Editing Mötley Crüe (section)

===1992–2003: Years of turmoil===
{{main|Mötley Crüe (album)|Generation Swine|New Tattoo}}
Neil left the band in February 1992 following the release of ''Decade of Decadence'', during a period in which most other prominent [[glam metal]] bands of the 1980s were breaking up or otherwise seeing their popularity decline significantly amid the advent of [[grunge]] and [[Alternative rock|alternative]] music. It remains unclear whether Neil was fired or quit the band. Sixx has long maintained that Neil quit, while Neil insists that he was fired. "Any band has its little spats," Neil observed in 2000, "and this one basically just stemmed from a bunch of 'fuck yous' in a rehearsal studio. It went from 'I quit' to 'You're fired' ... It was handled idiotically. The management just let one of the biggest bands in the world break up."<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Dave |last=Ling |title=We are lüdicröus! |magazine=[[Classic Rock (magazine)|Classic Rock]] #12 |date=March 2000 |page=48}}</ref>

In the running for the vacant frontman position was [[Kik Tracee]] vocalist [[Stephen Shareaux]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-03-01-ca-5376-story.html |title=Vince Neil Goes Away From Motley Crue—Mad |last=Hochman |first=Steve |date=March 1, 1992 |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=May 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160512233828/http://articles.latimes.com/1992-03-01/entertainment/ca-5376_1_motley-crue |archive-date=May 12, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://musiclegends.ca/stephen-shareaux-interview/ |title=Stephen Shareaux Interview {{!}} KIK TRACEE frontman {{!}} June 2017 |date=June 22, 2017 |work=Music Legends Online |access-date=May 21, 2018 |language=en-US |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180522041823/https://musiclegends.ca/stephen-shareaux-interview/ |archive-date=May 22, 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Ultimately Neil was replaced by [[John Corabi]] (formerly of [[Angora (band)|Angora]] and [[The Scream (band)|the Scream]]). Although Mötley's [[Mötley Crüe (album)|self-titled]] March 1994 release made the ''Billboard'' top ten (#7), the album was a commercial failure. It also prompted negative reactions from many fans due to Neil's absence and its sound. Corabi suggested the band bring back Neil, believing the latter would always be seen as the voice of the band. This eventually resulted in his own firing in 1996.<ref>{{cite web |title=What John Corabi Learned From Being Fired by Motley Crue |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/john-corabi-fired-motley-crue/ |website=Ultimate Classic Rock |date=March 25, 2019 |access-date=June 16, 2019 |archive-date=June 16, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190616175554/https://ultimateclassicrock.com/john-corabi-fired-motley-crue/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Corabi spoke about his time with the band and his thoughts on the first record with Mötley Crüe. Corabi said: "my record was the first record that they had done that didn't go platinum, didn't make some sort of crazy noise, and everybody panicked".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rawmusictv.com/article/2019/How-John-Corabi-saved-Motley-Crue-with-their-1994-hard-rock-album-that-failed |title=How John Corabi saved Mötley Crüe with their 1994 hard rock album that failed |date=March 9, 2019 |access-date=March 9, 2019 |df=mdy-all |archive-date=March 31, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331181746/https://www.rawmusictv.com/article/2019/How-John-Corabi-saved-Motley-Crue-with-their-1994-hard-rock-album-that-failed |url-status=live}}</ref> During his time away from the band, Neil released a moderately successful solo album, ''[[Exposed (Vince Neil album)|Exposed]]'' in 1993,<ref>{{cite web |title=Exposed – Vince Neil |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/exposed-mw0000618629 |website=Allmusic |access-date=7 December 2019 |archive-date=April 11, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411171827/https://www.allmusic.com/album/exposed-mw0000618629 |url-status=live}}</ref> and a less commercially successful follow-up, ''[[Carved in Stone (Vince Neil album)|Carved in Stone]]'' in 1995.<ref>{{cite web |title=Carved in Stone – Vince Neil |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/carved-in-stone-mw0000644971 |website=Allmusic |access-date=7 December 2019 |archive-date=January 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127102341/https://www.allmusic.com/album/carved-in-stone-mw0000644971 |url-status=live}}</ref>

