Motley Crue Quebec: Their Last Ever Show in Quebec

***Guest author to Decibel Geek, Laura Suchan, is a true Motley Crue fan and has seen nearly 80 Motley Crue shows over the years!! Laura is catching several more Crue concerts during the All Bad Things Must Come to an End tour, including the final performance in L.A. Who better to review a few of these final Crue performances than such an expert on the subject? Here’s her thoughts on the October 20, 2015, show in Quebec.***

Videotron Center, Quebec City, Quebec

October 20, 2015

Motley Crue is spending 2015 on a world tour saying goodbye and thank-you to their legions of fans.  My personal goodbye to the band that I’ve followed for 30 plus years will take me to 3 countries and 7 shows.

The last stop on this leg of the Motley Crue North American tour was in Quebec, Quebec at the new Videotron Center.

When I entered the arena, I was happy to see Tommy’s rollercoaster, Cruecify, was ready to go.  Tommy had missed all the shows since Buffalo the week before with a bout of tendinitis so with the coaster in place it was looking good that Tommy’s injury had healed and he would play this evening. However, that was not to be. When the Crue took the stage, Glen Sobel from Alice Cooper’s band, was once again behind the drums. After the opener “Girls, Girls, Girls”, the stage lights went out and there was a long delay, over 5 minutes, with technical difficulties before things started again. I thought the crowd might lose some of its momentum, but I have to hand it to Quebec City fans, they kept up the chants of “Crue”.  Things were back on track with “Wild Side” followed by “Primal Scream”.

After “Primal Scream”, Tommy came out on stage to greet the crowd and explain his situation. He said he tried to play drums all day in his hotel room but couldn’t because it was too painful. Tommy actually seemed bummed that he couldn’t play especially as he said it was the last time the band would play Quebec City. The crowd greeted him with chants of “Tommy, Tommy” which seemed to really touch him.

A few songs into the set Vince said the crowd would have to help him sing because he lost his voice a few days ago and it wasn’t coming back. If you’ve been to a Motley Crue show you know it’s nothing new for the crowd to help fill in the gaps in Vince’s vocals, however, it was evident that Vince was having some more than usual difficulty this evening. His voice did seem scratchy and hoarse when he spoke and by the time it came to the encore of “Home Sweet Home” it was evident his voice was done for the night.

For this show, I chose to sit in a different area than where I usually sit and it offered me a different perspective on things.  From my vantage point 12 rows up on Nikki’s side I was able to see some of the little things that help a rock show of this size come together; the word MOTLEY spelled out on stage, the reflective tape demarcating center and side stage for Vince and Nikki (and I assume Mick on the other side), the guy whose job it is to hold the cord for Nikki’s flame throwing bass and Vince backstage trying to stay hydrated.

Quebec City was the last show on this leg of the North American tour.  I thought it was a fair effort on the part of the band; I would probably give it a 3.5 out of 5.  After a short break, the Crue will head over to Europe playing countries like Monaco and the United Arab Emirates. The break will do the band good as they head into the final round of dates on their All Bad Things Must Come to an End tour.  They’ve been touring almost relentlessly for the past 2 years and perhaps Tommy’s injury and Vince’s voice are signs of strain.  After all, the older you get the harder it is to bounce back from injuries.  Perhaps this is one of the reasons the Crue refused to allow any members of the media into the concert.  According to media reports, all  passes were cancelled and anyone wishing to review the show had to get a ticket.

The next time I will see Motley Crue is during the last shows of their career in Los Angeles. On one hand, I am excited, however, on the other hand, it will be emotional as well.  It’s hard to believe that after 30 years and 80+ shows this will mean for me the end of seeing my favourite band. Cue the tears.

Laura‘s Motley Crue Series on Decibel Geek:

Motley Crue – Buffalo

Motley Crue – Ottawa

Motley Crue – Toronto

Set List

So Long, Farewell – Rodgers and Hammerstein

Girls, Girls, Girls

Wild Side

Primal Scream

S.O.S. (Same Old Situation)

Don’t Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)

Smokin’ in the Boys Room (Brownsville Station cover)

Looks That Kill

Mutherfucker of the Year

Anarchy In the U.K. (Sex Pistols Cover)

In the Beginning

Shout At the Devil

Guitar Solo

Saints of Los Angeles

Live Wire

T.N.T.

Dr. Feelgood

Kickstart My Heart

Encore Home Sweet Home