Mötley Crüe coming to Westman Place May 6

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This article was published 26/02/2013 (4800 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

They are the embodiment of the stereotypical ’80s rock stars. During their 30-year career, the leather-clad, eye-lined glam rock band Mötley Crüe have sold more than 80 million records while maintaining a decadent and self-destructive persona.

Releasing just two albums in the last 13 years — “New Tattoo” in 2000 and “Saints of Los Angeles” in 2008 — members have hinted at a new album soon.

But a lack of an album to promote isn’t stopping the one of the world’s most notorious rock bands from heading on tour, which will include a month’s worth of dates in Canada, with a stop in Brandon in May.

Presented by the Brandon Sun and KX-96, Mick Mars, Nikki Sixx, Vince Neil and Tommy Lee will hit the stage at Westman Place on May 6 marking their first show in Brandon.

The Crüe reached drug-fuelled stardom in the ’80s with songs about their love of whiskey, women and overindulgence. After three albums, numerous brushes with the law and a near-fatal heroin overdose suffered by Sixx, the band reportedly made a push for sobriety which fostered their biggest career album, “Dr. Feelgood.”

The band’s first major Canadian tour in 1983 was laced with rambunctious publicity stunts, including a phony bomb threat during a show in Edmonton and an arrest at the Edmonton International Airport for wearing their spiked on-stage attire through security.

Aside from the band’s escapades, each member has been marred with their own public tales of woe, often overshadowing the music, including Tommy Lee’s infamous leaked sex tape with Pamela Anderson released on the Internet in 1995 — which some say kick-started online viral pornography.

As for their pass through the Wheat City in May, Keystone Centre general manager Neil Thomson said he hopes for a sell-out after ticket sales came up short for the last few shows.

“There’s enough support in western Manitoba and Brandon,” he said.

This is the fourth major artist announcement for the centre in 2013, joining country music icon Kenny Rogers and the quintessential Canadian rock band the Tragically Hip, who both performed last month at Westman Place, with ticket sales for both falling short of a sell-out. However, Thomson said it didn’t stop the Keystone Centre from turning a profit.

Heart will also be performing on March 15.

“We’re certainly hoping to bring in more acts,” Thomson said. “It’s so important we continue to drive good seat numbers … I think as long as we bring in the right acts that we will get support from the people.”

When asked if there are any other big announcements in the near future for the centre, Thomson said planning between promoters and the venue can make things difficult.

“You think that you may have a good line on bringing somebody in but then something changes somewhere else and then that has the domino effect.”

Monday’s announcement of the Crüe hitting Brandon comes just days after an Internet post by KISS frontman Gene Simmons indicated a possible Brandon tour date which was later deleted after the news grew legs in a matter of hours.

Boston-based rockers Big Wreck will be the opening act for Crüe show. Fronted by Canadian-born guitarist Ian Thornley, Big Wreck released their first studio album “Albatross” in 2012 with two of the original members after breaking up in 2002.

Tickets for the May 6 show go on sale March 1 with prices ranging from $65 to $100 plus service fees. Westman Place will be set up in its 5,000-seat configuration for the concert.

Tickets can be purchased online, over the phone or at the box office.

» gbruce@brandonsun.com