Motley Crue is set to embark on the “Return of the Carnival of Sins” tour next summer, featuring a total of 33 performances. The tour will include support from fellow rock bands Tesla and Extreme.
Fans of Motley Crue are eager to learn about the set list for the upcoming tour. Co-founding bassist Nikki Sixx hinted at some changes during an interview with Corey from WMMS. He stated, “A big part of the conversation is, obviously, the fans want to hear the hits. But also, what can we introduce that fans haven’t heard as much? There are so many great songs.”
Engaging Fans in Set List Selection
Sixx mentioned that the band plans to involve fans in the song selection process. “At some point, we will have the opportunity to ask the fans what they are interested in hearing,” he said. “We can choose some deeper cuts to mix into the set. We just completed our Vegas residency, where we played ‘On With the Show,’ and it was incredibly enjoyable. Some of these songs are fun but not widely known. For instance, ‘Live Wire’ was a standout from our debut album, and many fans may have come to know us through Girls, Girls, Girls or Dr. Feelgood.
He continued, “People might have heard a couple of tracks from our early years. When we perform songs like ‘On With the Show’ and ‘Starry Eyes,’ it really resonates.” Although the band has not finalized the set list yet, Sixx expressed enthusiasm about the creative process. “This is the exciting part for us. There are two phases: creating something we are thrilled about and then sharing it with the fans.”
Listen to Motley Crue Perform ‘Starry Eyes’
Challenges of Curating the Set List
In a 2024 interview with UCR, Sixx elaborated on the challenges of assembling a set list for each tour. “This is an interesting conversation because you have fans on one side who want us to play only deep tracks, while others want to hear the hits and feel disappointed if we don’t,” he explained. “I admire David Bowie, but I was disappointed when he toured without performing any of his hits.”
Sixx emphasized, “We never want to be that band. We strive for a balance between new material and classic hits, while being mindful of what our audience desires. It can be challenging, but playing those older songs is enjoyable. I wish we could include more, but adding new songs means we have to remove something else. For example, we added ‘On With the Show’ but had to take out ‘Don’t Go Away Mad,’ which is a well-known hit, but they share a similar tempo. It’s a struggle.”
Motley Crue’s Recent Activities
This past year, in addition to their Las Vegas residency, Motley Crue celebrated the 40th anniversary of their iconic album Theatre of Pain by releasing an expanded box set. This set includes bonus material, such as a previously unreleased live concert from Long Beach, California, available on vinyl. The band had a relatively quiet year, partly due to a series of strokes experienced by Vince Neil in recent years, which necessitated an extended recovery period.
READ MORE: Motley Crue Add 1985 Live Album to ‘Theatre of Pain’ Box Set
Motley Crue – The Return of the Carnival of Sins
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Gallery Credit: Nick DeRiso