After ''Rolling Stone'' magazine broke out the news in their November 26, 1996 issue, the band reunited with Neil in 1997,<ref>{{cite book |title=Bang Your Head: The Rise and Fall of Heavy Metal |first=David |last=Konow |publisher=Random House Digital, Inc. |year=2009 |page=346 |isbn=9780307565600}}</ref> after their current manager, Allen Kovac, and Neil's manager, Bert Stein, set up a meeting between Neil, Lee, and Sixx. Agreeing to "leave their egos at the door", the band released ''[[Generation Swine]]''. Although it debuted at No.&nbsp;4, and in spite of a live performance at the American Music Awards, the album was a commercial failure, due in part to lack of support from their label.<ref>{{cite web |title=When Motley Crue Brought Back Vince Neil for 'Generation Swine' |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/motley-crue-generation-swine/ |website=Ultimate Classic Rock |date=July 5, 2017 |access-date=June 15, 2019 |archive-date=June 16, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190616175557/https://ultimateclassicrock.com/motley-crue-generation-swine/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1998, Mötley Crüe's contractual ties with Elektra had expired, putting the band in total control of their future, including the ownership of the master recordings of all of their albums. Announcing the end of their relationship with Elektra, the band became one of the few groups to own and control their publishing and music catalog. They are one of only a handful of artists to own the masters to their material and reportedly did so by being the biggest pain they could be until Elektra got fed up and handed over the rights in order to get the band off their label.<ref>{{cite web |title=5 Brilliant Business Lessons From Mötley Crüe (Seriously!) |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/3031014/5-brilliant-business-lessons-from-moetley-cruee-seriously |website=Fast Company |date=May 28, 2014 |access-date=18 December 2019 |archive-date=December 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191218155724/https://www.fastcompany.com/3031014/5-brilliant-business-lessons-from-moetley-cruee-seriously |url-status=live}}</ref> After leaving Elektra the band created their own label, [[Mötley Records]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Q&A: Motley Crue still calling its own shots |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/music-motley-dc-idUSN27297720080627 |website=Reuters |date=June 27, 2008 |access-date=June 17, 2019 |archive-date=June 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190617131931/https://www.reuters.com/article/music-motley-dc-idUSN27297720080627 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Mötley Crüe released their compilation ''[[Greatest Hits (Mötley Crüe album)|Greatest Hits]]'' in late 1998, featuring two new songs, "Bitter Pill" and "Enslaved".<ref>{{cite web |title=Motley Crue – Greatest Hits (1998) |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/greatet-hit-1998-mw0000045032 |website=Allmusic |access-date=June 15, 2019 |archive-date=October 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191012103639/https://www.allmusic.com/album/greatet-hit-1998-mw0000045032 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 1999, the band rereleased all their albums, dubbed as "Crücial Crüe". These limited-edition digital remasters included demos, plus live, instrumental, and previously unreleased tracks.<ref>{{cite web |title=Crucial Crue: The Mötley Crüe Reissues |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/crucial-crue-the-m%C3%B6tley-cr%C3%BCe-reissues-mw0000240878/credits |website=Allmusic |access-date=June 21, 2019 |archive-date=June 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190621113749/https://www.allmusic.com/album/crucial-crue-the-m%25C3%25B6tley-cr%25C3%25BCe-reissues-mw0000240878/credits |url-status=live}}</ref> In 1999 the band also released ''[[Supersonic and Demonic Relics]]'', an updated version of ''Decade of Decadence'' featuring the original songs from that album and several previously unreleased B-sides and remixes,<ref>{{cite web |title=Motley Crue – Supersonic and Demonic Relics |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/r416890 |website=Allmusic |access-date=June 15, 2019 |archive-date=February 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202225658/https://www.allmusic.com/album/supersonic-and-demonic-relics-mw0000240878 |url-status=live}}</ref> as well as their first official live album ''[[Live: Entertainment or Death|Entertainment or Death]]''<ref>{{cite web |title=Live: Entertainment or Death |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/live-entertainment-or-death-mw0000254108 |website=Allmusic |access-date=8 December 2019 |archive-date=August 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803220737/https://www.allmusic.com/album/live-entertainment-or-death-mw0000254108 |url-status=live}}</ref> (which was the original working title for the studio album ''Theatre of Pain'').