Book Review: Vince Neil with Mike Sager Tattoos and Tequila to hell and back with one of rock's most notorious frontmen.

     They say if you lived through the eighties and you remember them, you weren't really there.  Some things I recall quite clearly. One of those things is Vince Neil. Platinum blond, pretty, a great wardrobe,a showman, a pin up, a man with an unforgettable, distinguishable voice, a rock star extraordinaire, that was Vince Neil.

When I think of Motley Crue, Vince readily comes to mind first. After six days inside the mind of a rock star this already  slightly crazy girl is slightly crazier. That's just what the book is, inside the mind of Vince Neil.

Released just this year is Vince's own book with Vince's own story 'Tattoos & Tequila' ,told mostly by Vince Neil written with Mike Sager.  There are several other people interviewed and utilized in the book because, well, Vince just doesn't remember all of the eighties.

     Also newly released this year is an accompanying CD titled aptly enough 'Tattoos & Tequila', a CD well worth the ten bucks if you've ever been a Motley Crue fan.  While I'm in promotional phase, Vince also owns a tequila company of his own, I'd love to be able to let you know how it tastes but regrettably not tried it as of yet. However it is called Tres Rios Tequila, sold only in 33 states. www.tresriosbev.com, for more information.  Oh, and it doesn't stop there, Vince is opening more Feelgoods Rock Bar and Grills all over the country and if one is ever on the Vegas strip well,there is always a few Vince Neil Inks to stop in and get some new ink, not to mention the man now owns Vince Neil Aviation, yup hes a pilot too with aircraft to rent. Least of all if you are in the market for shot glasses,belt buckles or a new shirt yup, hes got them at www.vinceneil.net, a place that also showcases Vince's fans,his tweets and concert listings as well as excerpts from his book.  As always there is a fan club too www.vinceneilfc.com.   End of promotional phase.

Vince dedicates T&T to his friends,his family and especially his fans.

The book itself is an emotional roller coaster. This man has lived and lived and lived.  The books chapters are all song titles found on the CD with the exception of chapter 3. Song 7 on the CD is not utilized as a book chapter.

          Chapter one:Tattoos and Tequila, starts with his Lamborghini Gallardo  Spyder (hes a car guy) and just why he was late/early Vince claims hes never late, segues into some Motley bashing, a brief overview of growing up, his career then and now, straight into tales of debauchery, women, drinking,drugs. He touches briefly on everything that follows in the book.  The first interview was held at Feelgoods Bar and Grill. Mike Sager and Vince Neil sit safe inside the velvet roped vip area at the guitar shaped table. and so it went..

The song Tattoos and Tequila on the CD pulls you right in with its seductive rock pulse pulling at your ear drums. You can almost picture a hot girls seductive gait to the pole and bam, it all kicks in hard and heavy as she grabs the pole..big guitars, big drums, everything big like the eighties.  Vince isn't shy with his lyrics. The song is in your face, seductive,big catchy rock.  Fabulous for those of us who grew up listening to it and still require heavy doses of it.

          Chapter two: Nobodys Fault is Vince talking about his roots, his mom and dad, and growing up middle-class in Los Angeles.  Vince Neil Wharton was born February 8, 1961 which makes him an Aquarius, I think that is why I can relate so well to him, I don't necessarily put a lot of stock in Astrology but there is something to be said for the type of person that falls under a certain sign.  This alone could account for 80% of his behavior throughout his life.  He wasn't bad,didn't try to be bad. He grew up normal. He had a younger sister,his parents worked, he went to school, played war outside,rode bikes and participated in Little League.  He played on the Dodgers. One of my favorite lines from the book is Vince describing the  new uniform smell of his jersey, "Its the smell of promise, I guess.  The smell of a little boy's dreams." There are excerpts from Clois and Shirley Wharton, Vinces mom and dad. His Dad bought him his first guitar. His Sister Valerie speaks as well.  The chapter takes you into high school with Vince and the beginning of his love affair with cars,drugs,booze,women and music..all it takes is  high school in the eighties. "Nobodys Fault" on the CD is a darker song, a heavier song, think "Shout at the Devil" era. The song rocks.

