WEB-EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: VINCE NEIL DISCUSSES NEW SOLO SHOWS AND ALBUM

Following a successful second Crüe Fest tour this past summer, Vince Neil is taking a break from his Mötley cohorts to work on his first solo studio album in almost 15 years. After performing several one-off shows across the country this fall, one of which Revolver is giving away two tickets for, next year will see the release of a record, as well as a full-blown tour. Playing a career-spanning set, Neil’s band features Slaughter members Dana Strum and Jeff Bland, as well as drummer Zoltan Chaney. The legendary vocalist spoke to Revolver about what fans can expect from his solo shows and his future plans.

REVOLVER What stage are you at with the album?
VINCE NEIL Just working in the music right now, haven’t gotten in the studio yet, just working on songs we’ll probably get the music done next month. I’ll get into vocals in December, should have it finished up by January.

What material are you playing at your solo shows?
I mean it’s pretty loose I mean we do, of course we do the Mötley hits, that’s what people want to hear, and also do some more obscure songs that Mötley never plays. Do stuff from my solo records, do some cool cover songs, you know some AC/DC, Zeppelin, Ozzy. You know we have fun with it; it’s not real structured like Mötley Crüe is.

How is it different for you playing with you solo band, as opposed to with Mötley Crüe?
Well, Mötley Crüe is, you know, Mötley Crüe, a big production and everything. My thing is basically going out with my fiends and just having a good time and just playing straight ahead rock n roll. Right now it’s just one-offs, so it’s I’m home, then we got to fly to the gig, do the gig, then fly back home, where obviously with Mötley we don’t do that. Like I said in 2010 after the record comes out, we’ll go out and do a proper tour and get back on the bus.

How long have you been together with the guys in your solo band?
I’ve been with these guys maybe three or four years, I guess. Sometimes band members change in solo bands, some guys go out and do other stuff while I’m playing with Mötley, but these guys I’ve been together with these guys for a while.

How does the writing process work for your solo album, does everyone contribute?
Everybody comes in with ideas everybody. It’s a band, and we treat it as such. So everybody has ideas. Everybody comes in and we collaborate and put stuff together.

What can we expect from the album, any surprises?
No, it’s just straight ahead rock and roll, man. That’s what I do.

Mötley Crüe are releasing a greatest hits album next month. How involved were you in selecting the tracks?
Yeah, that’s what I hear. Well, I mean it’s not like a big thing to figure out what goes on a greatest hits album, you know. We know what songs are going on there and that’s it. It’s not like we have to have a big meeting about, “If this song is going on, this song is going on,” and “OK, OK. That’s about it.”

What do you have planned after you complete your solo album and tour?
Mötley will record another record next year; we’ll have it out some time in the fall and 2011 will be Crüe Fest 3 and also 2011 will be Mötley’s 30 year anniversary as a band.

Interview by Jason Le Miere