Too Young to Fall in Love

The Zoo Crew is spinning "Too Young to Fall in Love" by Mötley Crüe from their iconic Shout at the Devil album, and Zoo Freaks, this track’s got some wild stories behind it! Released as a single in 1984, this song hit No. 90 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 26 on the Mainstream Rock charts, proving its gritty appeal. Written by bassist Nikki Sixx, the song’s raw energy captures the band’s early sleaze-metal vibe, blending danger and romance with lyrics like “You say our love is like dynamite.” The music video is a trip, featuring the band fighting ninjas in an alleyway to rescue a young woman, only to ditch her when they realize she’s a willing servant of the local crime boss. Fans on Reddit call it “the most realistic depiction ever of a metal band fighting ninjas,” with one user reminiscing about being 13 in 1983, blown away by the video on MTV after "Looks That Kill". @MotleyCrue themselves posted on X in 2018, joking about battling ninjas on the video set, showing their love for the song’s over-the-top legacy.

Another cool tidbit comes from the song’s enduring fanbase. On Reddit, users shared that “Too Young to Fall in Love” hooked them with its infectious drumbeat and raw energy, with one fan saying it was the track that sent them down a Mötley Crüe rabbit hole. The song was reissued in 2023 as part of a limited-edition 12" EP for Record Store Day Black Friday, featuring a remix alongside tracks like "Knock ‘Em Dead, Kid" and "Take Me to the Top". This release closed out the band’s 40th anniversary celebration of Shout at the Devil, which sold over 200,000 copies in its first two weeks back in 1983. The album’s controversial pentagram imagery, inspired by Sixx’s time in the theatrical band Sister, stirred up a storm, with Christian groups claiming the band promoted Satanism—a charge Sixx cheekily dodged in interviews, saying the song was about shouting “at” the devil, not “with” him.

Mötley Crüe got their start in Los Angeles, California, on January 17, 1981, when bassist Nikki Sixx and drummer Tommy Lee teamed up with vocalist Vince Neil and guitarist Mick Mars. Sixx, fresh from his time in Sister with Blackie Lawless, brought a theatrical edge, while Lee’s high-energy drumming laid the foundation. Neil, a charismatic frontman, and Mars, with his gritty riffs, completed the lineup. They honed their sound in L.A.’s club scene, embracing a hedonistic lifestyle that became their trademark. Their debut album, Too Fast for Love, dropped in 1981, but it was Shout at the Devil in 1983 that catapulted them to fame, establishing them as pioneers of glam metal. Known for wild antics—like a shocking Hit Parader interview in 1984 that detailed their debauchery—the band’s raw energy and androgynous style doubled their fanbase by appealing to both male and female audiences.

Zoo Freaks can keep up with Mötley Crüe on their official website, where you’ll find tour dates and merch, including details on their 2023 Las Vegas residency. Follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and X for the latest updates, like their stadium tours with Def Leppard. Fans can also dive into the r/MotleyCrue Reddit community or join the Mötley Crüe Fan Club on Facebook, where Crüeheads share everything from vinyl collections to concert stories. For deeper dives, check out fan sites like MotleyFan.com, packed with discographies and rare photos, or CruetifyMe.com, a tribute to the band’s legacy with forums and news.