Rating: 
Summary: Wow! What A Read!
Review: Without a doubt, this is the greatest rock n roll autobiography ever written. The thing that permiates this book throughout is the brutal honesty. I had a terribly hard time putting it down and actually didn't want it to end, it is such a page turner. The Motley boys come across as slimy, selfish, rude, unlikable, sympathetic, introspective, blunt and very likable! Everyone involved with the Crue gets their say from bandmembers, ex bandmembers, managers and ex managers, producers, record company execs etc. What's so important to remember prior to purchasing this book is, unlike other music oriented books, this book does not hold the band up to be role models or pillars of society. This book lays out for all the see, the sheer unadulterated dirt. A+++
Rating:
Summary: OH MY GOD
Review: Y'know...I'd cite specific details from the book here, but I can't think of a single example that wouldn't go against amazon's review guidelines.Nonetheless, THE DIRT may be the book that re-defines how rock biographies are created, written, and judged. As far as I can remember I've never heard an entire Motely Crue song - maybe a couple of minutes of the Home Sweet Home video back in the eigthies - but this book is an absolute must-read. Aside from Neil Strauss's deft abilities at capturing each of the band members unique personalities and idiosyncracies, he has to be credited with the format with he presents their story: an oral history, he interviewed each member seperately and apparently didn't inform each as to what the other had said. The most poignant example of this is after the death of Vince's daughter. Tommy recounts how he called Vince to offer his condolences and of Vince's erratic behavior at the time. Tommy then goes on to say he doubts Vince even remembers the call, Vince's behaviour being so out of control with grief. Sure enough, in Vince's next section, Vince speaks of his diappointment that none of the other guys called at the time. Another element is how Strauss manages to foreshadow Tommy Lee's inevitable descent into spousal abuse and imprisonment with his behaviour throughout his entire life and the previous relationships to Pamela Anderson. There are significant omissions: Vince in fact didn't join the band, he was hired to, at a fairly impressive monthly stipend. This was probably left out to maintain the seeming dramamtic comraderie for the book, but it's still a writer's device and not the strict facts. But that's completely secondary. Because with the Crue, it was never about the truth, certainly not about the music, it was all about walking away from the destruction you've caused with a big fat smile on your face, a wad of bills stuffed into your leather boot, a long cigar dangling form your mouth, a drink in your hand, and a gaggle of groupies clinging to your legs. Bless 'em.
Rating: 
Summary: Live Like Rock Stars
Review: For Christmas Katie gave me one of the most anti-hardcore biographies you could ever read. Ever since I saw this Motley Crue biography on the shelves I've wanted to read it. I'm not really sure why I felt the need to read this thing, it was just something deep down telling me that this could be a good story. I've always been intrigued by the VH1 Behind The Music specials on all the bands from the 80s, and I figured this book would just be a more detailed Behind The Music. I'll start this off by telling you that I read all 400 pages in two sittings. I could not put this book down! I have just recently read "Our Band Could Be Your Life" and it told the stories of Minor Threat, Black Flag, Husker Du, etc, and then after reading about the indie struggles of those bands I changed to the over-the-top glam rock of Motley Crue. Surprisingly "The Dirt" was just as good, if not better, than "Our band...". The story isn't written by an auther looking in on the bands and supplying you with his thoughts and observations of the band. Instead this book is written by the band and others that are close to them. With this book you know you are reading the stories the exact way that they happened. Not only do the band members chime in with their tales of debauchery, but others like the tour managers, label executives, and managers get to share their stories of how their lives were scarred by the crazy foursome. Unlike some of their hair metal peers Motley Crue's story actually starts with them as a struggling poor band living in a rat-infested apartment. But their similarities with struggling punk bands end there. Even during their poor times Crue partied like they were rock stars. Every night their apartment turned into one giant party complete with girls, drugs, and every other rock star thing you could think of. From the start the band plowed through girls and drugs like there would be no tomorrow. Since the whole story is written by the band you can get a real feel for just decadent this band could get. The stories range from doing obscene things with girls like you've only heard about in the Led Zeppelin stories to sleeping with nasty girls for no other reason than they wanted to sleep with someone. It's amazing to me how these guys managed to escape the 80s disease free. After the band finally gets big, all of their vices increase threefold. This is when the story really picks up. The band has a constant flow of alchohol, drugs, and women coming in and out of their lives. One particular story finds the guys at a fancy Thai restaurant where for dessert the waiters bring out silver platters and when they lift the lid off of the platter the band is greeted with seven lines of Coke. The whole story I'm sitting there thinking "I can't believe this stuff actually happened!" As the story progresses you find the band maturing, changing members, changing sounds, and entering rehab over and over and over again. The story gets pretty in-depth with the Tommy Lee/Pamela Anderson fiasco, which should be pretty interesting for all of you that follow entertainment news and/or watched their infamous video. Somehow these ugly looking, makeup wearing glam guys end up with some of the most beautiful women in the world. Whether it's actresses, models, or porn stars, they've had them all. Towards the end of the story is where my interest started to decrease. As the band settled down into married life, sobered up, and had children, their stories became less and less decadent. At this point I should have been happy that everything turned out great for the band, but instead I was sitting there waiting for the band to do something stupid and screw it all up. It seems that the band has turned their lives around which is good for them, but makes for less-than-exciting reading. If I wanted to know about happy marriages with kids I could just look around me. I wanted to read this book to read about all their crazy antics. Luckily, most of the book focuses on the pre-settling down years and is a great book to read. I know this book isn't going to be the most "hardcore" book in your collection, but it's a great tale of a bands rise to stardom and all of the rock star things that go along with it. Today's superstars seem to hide the fact that they indulge in all of these vices, so it's great to see a band embracing their past and telling their story to a whole new generation. So next time you get the feeling like you are in a rock star mood, go out and buy this book and give it a shot. If nothing else you can laugh at how all the band slept with the other band members girls and read their reactions when they find out for the first time through this book. This book is definatly worth the money, go get it...
