arm and his feet, after losing his left arm in a near fatal accident years ago. The band’s set was a trip down memory lane as you could feel the nostalgia start to hit.
Next up was a brief intermission while the crew set up the stage for Motley Crue and Tommy’s signature drum set. As smoke started to fill the air, Motley’s latest slogan appeared on the stage saying “The Future Is Ours’. With an electrifying entrance, the band started off with their 1987 hit “Wild Side” as the crowd literally went wild. I noticed after the first few songs that the band sounded tight and brought excitement and enthusiasm to the stage. I did also notice an energy change from the band as a whole, with some noticeable chemistry as each member interacted with John 5. While it immediately felt different without Mick, I did like and appreciate the new talent that John 5 was bringing to the band while also honoring the Motley Crue legacy.
With Tommy’s intense and rockin’ drumming and John 5’s impressive guitar solo, there was not a dull moment throughout the set. I found myself dancing and singing along to each song and felt the excitement from others surrounding me in the pit. As “Dr. Feelgood” came on, I was waiting to hear how John would take on the solo, and he continued to impress me throughout the night. A fellow fan nearby told me how he saw John previously perform with Rob Zombie and how he was killing with the Crue. We were treated to all the classics, with Tommy Lee on piano for “Home Sweet Home” as well as “Girls, Girls, Girl’s” with sexy dancers adding entertainment throughout the show.
While this marks a new era for the band, I am beyond grateful to see the glam rockers are still able to put on a kickass show. Some fans may not be happy with Vince’s vocals or John 5 as a replacement, but I was rocking out the whole time in what felt like a time travel back into the 80s. As the boys head out on the road for more touring, I will keep reliving this night until next time.
You can watch some footage of John 5’s guitar playing at the AC show below:
Motley Crue setlist:
- Wild Side
- Shout At The Devil
- Too Fast For Love
- Don’t Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)
- Saints of Los Angeles
- Live Wire
- Looks That Kill
- The Dirt (EST. 1981)
- Rock N Roll, Part 2 / Smokin In The Boys Room / Helter Skelter / Anarchy In The U.K. / Blitzkrieg Bop
- Home Sweet Home
- Dr. Feelgood
- Same Ol’ Situation (S.O.S.)
- Girls, Girls, Girls
- Primal Scream
- Kickstart My Heart
Def Leppard setlist:
- Take What You Want
- Let’s Get Rocked
- Animal
- Foolin’
- Armageddon It
- Kick
- Love Bites
- Promises
- This Guitar
- When Love & Hate Collide
- Rocket
- Bringin’ On The Heartbreak
- Switch 625
- Drum Solo
- Hysteria
- Pour Some Sugar On Me
- Rock of Ages
- Photograph
The remaining list of World Tour dates can be found below:
Feb. 18 – Mexico City, Mexico @ Foro Sol
Feb. 21 – Monterrey, Mexico @ Estadio Banorte
Feb. 25 – Bogota, Colombia @ Parque Simon Bolivar
Feb. 28 – Lima, Peru @ Estadio Nacional
March 3 – Santiago, Chile @ Estadio Bicentenario de La Florida
March 7 – Sao Paulo, Brazil @ Allianz Parque
May 22 – Sheffield, U.K. @ Bramall Lane
May 25 – Mönchengladbach, Germany @ SparkassenPark
May 27 – Munich, Germany @ Koenigsplatz
May 29 – Budapest, Hungary @ MVM Dome
May 31 – Krakow, Poland @ TAURON Arena Kraków
June 2 – Prague, Czech Republic @ Prague Rocks *
June 3 – Hannover, Germany @ Expo Plaza
June 7 – Solvesborg, Sweden @ Sweden Rock Festival *
June 9 – Hyvinkää, Finland @ RockFest *
June 11 – Trondheim, Norway @ Trondheim Rocks *
June 14 – Copenhagen, Denmark @ COPENHELL *
June 18 – Dessel, Belgium @ Graspop Metal Meeting *
June 20 – Milan, Italy @ Ippodromo SNAI San Siro
June 23 – Lisbon, Portugal @ Passeio Maritimo de Alges
June 24 – Rivas-Vaciamadrid, Spain @ Auditorio Miguel Ríos
June 27 – Thun, Switzerland @ Stockhorn Arena
July 1 – London, U.K. @ Wembley Stadium
July 2 – Lytham, U.K. @ Lytham Festival *
July 4 – Dublin, Ireland @ Marlay Park
July 6 – Glasgow, U.K. @ Hampden Park
US Dates with Alice Cooper
Aug. 5 – Syracuse, N.Y. @ JMA Wireless Dome
Aug. 8 – Columbus, Ohio @ Ohio Stadium
Aug. 11 – Fargo, N.D. @ Fargodome
Aug. 13 – Omaha, Neb. @ Charles Schwab Field Omaha
Aug. 16 – Tulsa, Okla. @ H.A. Chapman Stadium
Aug. 18 – El Paso, Texas @ Sun Bowl Stadium
ROCK REPORT 