31/12/82
The Crüe play a 9,000 strong show at the outdoor Santa Monica Civic Auditorium called New
Year's Evil, said to be one of the greatest glam shows ever! Mötley invite as many
managers as possible to see the show, realising this show will be a do or die in their
careers. Big Crüe fan, Ronnie James Dio, tips off his booking agent friend Doug Thaler about the
Crüe.
Doug played in Ronnie Dio and The Prophets back in the late sixties
before almost losing his leg after their tour van was involved in a
head-on collision in Massachusetts.
Pat Travers' manager Doc McGhee is keen for Doug to join his company,
so they both attend the Mötley showcase from Florida and love it. They ride home in
an empty merchandise truck after selling all the product. Santa Monica authorities ban the proposed Miss
Nude Heavy Metal prelude, citing laws prohibiting "depravity of minors", as a
band called The Wigglers open the show. The Crüe are fined $1,000 by the local
fire marshals as they come off stage, for the use of fire in their show, which included 20
foot high mortars. Backstage, Nikki takes a black makeup pencil and
walks over to a wasted Joe Perry from Aerosmith before smearing the
pencil under his eyes, inspired by the Road Warrior characters in the
film Mad Max. Joe thinks it looks cool on Nikki.
© Paul Miles & Chronological Crue. Used with permission.