In the summer of 2000, the Sunset Strip was a ghost town of hairspray and leather. The world was obsessed with Fred Durst’s red cap and the glitchy angst of Nu-Metal. Into this landscape, Mötley Crüe decided to drop a record that basically ignored everything happening on the radio. They called it New Tattoo.
Most people remember the 80s glitz or the chaotic 2020s stadium tours. But the Motley Crue New Tattoo CD is this weird, isolated island in their discography. It’s the only studio album without Tommy Lee. That’s a big deal. For a band that prides itself on being a "gang," losing the heartbeat of the group—the guy who literally played drums upside down—felt like a glitch in the Matrix.
The Drama Behind the Kit: Where Was Tommy?
Honestly, the backstory of this album is more "Crüe" than the music itself. Tommy Lee was over it. He’d spent time in jail, his marriage to Pamela Anderson was a tabloid wildfire, and he wanted to do rap-metal with Methods of Mayhem. He thought the Crüe sound was "backwards."
So, Nikki Sixx called up an old friend. Randy Castillo, the legendary drummer for Ozzy Osbourne, stepped in. Randy was a pro. He brought a heavy, solid foundation to the tracks, but he wasn’t Tommy. He didn't have that swing.
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Tragically, Randy never got to finish the cycle. He fell ill with a duodenal ulcer right before the tour and was later diagnosed with cancer. He passed away in 2002. Because of this, the Motley Crue New Tattoo CD era feels bittersweet. It’s a snapshot of a band trying to find its footing while one of its members was literally fighting for his life. Samantha Maloney from Hole eventually took over the drum throne for the tour, making the band’s lineup look even more surreal to longtime fans.
Back to Basics (Or a Desperate Pivot?)
The music on the Motley Crue New Tattoo CD was a sharp u-turn. After the experimental, fuzzy, and frankly confusing Generation Swine in 1997, Nikki Sixx wanted to go back to the "sleaze." He hired Mike Clink—the guy who produced Appetite for Destruction—to get that raw, dry rock sound.
- Hell on High Heels: This was the lead single. It’s basically a rewrite of their 80s hits. It’s catchy, sure, but it felt a little safe for a band known for danger.
- Punched in the Teeth by Love: Probably the heaviest track on the disc. It’s got a bit of that early 80s Shout at the Devil grit.
- Hollywood Ending: A ballad that actually works. It’s a bit more mature, reflecting on the burnout of the L.A. scene.
Funny thing is, Mick Mars later claimed he wasn't even invited to write for the album. He said he just showed up and played what he was told. That kind of internal tension is why the record sounds a bit like a Nikki Sixx solo project featuring Vince Neil. It’s professional, it’s polished, but it lacks that "four guys in a garage" energy that made Too Fast for Love a classic.
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Why the New Tattoo Era Still Matters
You won't hear many of these songs on the radio today. In fact, the band almost never plays them live. Once Tommy came back for the Red, White & Crüe tour in 2004, the Motley Crue New Tattoo CD was basically shoved into a drawer.
But for collectors and die-hards, it’s a fascinating relic. It represents the "independent" Crüe. They had left Elektra Records after 17 years and were releasing music on their own Mötley Records label. They owned their masters. They were the bosses.
Even if the album only peaked at No. 41 on the Billboard 200—a far cry from the No. 1 spot of Dr. Feelgood—it proved the band could survive without their star drummer. It was a bridge. Without the stability they tried to build during the New Tattoo years, they might not have made it to the massive 2010s resurgence.
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How to Revisit New Tattoo Today
If you’re digging through your old Motley Crue New Tattoo CD or finding it on a streaming service, don't expect Kickstart My Heart. Expect a bar-band version of the world's most notorious rock group.
- Look for the Bonus Tracks: The Japanese and European versions often included "Timebomb," which many fans think is better than half the songs on the standard album.
- Watch the "Lewd, Crued & Tattooed" DVD: This was filmed during the tour with Samantha Maloney. It’s the best way to see how these songs actually translated to a live audience.
- Check the Credits: Notice the involvement of James Michael. He would later form Sixx:A.M. with Nikki. You can hear the beginnings of that songwriting partnership all over this record.
The New Tattoo era was weird, it was messy, and it was undeniably Mötley. It’s not their best work, but it’s a piece of the puzzle that explains how they survived the turn of the millennium when all their peers were falling apart.
Next Step: Take a listen to "1st Band on the Moon" from the album—it’s a tongue-in-cheek look at their own legacy that aged surprisingly well.