In a recent interview on The Jesea Lee Show, MUDVAYNE frontman Chad Gray delved into his musical roots, recalling the impact of his earliest encounter with metal music. Reflecting on his formative years, he reminisced about the seminal albums that left a lasting impression, particularly MÖTLEY CRÜE’s “Too Fast For Love” and “Shout At The Devil.”
Growing up in a household steeped in classic rock, Gray credited his young mother for exposing him to a diverse range of musical influences. However, it was the electrifying energy of MÖTLEY CRÜE’s music that resonated deeply with him, especially tracks like “Live Wire” with its unforgettable riff that left an indelible mark on his musical journey.
As Gray’s musical tastes evolved, he gravitated towards heavier sounds epitomized by bands like METALLICA and SLAYER, gradually shifting away from CRÜE’s glam metal era. While acknowledging the enduring allure of CRÜE’s music, he noted the distinct transition from the raw intensity of “Shout At The Devil” to the more polished aesthetics of “Theatre Of Pain.”
Discussing CRÜE’s recent reunion with John 5 following Mick Mars’s retirement from touring, Gray expressed mixed feelings, suggesting that the band’s essence has evolved over time. Despite recognizing the individual talents within the group, he expressed reluctance to see CRÜE continue without its original lineup, viewing it as a departure from the band’s authentic identity.
In response to the question of whether CRÜE should consider calling it quits, Gray emphasized the importance of maintaining authenticity and putting forth genuine effort in their musical endeavors. While acknowledging the challenges of aging in the music industry, particularly for vocalists, he urged CRÜE to either strive for excellence or gracefully bow out.
“At this point, I would just bow out. It’s not the same, dude. I’m not the guy that f*cking like just wants to sit and talk sh*t, but I have, unfortunately… It hits me in such a pure place, and to see it just kind of turn into f*cking whatever because it was such a big part of my life, and so it’s hard for me to watch.”
“Unless you wanna try harder. You know what I mean? And it’s not all of ’em. [Drummer] Tommy [Lee] can still f*cking play. Tommy’s a f*cking beast; I mean, he always will be. But that’s usually the way with drummers; they usually can stand the test of time. I get it with singers and sh*t like that. You lose some of your register and frequency, your pitch will drop. That’s just f*cking nature. ‘Cause it has with me — my resonant pitch has definitely dropped. I can still get up there, but it’s weird. My register break is a little bit lower and different. So, it does happen, but it’s just, like, come on, man.”