<ref>{{cite web |title=30 Facts About Mötley Crüe's Theatre of Pain |url=https://www.vh1.com/news/usttjv/motley-crue-theatre-of-pain-facts |website=VH1 |access-date=December 8, 2019 |archive-date=August 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190802181816/http://www.vh1.com/news/29604/motley-crue-theatre-of-pain-facts/ |url-status=live}}</ref> The band then went on a [[Eye to Eye Tour|co-headlining tour]] with [[Scorpions (band)|the Scorpions]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Motley Crue, Scorpions To Kick It Old-School On Summer Tour |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1433901/motley-crue-scorpions-to-kick-it-old-school-on-summer-tour/ |website=MTV |access-date=30 December 2019 |archive-date=December 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191230174956/http://www.mtv.com/news/1433901/motley-crue-scorpions-to-kick-it-old-school-on-summer-tour/ |url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 1999, Lee quit to pursue a solo career, due to increasing tensions with Neil. "All we got was a call from his attorney saying he wasn't coming back," recalled the singer. "He wasn't into rock 'n' roll anymore. He even said that rock is dead ... It all happened during a void in Mötley. We weren't even rehearsing, so it was no big deal."<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Dave |last=Ling |title=We are lüdicröus! |magazine=[[Classic Rock (magazine)|Classic Rock]] #12 |date=March 2000 |page=49}}</ref>

Lee was replaced by a longtime friend of the band, former [[Ozzy Osbourne]] drummer [[Randy Castillo]]. The band released ''[[New Tattoo]]'' in July 2000.<ref>{{cite web |title=How Motley Crue Brought Back the Riffs on 'New Tattoo' |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/motley-crue-new-tattoo-album/ |website=Ultimate Classic Rock |date=July 11, 2015 |access-date=16 December 2019 |archive-date=March 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200330180251/https://ultimateclassicrock.com/motley-crue-new-tattoo-album/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Before the ensuing tour commenced, Castillo became ill with a duodenal ulcer. The band brought in former [[Hole (band)|Hole]] drummer [[Samantha Maloney]] for the Maximum Rock tour with [[Megadeth]]<ref>{{cite web |title=A Different Drummer |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2000-08-23-0008230059-story.html |website=Chicago Tribune |date=August 23, 2000 |access-date=June 17, 2019 |archive-date=June 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190617173711/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2000-08-23-0008230059-story.html |url-status=live}}</ref> as Castillo concentrated on his health. However, while Castillo was recovering from stomach surgery, he was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma after finding a tumor on his jaw. He died on March 26, 2002.<ref>{{cite web |title=Heavy Metal Drummer Randy Castillo Dies |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/76315/heavy-metal-drummer-randy-castillo-dies |website=Billboard.com |date=March 28, 2002 |access-date=June 17, 2019 |archive-date=June 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626224624/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/76315/heavy-metal-drummer-randy-castillo-dies |url-status=live}}</ref> Soon afterward, the band went on hiatus.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mötley Crüe's Break Up: The Real Story You Won't See on 'The Dirt' |url=https://www.newsweek.com/motley-crue-break-dirt-netflix-movie-members-songs-1370399 |website=Newsweek |date=March 22, 2019 |access-date=June 17, 2019 |archive-date=May 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190525035359/https://www.newsweek.com/motley-crue-break-dirt-netflix-movie-members-songs-1370399 |url-status=live}}</ref>

While the band was on hiatus, Sixx played in side projects [[58 (band)|58]] and [[Brides of Destruction]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Nikki Sixx Takes Chances With New Side Project, 58 |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/971958/nikki-sixx-takes-chances-with-new-side-project-58/ |website=MTV |access-date=16 December 2019 |archive-date=December 16, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191216170938/http://www.mtv.com/news/971958/nikki-sixx-takes-chances-with-new-side-project-58/ |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Brides of Destruction – biography |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/brides-of-destruction-p631275/biography |website=Allmusic |access-date=June 17, 2019 |archive-date=December 13, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101213163012/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/brides-of-destruction-p631275/biography |url-status=live}}</ref> Neil was featured on the first season of VH1's reality show ''[[The Surreal Life]]'',<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Here are the celebrity housemates of ''Surreal Life'' |url=https://ew.com/article/2002/09/27/here-are-celebrity-housemates-surreal-life/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=June 17, 2019 |archive-date=June 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190617174420/https://ew.com/article/2002/09/27/here-are-celebrity-housemates-surreal-life/ |url-status=live}}</ref> and had his own special titled "Remaking Vince Neil", which focused on his solo career and attempts to get in better physical shape.