Nikki Sixx condemns unauthorized Motley Crue gambling in statement
A play by playwright David Lucarelli drew the ire of Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx.
This week, the rock musician reported that the ad for Lucarelli’s stage production The Crue: Beneath the Earth Lies the Truthwhich is based on the band, uses both Motley Crue’s trademark and likeness without permission, suggesting copyright infringement.
A Eventbrite webpage for The Crue: underground shows that the piece bills itself as “a completely unauthorized piece about the world’s most notorious rock band”. It also shows a photo illustration of Sixx that replicates her look in an old Motley Crue photo.
Monday (May 9), Sixx issued a statement after learning about the game.
“Motley Crue fans asked about a new piece by David Zucarelli [sic] called The Crue: Beneath the Earth Lies the Truth,'” he said.
“I was disappointed to see an ad using my likeness and our band ‘The Crue’ branding to promote this piece,” the rocker continued.
He explained, “The ad is misleading because it suggests that I and the other band members are somehow involved in the play.”
The Crue: Beneath the Earth Lies the Truth is should take place in June at the Complex’s Flight Theater in Los Angeles. It stars up-and-coming actor Ryan Ruffing as Sixx.
According to the Crue member, the band “has never been approached about this piece, and Motley Crue has no connection or affiliation with this piece.”
In June, Motley Crue will mount their twice-delayed stadium tour. Last year, Crue singer Vince Neil returned to the stage after falling and breaking his ribs. Around the same time, the influential glam metal band reportedly sold the rights to their catalog of songs for $150 million.
See Sixx’s statement below.