The Real Reason Mötley Crüe Fired John Corabi
There's no question that rock n' roll can get more than a little rocky from time to time. The road is often tumultuously paved with conflict, confusion, and relationships gone awry. If there ever was a band who sported all of those things (and then some) to a monumental degree, it's Mötley Crüe. Crüe's saga is truly one of the most remarkable in rock history, and much of it entailed the swapping out of seemingly crucial members from time to time.
In 1992, colossally renowned frontman Vince Neil was discharged from the group for a series of grievances between bandmates and was replaced shortly after by John Corabi (via Rock Celebrities). The renewed aesthetic that followed the new singer's presence encapsulated the band's self-titled 1994 record and multiple tours to follow. However, Corabi's stint in Mötley Crüe came to a close in 1997 when Neil was reinstated as the lead singer, the label resolving that the band's future was fatally compromised without him (per Ultimate Classic Rock).
The Corabi saga
"I went to rehearsal one day, and when I walked in and saw all the managers and the lawyers, I'm like, 'Uh oh. This isn't going to be good.'" Corabi shared after the fact. "They basically said, 'Hey man, thanks for all your efforts. We love you, but the record label just isn't going to support this version of the band.' Out the door I went" (via Ultimate Classic Rock).
After growing accustomed to a sound that become trademark for Mötley Crüe throughout the '80's, fans understandably weren't too keen on welcoming an unfamiliar voice in place of Neil's. Despite his controversial reception from listeners, Corabi stated that he understood why fans didn't warm up to the new style that followed his installment (per Ultimate Guitar). In a 2015 interview with 100 Percent Rock Magazine, Corabi talked about personnel changes: "... I get the fans, I get why they were upset when I was in the band. I understand it. I don't disagree with them." From 2013-2019, John Corabi fronted The Dead Daisies until his replacement with Deep Purple's Glenn Hughes (via Consequence).
John Corabi's personal history
John Corabi was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on April 26, 1959. His ascent into the domain of music was far more linear compared to the other members of Mötley Crüe, whose individual histories are rather chaotic and tumultuous. As a young adult fresh out of high school, Corabi started singing for his band Angora and worked different jobs on the side to maintain a steady income once until the group moved to Los Angeles in the mid 1980s. After a period of trial and error within the glam metal scene along California's iconic Sunset Strip, the band dissolved and everyone went their separate ways (per All Music).
John Corabi forged his next major project, The Scream, alongside Bruce Bouillet, John Alderete, and Scott Travis in 1989. The group enjoyed a brief period of prosperity and recorded two studio albums, though only one was released ("Let It Scream," 1991). After he was offered the slot in Crüe in place of Vince Neil in 1992, Corabi departed from The Scream and joined up with the biggest hair metal band in the world (via Sleaze Roxx).
Where is Mötley Crüe today?
In 2014, Mötley Crüe announced their final world tour after 34 years of igniting stages, wrecking hotel rooms, and emulating the essence of debauchery in rock n' roll music. Vince Neil, Tommy Lee, Mick Mars, and Nikki Sixx all signed a Cessation Of Touring Agreement that essentially closed the book on any prospect of ever reuniting in the future. They performed in 72 cities worldwide and sold over $45 million worth of tickets and merchandise, concluding their monumental story with one last concert at the Los Angeles Staples Center on New Years Eve of 2015. "New Year's Eve 2015 will mark the end of an era in rock history but there's no doubt that Mötley Crüe's music will influence generations of artists for years to come," Rick Franks of Live Nation stated publicly prior to the show (per Mötley Crüe).
When Netflix released the Mötley Crüe rock biopic "The Dirt" in 2019 (based on their collective autobiography, published in 2001; the trailer is on YouTube), the band enjoyed a resurgence of glory and renewed universal interest. Despite the lawyers, they announced yet another reunion tour that featured fellow glam rockers Def Leppard on the ticket as an opener, according to The San Diego Union Tribune. They are currently scheduled for 31 more stadium shows this year.