New Tattoo is the eighth studio album by the American heavy metal band Mötley Crüe, released in 2000. Artistically, New Tattoo shows the band returning to the earlier musical style that gave them commercial success in the 1980s and early 1990s. This is the only album by the band not to feature drummer Tommy Lee, who left the band a year before, and was replaced by former Ozzy Osbourne drummer Randy Castillo on the album. The album was Castillo’s final full-length studio recording project that he was involved in before his death in March 2002.

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. 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 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, Mötley Crüe and Elektra Records severed their 17-year relationship together, with Mötley Crüe gaining full ownership of its music catalog and publishing rights.

Release

New Tattoo debuted at No. 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. The songs "Hell on High Heels", which featured a music video and charted at number 13 on the Mainstream rock charts, "New Tattoo" and "Treat Me Like the Dog I Am" were released as singles for the album.

Touring and aftermath

Right before the tour in support of the album, Castillo fell ill with a duodenal ulcer. Hole drummer Samantha Maloney filled in for the tour. While recovering from stomach surgery, Castillo was diagnosed with Squamous cell Carcinoma. After Castillo's death in March 2002, Mötley Crüe went on hiatus until their 2004 reunion, with Tommy Lee back in the fold.

None of the songs from the album were played live again after the tour ended; With the exception of one performance of "White Punks on Dope" in 2005, and was played each night with a mashup of cover songs on the 2022 stadium tour.

Track listing

Lewd, Crüed & Tattooed DVD

Lewd, Crüed & Tattooed is a Mötley Crüe concert DVD released in 2001, the concert was recorded live in Salt Lake City on their 2000 tour supporting the "New Tattoo" album. The DVD includes behind the scenes footage and the music video for the single "Hell on High Heels".

DVD Track listing

  1. "Kickstart My Heart"
  2. "Same Ol' Situation (S.O.S.)"
  3. "Primal Scream"
  4. "Punched in the Teeth by Love"
  5. "Dr. Feelgood"
  6. "Home Sweet Home"
  7. "Don't Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)"
  8. "Piece of Your Action"
  9. "Wild Side"
  10. "Hell on High Heels"
  11. "Looks That Kill"
  12. "Girls, Girls, Girls"
  13. "Live Wire"
  14. "White Punks on Dope"
  15. "Shout at the Devil '97"
  16. "Hell on High Heels" (music video)

Personnel

;Mötley Crüe

  • Vince Neil – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Mick Mars – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Nikki Sixx – bass guitar, backing vocals, keyboards
  • Randy Castillo – drums

;Additional musicians

  • Samantha Maloney – drums (live disc only)

;Production

  • Mike Clink – producer, engineer, mixing at Sol Seven Recording and A&M Studios
  • Ed Thacker – engineer, mixing
  • Billy Kinsley, Ethan Mates, Jon Krupp, Jaime Sickora, Frank Montoya – assistant engineers
  • Tal Herzberg, Rail Rogut, Karl Derfler – digital editing
  • Dave Collins – mastering

;Artwork

  • Erik Casillas – cover art
  • Susan McEowen – art direction
  • Jim Purdum – photography

Charts

Album

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

! Chart (2000)

! Peak<br />position

|-

!scope="row"|Japanese Albums (Oricon)

| align="center"| 17

|-

|-

|}

Singles

{| class="wikitable" width="550px"

!align="center"|Year

!align="center"|Title

!align="center"|Chart

!align="center"|Position

|-

|align="center"|2000

|align="center"| "Hell on High Heels"

|align="center"|Mainstream Rock (USA)

|align="center"|13

|}

Certifications

;DVD

References