Mötley Crüe - 'The Dirt'

Co-written by the four original members of American heavy metal band Mötley Crüe and journalist Neil Strauss, 'The Dirt' documents the crazy life of the band during their twenty years at the top of their game. It reveals their dalliances with drugs, sexual exploits and encounters, as well as the highs (and lows) of being rockstars in the late 80s and 90s. It is, at most points, frighteningly honest and incredibly reflective - if I had written such a book and there was a chance that a loved one might read it, I would not want it in print.

Mötley Crüe have really lived it. The life.

They have done it all, seen it all - and sniffed it all.

It is a surprise that they are still going. At the time of writing this (September 2022), they are still touring and are currently in America.

However, it must be pointed out that some of what Mötley Crüe did in their time is sickening. Nikki Sixx and Tommy Lee raped a girl and she never pressed charges - and they never seemed to show a lot of remorse. I would have liked to see a little more reflective thinking in 'The Dirt'. As mentioned, a loved one of theirs may be reading, and I would not want to appear bad in front of somebody whom I cared about.

But the honesty, I must say, is refreshing. It is without a doubt the most honest autobiography I have ever read, and it seems to tell what happened exactly as it did without mincing words or making it seem as though they (the band) were in the right for their actions. For this reason, I must say that 'The Dirt' was quite pleasing to read. It was self-deprecating, rude and quite often hilarious - if only because it is impossible to believe what Tommy Lee, Mick Mars, Nikki Sixx and Vince Neill actually got up to as young(er) stars.