New Tattoo

New Tattoo is the eighth studio album by the American hard rock band Motley Crue released in 2000. Artistically, New Tattoo shows the band going back to their sleazy rock sound that gave them commercial success in the 1980s. Long time drummer Tommy Lee left the band a year before, and was replaced by former Ozzy Osbourne drummer Randy Castillo on the album.

Album

Background

The original line up of Mötley Crüe, which consisted of singer Vince Neil, bassist Nikki Sixx, drummer Tommy Lee and guitarist Mick Mars, had reunited for the Generation Swine album and tour in 1997 mainly out of pressure from their management and record company.^[1] Even though the group had reunited, problems still existed between Lee and Neil, as Lee felt that the band had been going in a backward direction since Neil rejoined the group. Lee was also having domestic problems with his wife, model Pamela Anderson, which, after an altercation following an argument, led to him serving time in jail.

During this time, Motley Crue and Elektra Records severed their 17 year relationship together, with Motley Crue gaining full ownership of its music catalog and publishing rights. The break with Elektra allowed the group to form its own label, Motley Records, to release future projects on.

Lee's legal problems forced the band to decline invitations from Ozzfest and various radio festivals,^[2] though the band managed to record two new songs for their 1998 Greatest Hits album, "Bitter Pill" and "Enslaved," which were more in vein of their 80s output compared to their work during the 1990s.

While Lee was in prison, he decided that he was going to leave Motley Crue and start his own project, which eventually became Methods of Mayhem. Lee stayed with the group for the tour of their greatest hits album, but after each show he would retreat to his portable studio and work on material for his new project.

Recording

Mötley Crüe teamed up with producer Mike Clink to record the album that Sixx felt should have been the successor to their 1989 album, Dr. Feelgood. With Lee gone, the band hired Neil's longtime friend Randy Castillo, who was Ozzy Osbourne's drummer for 10 years, to take his place.

Reaction

New Tattoo debuted at #41 on the Billboard 200 and slid down shortly after. According to Nielsen SoundScan, the album has sold about 203,000 copies in the U.S. to date. Right before the tour in support of the album, Castillo fell ill. He was consequently replaced by Hole drummer Samantha Maloney. Castillo died on March 26, 2002.