          Chapter 3: Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers is all about Rockandi, Vince's first band.  It talks about partying, high school, discovering band mates, the hair, the clothes and Vince ending up being the only guy in his high school paying child support at 17. The chapter takes you right through Vince turning down his first chance to form a band with Tommy, Nikki and Mick.  He was happy where he was, he never thought about being a rock star, he was loyal to his band and then he consented to audition. Yes, they made him audition the second time around.

          Chapter 4: No Feelings is all about the very early Motley Crue days,and what days they were!  More drugs, lots of drinking, the days of being broke all the time.  The first official Motley Crue gig was March 24,1981, two nights at the Starwood, the first night ended in a brawl.   The chapter is a must read for any Motley fan, its just too much fun to miss. These were the times when the boys lived,rehearsed and partied all in the same little apartment. The place was eventually condemned by the board of health.  These were the days when they were exercising their artistic side to come up with a stage show beyond music, lighting Nikki on fire, fake blood, candelabras and swords. Its stories from the Starwood,the Whiskey a go-go and climbing the rock and roll ladder.

"No Feelings" on the CD is very punk/rock. Its great, one of my favorites. The song is very reminiscent of  Motleys cover "Anarchy in the UK", it has a fabulous Green Day feel to it but Vince shines through.  Lyrically ,having now read his story, I believe the song is a sarcastic jab to his ex-wives.It could even be a sarcastic jab to the other three Motley members.  Its a fun song regardless of its origins.

          Chapter 5 "Hes A Whore" is Motley Crue evolving within the decade of decadence. The chapter begins with Too Fast for Love, the very first album and Vince's early experiences as a business man. It describes the "just how right he was" behind all of David Lee Roths advice, given to Vince freely in the Whiskey a go go days.  Too Fast for Love is my favorite Motley album. Its raw. I love the sound and would love a copy. Mine has since disappeared over time. The cover of it is Vince, his crotch in black lace up leathers one his early girlfriends bought him. He is gesturing with his hand, there was lots of speculation over just what Vince meant with that gesture. The devil? Love? "Why doesn't anyone think to ask me what my other hand is doing?" Vince quips. Its not visible on the cover. This is my depiction of it, just a blogger having fun. Feminine TFFL. The chapter delves into Vince's first marriage. Beth,wife number one, has her first say in this chapter. The chapter goes on with Vince's partying. Vince's women..oh the women..girls,girls,girls. He adores them. Hes charming. Hes shy. Yes,hes shy.  The Vince onstage is a consummate professional showman. Period. The first tour ever with Kiss, the first tour bus and Motley Crue subsequently upstaging the headliners and getting booted off the tour.  The chapter only touches on a few of the zillion or so crazy stories to come out of  what went on during a Motley Crue tour.
"The eighties were an aggressive time.  It was very free,but you have to remember,it was all about fun. It wasn't like the sixties. That movement had substance.  The eighties weren't about changing the world, Vietnam, all that stuff.  It was about anarchy and having a great time.  That's what it was all about. There wasn't any lesson to be had out of the eighties other than having a great time.  And that's really what it was about. Motley Crue served as the poster boys of that general eighties zeitgeist."- Doc McGhee
"Hes a Whore" on the CD is an upbeat song, great rhythm, very danceable rock, certainly makes a point about being a rock star.
          Chapter 6: Another Bad day is dedicated to reliving the day Razzle was killed, reliving the car accident, Vince discusses the other people hurt in it as well.  It is all  Vince's story and Beth speaks again as she recalls it.  Its a tragic chapter, sad and sobering.  Razzle was a friend of Vince's and the drummer of Hanoi Rocks.  The chapter is poignant, no one is invincible and no distance or lack thereof between here and your next drink makes any difference.  It was a well documented story in the eighties and worth a read now,to hear Vince's take on it as he looks back.  I remember following the story. It was 1984, I was only 14 but an avid Motley Crue fan, I was sure there would be no more Motley Crue and my heart went out to Vince for his loss and all he now had to live with for the rest of his life. He was charged with vehicular manslaughter and he lost a very good friend. "Another Bad Day" on the CD is not quite a rock ballad but its slower, its unclear if its meant to be optimistic lyrically but one can certainly perceive it as such. The music is reminiscent of many of Motleys  "ballads", think "You're All I Need" yet not quite as dark and longer. I enjoy the break it lends to the CD.  Heavy,seductive in your face rock and then..ahhh take it down a notch and kick back.

