Last Updated on September 15, 2025 by Matt Staff
Few bands have left a mark on rock history quite like Mötley Crüe. Exploding out of the Sunset Strip in the early ’80s, they blended glam, grit, and pure chaos into a sound and image that redefined rock. With their over-the-top style, wild stage shows, and unapologetic attitude, they didn’t just play rock ‘n’ roll, they lived it. Mötley Crüe became the soundtrack of a generation that craved rebellion, noise, and spectacle, making a legacy that still echoes through music today.
From backstage madness to unforgettable live shots, these images offer a glimpse into the whirlwind life that came with fame, fortune, and pushing every limit. It’s a visual reminder of a band that didn’t just ride the wave of rock culture; they helped create it. Let’s dive into 18 photos of Mötley Crüe from the past.
1. Mötley Crüe when they were young and broke, 1980
2. Mötley Crüe and Seka, 1984
3. Catholic school students protesting against Mötley Crüe in 1985
4. Mötley Crüe hanging out backstage with the Oz Man, 1984
5. Rehearsing at Perkins Palace in Pasadena on November 9th, 1983
6. Preparing for a show backstage, 1989
7. Tommy Lee rocking out on the Girls Girls Girls tour, 1987
8. Taken right before next-level fame, Mötley Crüe, 1981
9. 13-year-old Steve-O meeting Nikki Sixx and Tommy Lee, 1987
10. Vince Neil meeting Jon Bon Jovi in 1985
11. Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx, on stage in 1988
12. Nikki Sixx and Tommy Lee in Japan while getting tattooed, 1980s
13. Tommy Lee and Heather Locklear
14. Mötley Crüe at a photo op in the early ’80s
15. The Crüe with Ozzy Osbourne after their tour in 1983
16. Rocking out at Sweden Rock in 2012
17. Mötley Crüe at a dinner party in 1985
18. Bon Jovi, Mötley Crüe, Skid Row, Cinderella, Ozzy, and the Scorpions after arriving in Moscow for the Moscow Music and Peace Festival, 1989
Want to see more content from the ’80s?
Check out 25 Celebrity Yearbook Photos From the 1980s, or take a look at 25 Photos That Show Why Life Was Better in the 1980s. Finally, if you want to see the ugliest cars from the ’80s, check out 20 of the Ugliest Cars from the 1980s.
