A Motley Kiss

When Motley Crue began tossing around potential names for a summer touring partner earlier this year, Kiss emerged as a natural fit.

“We had talked about who would be perfect for a co-headlining show,” bassist Nikki Sixx said. “We wanted somebody that would work thematically with us and someone that we respect and who respects us. When Kiss’ name came up the momentum really took off.”

Dubbed “The Tour,” the Motley Crue-Kiss road show includes a date at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel on Friday, Sept. 21. Sixx said the outing has been devoid of the ego clashes that sometimes arise when two major bands tour together.

“Everybody has wanted the best for the other band and for the fans from the beginning,” Sixx said by phone. “It’s been a great experience.”

The concerts will go on despite Motley Crue singer Vince Neil breaking his foot last week. Each band performs a 90-minute show with a full stage production. Kiss closes each concert.

Both bands pride themselves on edgy hard rock that conveys a sense of danger and extravagant stage shows replete with everything from the Crue’s dancing girls and drummer Tommy Lee’s revolving drum kit solos to Kiss’ massive pyrotechnic displays and band members riding zip-lines over the audience.

The Motley Crue and Kiss package is one of several hard rock tours that  paired up big names this season. Others included Def Leppard and Poison and Iron Maiden and Alice Cooper. Sixx said that bands realize concertgoers have less disposable income than in the past and that package tours are a great option for fans with limited budgets.

“We know what’s going on in the economy. We get it,” he said. “We think that what we’re doing is offering more than you would get anywhere else.”

Motley Crue, rounded out by guitarist Mick Mars, released a new single, “Sex,” during the tour. It’s been described as old-school Crue with a modern edge. Sixx agreed, somewhat, with that assessment.

“We wrote it specifically as something that could’ve been on “Too Fast for Love” (Motley Crue’s 1982 debut),” he said. “That songs feels like where the band is at right now, but we don’t try to sound modern. It’s just that somehow people always go, ‘that new song sounds current.’”

Sixx said Motley Crue plans to lay down more new material once they get off the road. “We’d like to get into the studio to start putting some ideas down before the holidays come creeping in,” he said. 

IF YOU GO: Motley Crue, Kiss and The Treatment, 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 21, PNC Bank Arts Center, Garden State Parkway Exit 116, Holmdel. Tickets are $35 to $187. Call 732-203-2500 or go to www.livenation.com.