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Simmons |first1=Sylvie |title=One hip replacement, four tour buses and plenty of plastic surgery |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2005/apr/28/popandrock1 |website=The Guardian |date=April 28, 2005 |access-date=7 December 2019 |archive-date=December 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191207063425/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2005/apr/28/popandrock1 |url-status=live}}</ref> Mars, who suffers from a hereditary form of arthritis which causes extensive spinal pain called [[ankylosing spondylitis]],<ref>{{cite book |last1=Lee |first1=Tommy |author-link1=Tommy Lee |last2=Strauss |first2=Neil |author-link2=Neil Strauss |author3=Vince Neil |author4=Mick Mars |author5-link=Nikki Sixx |author5=Nikki Sixx |title=The Dirt: Confessions of the World's Most Notorious Rock Band |edition=reprint, illustrated |year=2002 |orig-year=2001 |access-date=December 18, 2011 |publisher=[[HarperCollins]] |isbn=0-06-098915-7 |oclc=212381899 |page=[https://archive.org/details/dirt00tomm/page/186 186; 448] |url=https://archive.org/details/dirt00tomm/page/186 |author3-link=Vince Neil}}</ref> went into seclusion in 2001 dealing with health issues. Lee went on to form [[Methods of Mayhem]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Methods of Mayhem (album) |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/methods-of-mayhem-mw0000259592 |website=Allmusic |access-date=June 16, 2019 |archive-date=June 16, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190616170027/https://www.allmusic.com/album/methods-of-mayhem-mw0000259592 |url-status=live}}</ref> and also performed as a solo artist during this time.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rock's bad boy never has a dull moment |url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/rocks-bad-boy-never-has-a-dull-moment-20020731-gdfi1t.html |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=July 31, 2002 |access-date=June 16, 2019 |archive-date=June 16, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190616170030/https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/rocks-bad-boy-never-has-a-dull-moment-20020731-gdfi1t.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

A 2001 autobiography titled ''[[The Dirt]]'', co-authored by all four of the band members and [[Neil Strauss]], presented Mötley Crüe as "the world's most notorious rock band". The book made the top ten on [[The New York Times Best Seller list|''The New York Times'' Best Seller list]] and spent ten weeks there, and would return to the list after the film adaptation was released in spring 2019.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mötley Crüe's 'The Dirt' Book Is Back On 'NY Times Best Sellers' List |url=https://www.iheart.com/content/2019-04-04-mtley-cres-the-dirt-book-is-back-on-ny-times-best-sellers-list/ |website=iHeartRadio |access-date=April 28, 2019 |archive-date=April 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190423021349/https://www.iheart.com/content/2019-04-04-mtley-cres-the-dirt-book-is-back-on-ny-times-best-sellers-list/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2003, the band released two [[box set]]s entitled ''[[Music to Crash Your Car To: Vol. 1]]'' and ''[[Music to Crash Your Car To: Vol. 2|Vol. 2]]'', featuring the music from their entire career.<ref>{{cite web |title=Music to Crash Your Car To, Vol. 1 |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/music-to-crash-your-car-to-vol-1-mw0000694388/releases |website=Allmusic |access-date=29 December 2019 |archive-date=December 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191229161001/https://www.allmusic.com/album/music-to-crash-your-car-to-vol-1-mw0000694388/releases |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Music to Crash Your Car To, Vol. 2 |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/music-to-crash-your-car-to-vol-2-mw0000746028/releases |website=Allmusic |access-date=29 December 2019 |archive-date=December 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191229161001/https://www.allmusic.com/album/music-to-crash-your-car-to-vol-2-mw0000746028/releases |url-status=live}}</ref> The titles of the collections were heavily criticized by [[Hanoi Rocks]] singer [[Michael Monroe]], among others, due to their possible reference to Neil and Razzle's fatal automobile accident, and that Neil was found guilty of manslaughter for the incident.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Is the Title of Motley Crue's New Album Offensive? |url=https://ew.com/article/2003/12/05/title-motley-crues-new-album-offensive/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=29 December 2019 |archive-date=June 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190617174452/https://ew.com/article/2003/12/05/title-motley-crues-new-album-offensive/ |url-status=live}}</ref>