Nikki Sixx has admitted that Mötley Crüe have embraced the use of backing tracks during their shows, but promises they still play all their own instruments live.
The glam metal veterans have faced numerous allegations of using tapes during their gigs in the past. In the most serious instance, former guitarist Mick Mars once accused them of miming on stage.
Responding to a fan’s question on X, though, bass player Nikki Sixx has now admitted that, yes, they do use backing tracks. But they play their own parts live. And they’re comfortable with that.
“Since we saw Queen using some to help during the song Bohemian Rhapsody live, we understood that we could bring in elements that we could not do live,” he writes.
These are extra instrumental layers, such as orchestrations and saxophones, rather than guitars, he says. Their ballad Home Sweet Home and the upbeat Rattlesnake Shake are examples of songs that have those extra sprinkles.
“We sync them up with what we are playing, and we do play 100% live,” Sixx continues. “It’s better for the fans, and we enjoy being able to do what we did in the studio live. It’s a win-win for us.”
As MusicRadar reports, Crüe have come under scrutiny before. A 2022 performance seemed to suggest that Tommy Lee wasn’t playing his drum parts. Fans had noted discrepancies between his movements and what came out of the PA.
Backing tracks with live performances are a sensitive subject, and many bands have been accused of ‘faking’ their shows before now.
It’s often a delicate balancing act for artists to tread. Fans don’t want to buy expensive tickets to see musicians miming, but there are instances where those extra tracks are accepted.
Wolfgang Van Halen may have called bands who heavily rely on extra tracks “lame as hell,” but John Petrucci offered a more forgiving take. He says backing tracks are fine, so long as the guitarist on stage is playing their ass off.
Then, of course, there’s the whole other world of ‘fake guitar playing’ in the online sphere. It’s generated some fascinating conversations with our readers as to where the line is drawn. Similar debates could be sparked around live performances.
