In a recent interview with Rock Daydream Nation, former Mötley Crüe frontman John Corabi discussed the drama and challenges he faced while a member of the band. Corabi, who joined in 1992 as a replacement for Vince Neil, shared that when the decision was made to bring Neil back, he had mixed feelings. While he was upset by the decision, he also felt a sense of relief, likening the experience to having a significant burden lifted off his shoulders.
“There was so much drama in that band and turmoil. And so when they told me that they were bringing Vince back, there was a huge part of me that was bummed and kind of upset, but there was another part of me that felt like somebody was… I felt like a 300-pound man was standing on my shoulders. So I was actually relieved at the same time, if that makes any sense at all.
“Yeah, there was shit like that going on all the time,” Corabi continued. “And it’s funny, now this interview is gonna come out and it’s gonna go global and everybody’s [gonna say], ‘Goddamn it. He’s talking about Motley again. Doesn’t that guy have anything better to talk about?’ [Laughs]”
Corabi revealed that the band had been secretly meeting with Neil during his tenure, even while assuring him that Neil would not return. The record label had pushed for Neil’s comeback, and Corabi later realized he was being kept as a fallback option in case negotiations with Neil didn’t work out. Despite feeling betrayed, Corabi acknowledged the practicality of the band’s decision.
He also described the interpersonal tensions within the group. Each band member would speak negatively about the others during private conversations, creating an environment filled with constant drama. Corabi found it exhausting to navigate these dynamics and was ultimately relieved when his time with the band came to an end.
Regarding his live performances with Motley Crue, Corabi disputed the depiction in The Dirt biopic, which suggested the band was struggling to fill small venues during his era. He clarified that they were playing arenas with capacities of over 10,000 but were typically selling around 4,000 to 6,000 tickets. Despite the smaller crowds compared to the band’s peak years, he recalled positive audience reactions and enjoyed performing hits like “Shout at the Devil,” “Primal Scream,” and “Wild Side.”
