Cruefest Downunder

Fri 6th Oct, 2006 in Features

“Rock n roll is live entertainment or death.” The words of Paul Miles, Motley Crue historian and emcee at the forthcoming Melbourne Cruefest, are as relevant today as they were when they appeared on the liner notes of Motley Crue’s 1999 live album. The notorious reputation that the Crue has established, not only on stage but perhaps more significantly off it, has influenced over three decades of hard rock and metal fans. Their decadent lifestyle and undying appetite for destruction is as prevalent today as it ever was, although the boys have matured somewhat and for many years now have felt an obligation to give something back to local communities.

Vince Neil operates the Skylar Memorial Fund which was initially set up as a memorial golf tournament for his daughter Skylar, and has since gone on to raise several million dollars for cancer, leukaemia and AIDS research. Nikki Sixx’s Running Wild In The Night Foundation was set up to provide financial support to Covenant House, an American organisation that provides care and support for the homeless and runaway youth. “A lot of kids on the streets are addicted to drugs, I know what it’s like, and I know they can help themselves by finding a Covenant House in their area”, says Nikki.

Fans of Motley Crue are considered to be amongst the most passionate in all of rock, ensuring the long term success of the band as was evident by their recent Red White & Crue world tour. These same fans have taken it upon themselves to stage Cruefests, benefit gigs where rock bands inspired by the Crue donate their services in order to raise money for the aforementioned charities. Tommy Lee’s and Mick Mars’ charities of choice, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the Spondylitis Association of America respectively, are also given financial support.

The first annual Australian Cruefest is taking place in November and proceeds from the event will go to the said Motley Crue charities as well as Melbourne’s Royal Women’s and Children’s Hospital. The gig will feature Melbourne’s prominent hard rockers The Shine, Brutal Pancho, Teargas and former Newcastle outfit Taylormade along with an all-star Motley Crue tribute band that features members of the aforementioned bands.

Nick Ivka, Brutal Pancho bassist and Nikki Sixx for the night, is honoured to be taking part in the first ever Australian Cruefest. “I know how big the Cruefests are overseas and the hype that goes with them, and when I first heard about it coming downunder I thought that it was really cool, and to be a part of it all is even cooler. Just knowing how excited other people are from all around the country has really inspired me and the all the other guys who are involved with the night, especially knowing that we’ve got people from Adelaide, Sydney, Queensland and even Perth coming down! Nick says he and Brutal Pancho are stoked to be playing on such a bill that includes some of Melbourne’s best live rock bands.

Event organiser Simon Harley maintains that “Cruefests around the world have one thing in common, the love for the members of Motley Crue and the charity work in which they partake”, adding that “guests at Cruefest can expect the unexpected, with so much local talent on display, they are assured a good time and a memorable night”.

Tickets to the fund and fist raising night are only $20 and available from www.cruefestdownunder.com  and for a limited time come with a free Cruefest t-shirt. For further information check out www.myspace.com/cruefestdownunder/

Cruefest Melbourne takes place at the Espy in St Kilda on Saturday, 4th November, kicking off at 7pm