"'80s rockers from the start, Mötley Crüe was one of the first hair metal bands to find success. The group's roots are traced to drummer ""Tommy Lee"" Bass and Nikki Sixx (born Frank Ferrana) who were each working on separate metal bands before connecting in the beginning of the ‘80s. Buying Bob ""Mick Mars"" Deal to play guitar and ""Vince Neil"" Wharton along as vocalist, Mottley Krue was born - aka ""a motley looking crew."" Though the band was plagued with the usual hard rocker turmoil's, they managed to create some of the most classic rock anthems of all time in their years together.With a name, the men started recording with a small record company before their debut album sold an abundant amount and they then signed with Elektra Records. Their sophomore effort, Shout at the Devil, went platinum after which Neil was involved in a vehicular manslaughter accident and sentenced to prison and community service. While incarcerated, Theatre of Pain appeared and saw the crew's first Top 40 hit.After a brief hibernation thanks to Neil, the group returned with a home video and their fourth album Girls Girls Girls (meanwhile, Lee married actress Heather Locklear). After the racy title track's music video was banned from television, the group began their first tour, stunted in Europe only when Sixx faced a near-fatal drug overdose. In 1989, only eight years since they first started playing together, they released Dr. Feelgood, their fifth studio album and first number one record.Though the band had success, at the onset of the ‘90s the music industry was changing. Their own record label emerged but during recording sessions Neil was briefly fired during Mötley Crüe's self titled album, only to return for 1997's Generation Swine. When their Greatest Hits album appeared Lee was arrested for spousal abuse on second wife, Pamela Anderson. Randy Castillo replaced Lee for their re-mastered old albums along with the collection Supersonic and Demonic Relics. The disheveled group has continued to record, with new band members and as ever, more drama."