With "Theatre of Pain," The Crue estabished the template for late-eighties rock. How did they do it without imploding? Watch the whole story here.

AFTER THE EXPLOSIVE SUCCESS OF MOTLEY CRUE’S SECOND ALBUM, 1983's  “SHOUT AT THE DEVIL”, FAME BEGAN TO TAKE A SERIOUS TOLL ON THE BAND.

SONGWRITER NIKKI SIXX’S DRUG ADDICTION, AS WELL AS LEGAL TROUBLES SURROUNDING A VEHICULAR MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE AGAINST LEAD SINGER, VINCE NEIL, SET THE STAGE FOR MOTLEY CRUE TO BE SEEN AS A LEGITIMATELY DANGEROUS GROUP THAT MIGHT IMPLODE AT ANY MOMENT. THEIR SKY-ROCKETING FAME AND MENACING PERSONA LED THEM TO NAME THEIR THIRD ALBUM, “THEATRE OF PAIN”.  AND, IN 1985, WITH THEIR RECKLESS ABANDON ON FULL DISPLAY, THE CRUE WAS READY TO START RECORDING.

THE SESSIONS FOR THE ALBUM TOOK PLACE ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY AT CHEROKEE STUDIOS AND RECORD PLANT WEST, BOTH IN HOLLYWOOD. TOM WERMAN RETURNED TO THE PRODUCER'S CHAIR FOR THE JANUARY RECORDINGS. HOWEVER, NIKKI SIXX CLAIMED--IN RETROSPECT--THAT HE DID MOST OF THE WORK ON THE ALBUM, SINCE WERMAN DIDN’T KNOW HOW TO CONTROL THE BAND OR HOW TO BUILD UPON THEIR PREVIOUS SUCCESS.

DESPITE THE CONTROVERSIES AND IN-FIGHTING SURROUNDING THE CRUE CAMP, “THEATRE OF PAIN” CAME OUT ON JUNE 21st, 1985, PEAKING AT NUMBER SIX ON THE U.S. BILLBOARD TOP TWO HUNDRED--THEIR HIGHEST CHARTING ALBUM THUS FAR.

THE ALBUM’S RELEASE WAS FOLLOWED BY TWO SINGLES: “HOME SWEET HOME” AND “SMOKIN’ IN THE BOY’S ROOM”.  THE LATTER WAS A COVER OF THE HIT NINETEEN-SEVENTY-THREE SINGLE BY BROWNSVILLE STATION AND, WITH “HOME SWEET HOME” MOTLEY CRUE SET THE METAL “POWER BALLAD” TEMPLATE THAT WAS LATER ADOPTED BY THE LIKES OF POISON AND OZZY OSBOURNE.

THESE TWO SINGLES ALSO MARKED THE BAND’S EVOLUTION AWAY FROM THE TYPICAL HAIR-METAL SOUND OF THE EIGHTIES, AND FOUND THEM PLANTING THE “GLAM METAL” FLAG, AND ESTABLISHING A NEW WAVE OF POP-INFLUENCED ROCK’N ROLL THAT WAS STILL HEAVY ENOUGH TO STRIKE FEAR INTO EVERY PARENT IN AMERICA,

WHILE NIKKI SIXX AND VINCE NEIL HAVE BOTH EXPRESSED DISDAIN FOR THE ALBUM, THERE’S NO DENYING ITS SUCCESS AND INFLUENCE, BEING THE GATEWAY FOR MANY MOTLEY CRUE FANS AND LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR BANDS LIKE BON JOVI, DEF LEPPARD AND GUNS ‘N’ ROSES. 

EVENTUALLY CERTIFIED QUADRUPLE PLATINUM BY THE RECORDING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, ITS BOMBASTIC GLAM METAL, TUMULTUOUS BACKSTORY, AND UNDENIABLE REBELLIOUS SPIRIT ALL ADD UP TO WHY MOTLEY CRUE’S “THEATRE OF PAIN” IS THE GREATEST ALBUM EVER...THIS WEEK.