          Chapter 7: AC/DC is Beth leaving, its the aftermath of the accident, its the introduction of Sharise, wife number two and their relationship.  Sharise has her say in this chapter. Its when Girls,Girls,Girls was released, its the tour and the mustard incident (just read it). Its Japan,its women,its drugs,its Nikkis

          Chapter 8: Who'll Stop The Rain.  This chapter had me in tears. It is a roller coaster of emotions from Vinces perspective as well as Sharise and Heidi Mark, Vines third wife.  This chapter is balancing fatherhood, dealing with breaking up with Motley,loosing another wife, being sober and loosing that. Meeting wife number three, putting together a new career, Vince taking up racing and getting deeply involved in the sport and then Skylar getting sick. Skylar is Vince and Sharise's daughter. To hear Vince tell the story of her struggle with stomach cancer is heartbreaking, I had to put the book down at least eight times before I could complete the chapter.  Skylar left the world in 1995, just a little girl, after a very intense fight to stay alive. Vince now has charity golf tournaments every year for her foundation to help raise money for cancer research.  I think she looks very much like Vince, he loved his daughter dearly.  The song  "Who'll stop the Rain" on the CD is a cover of Creedence Clearwater Revivals song.  The cover is done tastefully,with just enough of a rock edge to it.  Vince does a wonderful job with the vocals. There are those who say he can't sing but, I guess the stats don't lie, hes sold millions of records, his voice is his instrument.

          Chapter 9: Bitch Is Back is Vince talking about getting sober, grieving for Skylar and finally getting help facing up to a lifetime of bottled emotions.I've found addictions stem from lots of self-medicating in order to deal with emotions, emotional issues and unaddressed problems. One thing mentioned in this chapter is how Nikki, Tommy and Mick never came to see Vince and Skylar nor called while she was sick or when she passed away.  They had children themselves, they had to have known how horrible it was. They didnt' even send flowers.  That is just very disappointing and hurtful to me.  This chapter is Vince's take on Motleys reformation. Vince's manager, Allen Kovac speaks as well.  It also talks about marriage with Heidi, their end and the introduction of Lia,wife number four. The chapter is almost like Vince grows up or Vince realizes alot. Its again a turning point in his life. "Bitch is Back" on the CD is a cover of the Elton John song. It rocked with Elton,it rocks more with Vince. Its a great song for him to do as its befitting of so much in his life. It is another fun track, sounds great in the car and is fun to drive to.  It is a great way to end the CD, cause it makes you realize... you go "hey I liked that" and you will leave it in the player and let track one come back around.

