What you get:
This is a coffee table sized book documenting photographer Neil Zlozower's collection of Motley Crue pics. The pictures are high quality and adequately cover 83-05 as the title says. Photos are typically in the photography studio, staged live performances, actual live performances, and some candid. Shout, Theatre, Girls, Dr. Feelgood, and New Tattoo are represented. Interspersed are page length commentaries from other photographers, clothing designers, industry types, and Nikki, Vince, and Mick.
The Ruling:
If you are a big Cruehead and $25 isn't a huge amount of money for you, get this book. Zlozower is responsible for some of the most famous Crue shoots. You will recognize the stuff here, but they are not just reprints of stuff from The Dirt and so forth. As mentioned, the shots are high quality and do not leave detail lacking. The written commentaries aren't earth-shattering (and sometimes repeat some already well known stories), but if you love Motley history, these are enjoyable reads. Tom Werman even comments tastefully on his treatment in The Heroin Diaries. It makes me wish there was an extended version of The Dirt.
Personally, I am not a huge fan of coffee books because you look at them once, and then what? But my rock n roll heart pitter-pattered at these detailed live shots - clarifying the early years that I was too young to experience and brightening (in my mind) the pixilated bootleg concerts I watch with squinted eyes.
However, if $25 is a lot to you, remind yourself that this is a book of pictures. How many times will you flip through it before you feel you got your money's worth? You can also wait for the paperback.