Rating:
Summary: High Praise From a Non-Reader
Review: I have always struggled to read. It takes me months to read a book half the length of this one. THIS book I finished in less than five days! It's that much fun! The first time I heard 'Shout at The Devil' at a friend's house, 17 years ago, I was hooked for life. I have to stress that you don't need to be a fan of the band to enjoy this book. It's just a really entertaining ride. The chapters by Mick are hysterical! The way that each tale is told from four (and sometimes more) points of view is clever and keeps you turning pages, wondering what the other sides to the stories are. (...) This book is a great gift for anyone who has ever dreamt of the Rock-n-Roll lifestyle. I only wish ALL books were this entertaining. I'd cut off my cable and stop seeing movies!
Rating:
Summary: The Best Band...The Best Book
Review: There is no doubt that motley crue are the best band ever. They rocked back in the 80s and they continue to rock today. reading the book about the band I grew up listening to, and reading their biggest secrets is for me the best experience. LONG LIVE THE CRUE!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic Read
Review: My only regret is how quickly I devoured this book. It was like being a spider on the wall through the lives of these four men, their families and thousands of girls, girls, girls. Back in high school in South Florida, I'd always heard rumors of one girl at school who had some *things* done to her backstage after a show by Tommy Lee, specifically. It was one of those things that I'd dismissed as an elaboration, UNTIL I read The Dirt as a 32 year old. The members of the band certainly were creative in their boredom. I finished the book half in love with, half frightened of Nikki Sixx, sure that Vince isn't half the lover he continues to proclaim to be, reassured that Tommy Lee is the lovable freak he projects, and astonished that Mick Mars was able to contain his bodily pain so well for so long. I hope it's not a joke that The Dirt will have a part 2... I'll be first in line to buy it. Someone said it really well in another review -- this book is not for the faint of heart.
Rating:
Summary: Surprisingly good
Review: This is actually a far far better read, and more appealling to general readers than you might think. I bought this for my Sister and when it arrived just had to have a little peak inside. Two days later, I am looking for another copy to get her. I normally dont read this kind of thing, but once I started into it I could not put it down. As a story of rock and roll excess, and the metal scene of the '80's and 90's this is interesting enough. From the background of the band at school and home, to the rise to sell out arenas, that makes a pretty interesting read. The Human drama, and raw honesty o fthe book is incredible and makes it very hard to put down. There is an inevitable amount of ego stroking, but the underlying human stories here are quite incredible. The part where Tommy Lee describes going to jail, where Vince Neil lost his young daughter to cancer are compelling. Even if you are not a dedicated fan of Motley Crue, and just have a passing interest in there music, I think you will find this a most rewarding read. Highly recommended.
Grade: A+
Rating:
Summary: Awesome couldn't put it down
Review: I'm not a reader by any means. I prefer TV. I couldn't put this book down. The descriptions were so real. These people led a life of excess, debauchery and more excesses.
Rating:
Summary: I've read it twice already
Review: This is the one book that I could not put down. Some of the stories can be a bit outrageous but it made for fun reading. I had the same dream Motley did. They had made it to the big times and their book gave me a taste of what it would be like.
Rating:
Summary: Ultimate Rock Star Biography
Review: Ohmygosh, where do I begin. Um, this book is amazing. Not only because the writing is straightforward and you really begin to develop an understanding of the problems that the band members had, but because you also begin to realize that these guys have nine lives. How on EARTH any of them survived all the drug overdoses, random sexual escapades, car crashes, stage accidents, or jealous women is a testament to how much God REALLY wanted us to hear their story. This book is also a great character study. All the guys were totally into drugs, sex, alcohol, and childish pranks. But because they are so honest and open about all the things they did wrong, by the end of the book you find yourself liking them. Granted, you probably won't agree with anything they did.
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