Backing away from the mild pseudo-Satanic posturing on parts of Shout at the Devil in favor of a more glammed-up image, Mötley Crüe really began to hit their commercial stride with Theatre of Pain, which broke them on MTV with the power ballad "Home Sweet Home" and a remake of Brownsville Station's "Smokin' in the Boys' Room"; the latter also landed them on the Top 40 singles chart for the first time. Overall, the guitar riffing sounds less heavy metal and more pop-metal; similarly, the sound of the record is slicker and more arranged, polished for mainstream acceptance and airplay. A higher percentage of dull filler has crept into the songwriting, but there are still enough high points to rescue the album's momentum. [In 1999, the Crüe remastered and reissued Theatre of Pain on their own Motley/Beyond label with five bonus tracks: demos of "Home Sweet Home," "Keep Your Eye on the Money," and "City Boy Blues," plus rough mixes of "Smokin' in the Boys' Room" and "Home Sweet Home" (the latter an instrumental).] ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide
Theatre of Pain is the third album by rock band Mötley Crüe, released on June 21, 1985. Released in the aftermath of singer Vince Neil's arrest for manslaughter on a drunk driving charge, the album marked a step away from the heavy metal sound of Shout at the Devil towards a more glam-rock influenced record, in both sound and image.
Theatre of Pain contains the hits "Smokin' In The Boys' Room" and the power ballad "Home Sweet Home". The album reached #6 in the US charts, and #36 in the UK. The album was certified quadruple platinum by the RIAA on June 5, 1995.[1]
Theatre of Pain is dedicated to Hanoi Rocks former member Nicholas "Razzle" Dingley, who was killed in the car crash that resulted in Vince Neil's arrest.
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