Overall Top 40
RankArtist NameSong NameEQ ScoreChange
1KhalidUp All Night1002
2The WeekndBlinding Lights99.579501432839-1
3Justin BieberIntentions99.278385109065-1
4Dua LipaDon't Start Now98.6622228161370
5Khalid & DisclosureKnow Your Worth98.4924505942611
6OneRepublicBetter Days98.290791444755-1
7Ava MaxSalt97.3303451401071
8Ava MaxKings & Queens97.1605730654461
9Niall HoranNo Judgement96.107115151289-2
10Dua LipaBreak My Heart95.8007329956671
11twenty one pilotsLevel of Concern95.3391759910382
12Maroon 5Memories95.1104369507154
13Major LazerLay Your Head On Me95.063259574408-3
14Lennon StellaSummer Feelings94.9876244656966
15Niall HoranNice To Meet Ya94.6257375108319
16Alec BenjaminOh My God94.455904735815-4
17SZA & Justin TimberlakeThe Other Side94.39092168296814
18Harry StylesWatermelon Sugar94.3124217482585
19Tones And IDance Monkey94.2586313393413
20Kygo, Zara Larsson, TygaLike It Is93.840531616936-3
21Doja CatSay So93.67681225802-2
22BENEESupalonely93.4918281804165
23The WeekndIn Your Eyes93.0925096435513
24Kelly ClarksonI Dare You92.659578104622-3
25RegardRide It92.6157439712727
26Sean Paul, Tove LoCalling On Me92.485740858484-8
27Lennon StellaJealous92.480417305373-12
28Demi LovatoI Love Me91.73069987251-14
29Lee BriceOne Of Them Girls91.48243615204614
30Harry StylesAdore You91.181078542749-6
31Kygo, OneRepublicLose Somebody91.151216446978139
32Thomas RhettBeer Can't Fix90.6909206916935
33Camila CabelloMy Oh My90.6157432621993
34Selena GomezFeel Me90.3705568301910
35SiaSaved My Life90.086556054548-7
36BazziYoung & Alive90.0860105063714
37FLETCHERForever89.6086260679272
38Maddie & TaeBathroom Floor89.12697372878710
39Luke BryanOne Margarita89.090457601220
40Cole SwindellSingle Saturday Night89.01358773358715
Pop Chart
RankArtist NameSong NameEQ ScoreChange
1The WeekndBlinding Lights1000
2Justin BieberIntentions99.881840650120
3KhalidUp All Night99.2632072073422
4Dua LipaDon't Start Now99.193401577724-1
5Khalid & DisclosureKnow Your Worth98.838931513734-1
6OneRepublicBetter Days97.9169549792980
7Ava MaxSalt97.4788585888570
8Ava MaxKings & Queens97.3877797951240
9Niall HoranNo Judgement97.1763664297880
10Dua LipaBreak My Heart94.9708109632921
11Kygo, Zara Larsson, TygaLike It Is94.770831377627-1
12Niall HoranNice To Meet Ya94.570572428757
13Maroon 5Memories94.468188796717-1
14Lennon StellaSummer Feelings94.056807077423-1
15Major LazerLay Your Head On Me93.9375073187561
16Alec BenjaminOh My God93.852930097308-2
17BENEESupalonely93.5361792655045
18Doja CatSay So93.316594286968-1
19Sean Paul, Tove LoCalling On Me93.1144220755291
20Lennon StellaJealous92.9780350316991
21Harry StylesWatermelon Sugar92.8087298488334
22Kelly ClarksonI Dare You92.791801841483-4
23twenty one pilotsLevel of Concern92.7868262797890
24Tones And IDance Monkey92.363266370082
25SZA & Justin TimberlakeThe Other Side92.0478213318413
26Demi LovatoI Love Me91.824936920298-12
27The WeekndIn Your Eyes91.5146729583060
28RegardRide It91.475535110272
29Harry StylesAdore You91.167230055277-3
30Kygo, OneRepublicLose Somebody90.92187602395754
31Camila CabelloMy Oh My90.0517701643571
32SiaSaved My Life89.4744455190133
33BazziYoung & Alive89.3723311667451
34Taylor SwiftCruel Summer89.27633799425858
35FLETCHERForever89.102227543503-2
36Niall HoranBlack And White88.4484089252126
