L.A Guns frontman, Phil Lewis, was recently interviewed by Thomas S. Orwat, Jr. of Rock Interview Series, where the singer weighed in, on the recent Mötley Crüe drama.
Lewis said ( as per blabbermouth.net), “It’s incorrigible, isn’t it? It really is. It’s such a swindle. But it’s probably a lot better. I mean, they’d probably sound like utter s–t if they were live, with the big stadium and the big lights and Vince [Neil] singing in the way that we’ve come to know and love.”
“They really are a f–king atrocious band; they always have been,” he continued. “And the only good player, the only good one in the band, has been very unceremoniously dismissed.”
“I never liked them. I never did. I never bought one of their records. I loathed Girls, Girls, Girls; I hated all of it. Occasionally I caught the attention of [bassist] Nikki [Sixx], and he doesn’t like me. I’m a sad little pumpkin as to what he thinks about me. I just find him to be a big fraud.”
“It’s a punishment of luxury — somebody that became a millionaire at such an early age that they never really developed social skills,” Lewis added. “It’s like taking a bird out of a nest when it’s not ready to fly; it won’t develop. And I don’t think, really, that any of them… The three of them aren’t very well socially developed. They’re not very good. And Mick‘s a different category entirely because he was so much older before success.
Success can be a punishment quite often. And in their case it must just be so painful right now having been idolized for so long and now to [be] called out as frauds, essentially as instrument-holding Milli Vanilli, as a disgrace. They’ve gotta be hurting real bad.”
Wondering aloud if the band deserves all the criticism it has gotten in the wake of Mars‘ lawsuit, the singer said, “I don’t know. They make a lot of people happy. A lot of people couldn’t care less. They just wanna go there, have a good time, drink beer and be with their buddies. [L.A. Guns are] just not that kind of a band.”
Asked if would join Mötley Crüe if he was offered $50 million to step in for Vince Neil, he said, “I would never get that offer. But they really f–ked up when they went with John 5 [as Mars’ replacement] and not [L.A. Guns guitarist] Tracii Guns. And I’m glad they did, obviously. [John 5] is not the right f–king fit at all. And Tracii would just be so perfect. He’s, like, Hollywood; he’s a brat like them. He’s just like the next generation down, and it would have been such an incredibly good fit. But Tracii’s not trendy. It’s gotta be f–king Rob Zombie‘s guy or it’s gotta be Lenny Kravitz‘s wife or ex-girlfriend. It’s gotta be trendy. It’s gotta be somebody incredibly important. It gives them a sense of importance. And, as I said, I’m glad they f–ked up and they didn’t [hire Tracii]. They should have got Tracii.”
And would I take it? Hell yeah. I’d take it,” Phil admitted. “I’d do it in a heartbeat. [Laughs] All I’ve gotta do is get on stage and mime and wiggle my ass and wear whatever I want. Yeah. 50 mil? C’mon. Let’s go.”
9 Responses
Phil Lewis is correct…..While a phenomenal guitarist, John 5 does not “fit” in Crue…just like Yngwie wouldn’t have “fit” in KI$$ back in the 80’s.
You gotta like Phil . I always appreciate his take on things in the music world.
I agree.
I’ve never cared much for L.A. Guns’ music. I tried many times
but it just never grabbed me. I do think they have one of
the coolest band names though. I agree with Phil. Vince, Nikki and Thomas are atrocious people. Mick was the only one in that band that ever had any class or integrity besides Corabi’s time in the band. Vince Neil killed a member of Hanoi Rocks due to driving drunk. I understand it wasn’t intentional on Vince’s part and simply was being young and stupid. But decades later releasing a box set with the title of music to crash your car too or something like that is just absolutely unacceptable. Thomas Lee has always been a f–king douche. And Nikki is a bum too.
As far as John 5 being a good fit, I guess that remains to be seen. He did play on David Lee Roth’s solo album entitled DLR band which is a stellar album! I don’t think many people know that and you certainly wouldn’t guess it was him if you didn’t know. So there is more to John 5 thank what you hear in Rob Zombie or Marilyn Manson records. But this situation contradicts the previous details that were released stating that Mick was retiring from touring but not from the band itself and that he would still be recording if Motley Crue went into the studio. Vince, Thomas and Frank Ferrer, you are scum low life bums. As I’ve said before, you may be wealthy and good for you, but you keep the wealth and I’ll keep my integrity. Thank you.
J5 is a shredder for which Mick was not. Crüe uses backing tracks and yes, I’ve heard them. That makes me puke.
Interesting take about the lack of social skills. Makes perfect sense. Especially Tommy. He’s a bum. You must be a real POS if you get drunk and kick your wife in her back while she’s holding your infant son. No wonder why his son, many years later, knocked him out cold. Tommy Lee is a sniveling, drug addled slob, a pig and a disgusting person that should be put down.
I agree. I remember Crüe did a greatest hits tour back in the 90’s and I was hearing backing vocals with no one at the mic and I was hearing another guitar track with no one on stage playing besides Mick. That made me sick and I never saw the again. Fn sell outs.
If you’re talking about Same Ol’ Situation, you know that Vince can’t really play the guitar, right?! You know how at some aquatic parks, they’ll strap a cowboy hat on a walrus, give it a ukulele, start playing “Long Cool Woman,” and then the walrus starts strumming along? It’s pretty much the same concept with Vince.