Theatre of Pain is the third studio album by the heavy metal band Mötley Crüe, released on June 24, 1985. Released in the aftermath of lead vocalist Vince Neil‘s arrest for manslaughter on a drunk driving charge, the album marked the beginning of the band’s transition away from the traditional heavy metal sound of Too Fast for Love and Shout at the Devil, towards a more glam metal style.
Theatre of Pain contains the hit singles “Smokin’ in the Boys Room” and the power ballad “Home Sweet Home“. The album reached No. 6 on the US charts and No. 36 in the UK, and was certified quadruple platinum by the RIAA on June 5, 1995. In early 1985, Mötley Crüe entered the studio to begin recording the followup to their highly successful 1983 album Shout at the Devil, an album which sold over 4 million copies and established the band as one of the world’s top recording acts. Producer Tom Werman was once again hired to produce.
The band had enjoyed a tumultuous two years in the wake of Shout at the Devil‘s unexpected success. The band’s fondness for partying and sex earned them a reputation as a legitimately dangerous band, culminating in a December 8, 1984, car crash which killed Hanoi Rocks‘ drummer Nicholas “Razzle” Dingley and saw Mötley Crüe‘s lead vocalist Vince Neil facing possible prison time for vehicular manslaughter. On top of Neil‘s troubles, the band’s founder and primary songwriter, Nikki Sixx, had developed a heroin addiction which was beginning to spiral out of control. Further adding to the turmoil, the band had been seriously considering replacing guitarist Mick Mars. It was with these uncertainties hanging over the band that Theatre of Pain‘s recording commenced in January, 1985. During recording, the album’s working title was Entertainment or Death, though Sixx changed it prior to release.
Tracklist:
Side One
- City Boy Blues
- Smokin’ in the Boys Room (Brownsville Station cover)
- Louder Than Hell
- Keep Your Eye on the Money
- Home Sweet Home
Side Two
- Tonight (We Need a Lover)
- Use It or Lose It
- Save Our Souls
- Raise Your Hands to Rock
- Fight for Your Rights
Mötley Crüe
Vince Neil: lead and backing vocals, harmonica
Mick Mars: all electric, acoustic and slide guitars, backing vocals
Nikki Sixx: 4 & 8-string bass, synthesizers, backing vocals
Tommy Lee: drums, percussion, piano, backing vocals
Additional personnel
Jay Winding: keyboards
Max Carl, John Batdorf: backing vocals
Tom Werman: percussion
Production
Tom Werman: producer
Duane Baron: engineer, mixing
Paul Wertheimer, Mark Wilczak, Matt Brady, Alex Woltman, Brian Scheuble: assistant engineers