37Sam FeldtPost Malone88.381010405624-6
38Selena GomezFeel Me88.309842690457-2
39Ellie Goulding, blackbearWorry About Me88.174314711722-10
40Post MaloneCircles88.112137154289-3
Rock Chart
RankArtist NameSong NameEQ ScoreChange
1A Day to RememberResentment1006
2The Blue StonesShakin' Off The Rust99.935475672347-1
3CrobotLow Life99.528354343924-1
4Falling in ReversePopular Monster99.40694463805-1
5Fire from the GodsRight Now99.097488139989-1
6KornCan You Hear Me98.834075299159-1
7Killswitch EngageI Can't Be the Only One98.24381721999729
8Asking AlexandriaAntisocialist98.23271148335621
9Green DayOh Yeah!97.658572142798-2
10VolbeatLeviathan97.06751147736836
11Bad WolvesSober96.471651279085-2
12ShinedownAtlas Falls95.88865161233638
13Breaking BenjaminFar Away95.728201050303-2
14The HUWolf Totem95.654708979731-2
15Theory of a DeadmanWorld Keeps Spinning95.19516765115229
16Pop EvilWork94.949964536867-2
17Bring Me the HorizonLudens94.469481936149-2
18Five Finger Death PunchA Little Bit Off90.695948433377-1
19Theory of a DeadmanHistory of Violence83.650254684548-4
20Pearl JamSuperblood Wolfmoon83.266800112684-13
21SkilletLegendary82.543188438679-2
22Ozzy OsbourneOrdinary Man81.997652452049-11
23Bad WolvesKilling Me Slowly81.4146872796451
24Five Finger Death PunchTo Be Alone79.487707973874-9
25Cory MarksOutlaws & Outsiders79.076499008770
26Five Finger Death PunchInside Out78.319338598342-10
27Asking AlexandriaThe Violence77.971578807906-7
28Puddle of MuddUh Oh73.44819631219-10
29Motionless in WhiteAnother Life73.063211253081
30Highly Suspect1673.048539658483-1
31The Glorious SonsPanic Attack72.820611125469-5
32HellyeahWelcome Home72.639206981583-2
33StarsetTRIALS70.8674233981760
34BushFlowers On A Grave69.518762335965-1
35In This MomentThe In-Between69.1928435076662
36From Ashes to NewScars that I'm Hiding68.870591464219-2
37The Glorious SonsCloser To The Sky68.2604010965582
38Beyond the BlackWounded Healer68.241743510397-3
39JohnossiWrecking Ball67.261074771873-3
40Highly SuspectThese Days67.2178541637071
Electronic/Dance Chart
RankArtist NameSong NameEQ ScoreChange
1Becky Hill, Goodboys, MeduzaLose Control1000
2Diplo & SIDEPIECEOn My Mind96.4264318803841
3Jessie ReyezLOVE IN THE DARK (Dzeko Remix)96.024966765838-1
4Alesso, SUMR CAMPIn The Middle95.8322297699361
5Dua LipaDon't Start Now (Purple Disco Machine Remix)95.671263555279-1
6VAVODay N' Night94.3037665898270
7Elderbrook & RudimentalSomething About You (Elderbrook VIP)93.7098062456240
8Alesso, DubVisionOne Last Time92.8320415735581
9EDXThe Time Is Now92.63758697168-1
10Oliver HeldensTake A Chance92.4325444480284
11Mabel, TiëstoGod Is A Dancer92.316916806718-1
12Kygo, Sasha SloanI'll Wait92.314615928193-1
13VINAIRise Up92.124435364081-1
14Galantis & Dolly PartonFaith91.8883774135341
15Duke Dumont, Zak AbelThe Power91.7944480947811
16Ed SheeranSouth of the Border (Cheat Codes Remix)91.6919100514755
17AfrojackAll Night91.551780794297-4
18Knife PartyDeath & Desire91.5358372539771
19Yves V & Ilkay SencanNot So Bad91.524172871622-1
20AutografAin't Deep Enough91.4644468077490
21Joel CorryLonely91.2445636498718
22Martin Garrix, Clinton KaneDrown91.19101341442-6
23A7S, TopicBreaking Me (Riton Remix)91.167628883455-6
24ConroFighters91.081283479718
25Lewis CapaldiHold Me While You Wait (Steve Void Remix)91.0704467403685