          Chapter 10: "Viva Las Vegas"  begins with Vince's sobriety date and more on his battle to get and stay sober,now with Lia in his life.  He describes her as his rock.  She is a Motley Crue fan that went to a show, got picked out by Vince, didn't sleep with him, exchanged phone numbers, he called her, and called her, pursued her and soon they were married. A Cinderella story, Lia talks in this chapter, shes worth reading. Nikki Sixx speaks out in this chapter as well as Neil Wharton, Vince's first child and only son, Elle Neil speaks too, Vince's oldest daughter with Beth.  Its Vince talking about life now, residing in Vegas. Its Vince putting a cap on the story "So many guys my age are like getting ready to hang it up. Not me. I'm like, Hey, I got a lot of shit to do, man. I think I have at least another ten years in me."   Hes 49 now. I don't think hes going to retire any time soon, he loves what he does. He ends with discussing the fact that Motley Crue still has not been inducted into the hall of fame. Hmmmm, thirty years, millions of albums, they practically created arena-rock hair bands, they were emulated profusely. He  closes with a comment on Motley Crue.
"Viva Las Vegas" is another cover on the CD but starts out unrecognizable, it is awash is screaming guitar licks, the cover is high energy, with a grinding rock feel. Its great, another song perfect for Vince Neil. 
            One of my Vince Neil stories goes like this, its early 1980s, Theatre of Pain is out and I've purchased the cassette. I'm maybe 15 years old. I lived in a very small town in a very puritanical New England. I loved metal, hair bands, rock, I loved it! My bedroom was wallpapered with Motley Crue pictures from every rock magazine available. Oh yes,there were other bands adorning the walls but Crue had front and center for me. I was part of the MTV generation and VH1. I ran downstairs to specifically turn on MTV for a premiere video. I taped every metal video I could via our first VCR as soon as I learned to record. Hit play and record, so easy and then I had Motley Crue in my living room any time I wanted.  My Step-Dad was a man from Oklahoma, very John Wayne looking, quiet and intimidating to me.  He was part Cherokee Indian and as I would come to learn also all heart.  He was a country music fan from way back, he probably grew up listening to things I've never even heard of as well as Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, and Merle Haggard to name a few.  Well, I wanted him to like my music, I wanted to introduce it to him, I wanted him to see it wasn't all bad. To him, it was noise, and I played my stereo loud, my Grampy used to say it made the walls vibrate.  One evening after dinner, he was out in our garden, I had done the dishes, and was settling in for some MTV time, "Home Sweet Home" came on and I ran out to the garden and grabbed my step-dad by the hand,dragged him into the living room with his garden tool and cowboy hat, sat him down and said' watch this video and tell me this band isn't making good music.'  He sat and watched the video, I stood and watched him for some reaction, he barely blinked and when it was over, he stood, I said "well..what do you think?" He said "Its good,shes got a nice voice." Tipped his cowboy hat ever so slightly to me and went back to the garden. I stood there in my Jordache jeans, ankles wrapped in bandannas, Iron Maiden t-shirt,neon-rubber bangles on my wrists, teased hair, arms crossed, mouth agape, watching him walk away.  Gotta love him...
Later he came to know Vince was a he but, still never quite got the hang of Motley Crue. 

          I do want to mention there is one other CCR cover on the CD "Long Cool Woman",this song was good before,Vince and his band gave it some punch. Its a great take on a great song. Its well worth a listen and you might even play it again.  I've been known to play it three times in a row every time it comes on. I just love it.

The other song that doesn't follow the book is "Another Piece of Meat", I can't seem to warm up to it and haven't even listened to the entire track. I like how it starts but lyrically I just don't enjoy what I've heard so, I leave it to you.

          In giving credit where credit is due, the men in Vince's band now are professional rock stars, they really compliment their front man. Vince describes them as "his real friends".  Vince has been with them for a while now and I recently had the good fortune to watch them perform live in a relatively small venue,  Firelake Grand Casino in Shawnee, Oklahoma.  The band went on late and left early which may be due to Vince having an issue with laryngitis.  However, the time they were onstage,they were nothing short of a ball of energy. The show was high energy, the crowd was on their feet,dancing and screaming for  the entire time they were not singing along.  Dana Strum is the bass player, Jeff Blando is the guitarist and background vocalist and then there is Zoltan Chaney on drums and he is a phenomenal musician. He is  the largest presence on the stage besides Vince, a star in his own right. Hes a blow your hair back and make you feel it in your gut kind of drummer.  If you like a rock show, if you were, are a Motley Crue fan than don't miss the show. I believe my Massachusetts readers can catch them this weekend in Chicopee,Ma.  Go and enjoy.

Tattoos and Tequila is a great read, borrow a copy, buy a copy, the library has copies, visit www.vinceneil.net for a copy or to just read excerpts, become a fan again, you will find me there. You will see Vince in a new light, you will have moments where you will say "ahhh the eighties" I'm sure you will come to understand him, love him, envy him, feel for him and cheer him.  Viva Las Vince.