Being the lead singer of Motley Crue is a bodacious and bombastic way to earn a living.
Vince Neil knows it and has lived it.
“Wild. Crazy … was what it was,” said the frontman for one of rock music’s all-time group of hellions.
Neil, 54, performs 9 p.m. EST Jan. 22 in the Silver Creek Event Center at Four Winds Casino Resort in New Buffalo, Mich.
“We do all the Motley hits and we do a lot of rare things that Motley really wouldn’t do,” Neil said in a recent phone interview.
Backing him up at the Friday show will be a ’90s force called Slaughter. “It’s all the guys from the group; they’re my brothers, I love ’em,” Neil said.
A hard-driving band that scored with the singles “Up All Night” and “Fly to the Angels,” Slaughter complements the sound of Neil, who belted out Crue rave-outs such as “Girls, Girls, Girls,” “Dr. Feelgood” and “Don’t Go Away Mad (Just Go Away).”
Touting a glam-metal edge, Motley Crue lived large and left a distinct impression on many rock fans, starting with 1983’s “Shout at the Devil” — its breakthrough album.
“Looks That Kill,” a song off the album, represented the group’s bold edge.
“Big hair, big makeup; that’s the first thing I think of,” said Roman Sawczak, guitarist for the popular Chicago-area band Dancing Noodles.
Sawczak, a Dyer resident, calls Neil’s group “the premiere sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll band.”
The “reckless partying” lifestyle was embraced by Crue, according to Sawczak, former sidekick and producer for Chicago radio legends Steve Dahl and Garry Meier.
Legions of fans were drawn to the no-limits philosophy of Motley Crue, which enjoys worldwide album sales of more than 80 million.
“They represented the dangerous side of bands,” Sawczak said. “Girls loved them, but guys appreciated the band because they were actually good and their tunes had some great hooks.”
Neil’s 2010 autobiography “Tattoos and Tequila” chronicled the hits, the drugs, the sex and the overall manic ride of Motley Crue.
But jolting reality smacked Neil in 1984 when his drunk driving cost the life of Nicholas “Razzle” Dingley, drummer of Hanoi Rocks. Neil served jail time for the offense.
“He was my friend, man,” Neil said. “Who would ever imagine it? I want to always think I learned from it. I’ve done some good things, stupid things, bad things, you know, but it was a tragedy. I’ve cried many, many times. And when I think about it, it’s very emotional.”
Following that fatal car crash, Neil carried on his with life and enjoyed stratospheric commercial success in Motley Crue with bandmates Tommy Lee, Nikki Sixx and Mick Mars.
In 1993, Neil released his first solo album, “Exposed.” Continuing on his own professional path, Neil — about a month ago — opened a gaming saloon in Pahrump, Nev., which is a brothel area.
He also has a namesake restaurant-bar at the Circus Circus hotel and casino in Las Vegas. “I live in Las Vegas,” the guitarist said. “I love Las Vegas. It’s a great lifestyle — 24-hour town.”
He envisions plenty of live-performance dates in the upcoming year. “There’s gonna be a massive amount of touring and some very fun television surprises,” he said. “I’m a road singer. I love it. It’s part of my life.”
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Looking back on the dizzying heyday of Motley Crue, Neil said he was “proud to be involved” in a band that finished a 2014-15 farewell tour that boasted eye-catching staging and pyrotechnics.
“I’m just thankful and lucky that people took to us,” he said. “We went out with a big, big show.”
Vince Neil
Where: Silver Creek Event Center at Four Winds Casino Resort, 11111 Wilson Road, New Buffalo, Mich.
When: 9 p.m. EST Jan. 22
Tickets: $50, $65, $70 and $80; minors must be accompanied by an adult 21 years old or older; no minors younger than 5 permitted
Information: 866-494-6371, www.fourwindscasino.com