Girls, Girls, Girls

Hey there, Zoo Freaks, your hippie DJs at THE ZOO are cranking up the vibes with Mötley Crüe’s “Girls, Girls, Girls” from their 1987 album of the same name! This high-energy anthem is a love letter to the wild nightlife and strippers, name-dropping iconic strip clubs like The Tropicana, The Body Shop, and Seventh Veil on L.A.’s Sunset Strip, plus spots in Vancouver, Fort Lauderdale, Atlanta, and even the Crazy Horse in Paris. The song’s motorcycle revs? Those are real, recorded by producer Tom Werman using the band’s own Harleys, with two of ‘em featured on the album cover. Fun fact: the band almost called the album “Entertainment Or Death,” and their manager, Doc McGee, got that phrase tattooed on his arm—only for them to switch to “Girls, Girls, Girls” a week later! In a 2017 Rolling Stone interview, Nikki Sixx called the era “like Caligula,” reflecting the band’s over-the-top lifestyle, though he later noted his daughter, a borderline feminist, might scold him for the song’s excess. Posts on X from 2017 show Nikki and Vince Neil sharing stories for the song’s 30th anniversary, and fans still go wild, with one bragging in 2020 about singing every word of “The Dirt” without missing a beat, prompting the band’s Instagram to quip, “Get better friends.”

The video for “Girls, Girls, Girls,” shot in one night on April 13, 1987, with director Wayne Isham, captures the band’s raw energy, cruising strip clubs and rocking stages. It’s no wonder strip joints worldwide still blast this track—Tommy Lee said in 2009 to Loudersound that nine out of ten times, you’ll hear it in one, bringing “tears to his eyes” knowing fans from kids to old-timers scream the lyrics at shows. The song hit #12 on the Billboard Hot 100, one of Mötley Crüe’s biggest chart successes, and the album peaked at #2, with “Wild Side” becoming an MTV staple. But it wasn’t all glitz—Nikki Sixx’s heroin addiction hit a low during this period, with a near-fatal overdose in December 1987, only saved by a paramedic fan who revived him with adrenaline shots. The band’s hedonistic chaos, documented in their 2001 autobiography The Dirt, inspired a Netflix biopic, and a female-led tribute band, Girls Girls Girls, even played the premiere, wowing Tommy Lee and Vince Neil at the Whisky a Go Go.

Mötley Crüe kicked off in Hollywood, California, in 1981, born from the gritty vision of bassist Nikki Sixx and drummer Tommy Lee. Sixx, who’d bounced around L.A.’s music scene after a rough childhood in Seattle, linked up with Lee, a local drummer with a flair for the dramatic. They recruited guitarist Mick Mars, whose ad for a “loud, rude, and aggressive” player caught their eye, and vocalist Vince Neil, a high-school buddy of Lee’s with a howling voice. Before settling on Mötley Crüe, they tossed around names like Trouble, Christmas, and even Suicidal Tendencies. Their debut, Too Fast for Love, dropped in 1981 on their own Leathür Records, a raw, sleazy gem that Elektra later remixed and reissued. By 1983, Shout at the Devil cemented their place in the glam metal scene, blending heavy metal with a biker-chic look. Their hedonistic lifestyles—booze, drugs, and endless parties—became legendary, but their music, with hits like “Kickstart My Heart,” kept them on top, selling over 100 million records worldwide.

Zoo Freaks, you can keep up with Mötley Crüe at their official website, where they share tour updates like their 2023 Las Vegas residency and news on John 5 replacing Mick Mars on guitar. Follow their Facebook for throwback photos and fan contests, or check their Instagram for clips from The Dirt and tour hype. On X, they post about reissues and interact with fans, like their 2020 clapback to a fan’s comment. For diehards, join the Mötley Crüe Fans group on Facebook, where folks share vinyl hauls and concert stories, or visit fan sites like MotleyFan.com for deep dives into lyrics and rare merch. Spin this track loud, Zoo Freaks, and let the Crüe’s wild spirit take you to the Sunset Strip!