26Seven LionsOnly Now91.032761216498-3
27Duke DumontTherapy91.018038313501-5
28Jonas BlueI Wanna Dance90.9968827283013
29Elderbrook & RudimentalSomething About You90.8717581050439
30Felix Jaehn, VIZEClose Your Eyes90.832145212456-5
31Regard & RAYESecrets90.828892481465-4
32Armin van BuurenUnlove You (Club Mix)90.7131773403735
33GryffinBody Back90.5989948968486
34PnauAll Of Us90.448185594148-1
35Breathe CarolinaToo Good90.4448277057296
36KandyLet Me Down90.338234346232-12
37Robin SchulzIn Your Eyes90.300907063426-9
38Armin van BuurenMillion Voices (Madison Mars Remix)90.160064406796-4
39ArtyDaydreams90.0043298813114
40Loud Luxury and Bryce VineI'm Not Alright89.840205639368-4
Country Chart
RankArtist NameSong NameEQ ScoreChange
1Lee BriceOne Of Them Girls1003
2Thomas RhettBeer Can't Fix99.1488839915340
3Maddie & TaeBathroom Floor97.4788154209814
4Cole SwindellSingle Saturday Night96.8262867154782
5Miranda LambertBluebird96.823383993112-2
6Luke BryanOne Margarita96.7860404462028
7Mitchell TenpennyAnything She Says96.4801628562241
8Ashley McBrydeOne Night Standards96.273633645393-3
9Parmalee & Blanco BrownJust the Way95.665209841179-8
10Sam HuntHard To Forget95.3084808393422
11Jason AldeanGot What I Got95.19888122983-1
12Kelsea Ballerinihole in the bottle94.3117602036273
13Gabby BarrettThe Good Ones94.3043370304081
14Tenille ArtsSomebody Like That94.2127412035776
15Justin MooreWhy We Drink94.210279254118-7
16Florida Georgia LineI Love My Country93.073364467056-6
17Luke CombsDoes To Me92.3301558514112
18Lindsay EllI Don't Love You92.2598722686728
19Lauren AlainaGetting Good91.5853520341711
20Keith UrbanGod Whispered Your Name90.9564162686668
21Kenny ChesneyHere And Now90.838041643886-11
22Carly PearceI Hope You're Happy Now90.794220965357-9
23Luke CombsEven Though I'm Leaving90.45316744202-5
24Runaway JuneHead Over Heels89.850877674855
25Chris JansonDone89.717956560543-1
26Chase RiceForever To Go89.312125673042-1
27Matt StellEverywhere But On89.2568588062395
28Kelsea Ballerinihomecoming queen?89.0587488933020
29Ingrid AndressThe Stranger88.7036975455962
30CamTill There's Nothing Left88.67078139441315
31Carly PearceFinish Your Sentences88.615204447161-15
32Sam GrowSong About You87.93868735460535
33Mickey GuytonWhat Are You Gonna Tell Her?87.20563469255624
34Chris YoungDrowning87.14790080831-9
35Gone WestWhat Could've Been87.101510619777-7
36Kenny ChesneyTip of My Tongue86.909756465118-1
37Eli Young BandBreak It In86.880632196338-7
38Kip MooreShe's Mine86.5202664860875
39Little Big TownWine, Beer, Whiskey84.91947323636331
40Luke BryanWhat She Wants Tonight84.57417035592-7
Hip Hop/ R&B Chart
RankArtist NameSong NameEQ ScoreChange
1Megan Thee StallionSavage (Remix)1000
2The WeekndHeartless99.8055496466575
3Jack HarlowWHATS POPPIN99.683519380086-1
4Lil MoseyBlueberry Faygo99.0459200776750
5FutureLife Is Good98.905410061575-2
6Travis ScottHIGHEST IN THE ROOM98.662474111667-1
7RussBEST ON EARTH97.763742762261
8Lil BabyWoah97.705688984826-2
9Arizona ZervasROXANNE96.4102570630711
10WaleOn Chill96.2723664306332
11Roddy RicchThe Box95.916421128543
12Young T & BugseyDon't Rush95.256248259387-3
13DaBabyBOP94.8543217405913
14DaBabyVIBEZ94.7723061485031
15Roddy RicchHigh Fashion94.134484973403-2
16NLE ChoppaWalk Em Down93.2121483251261
17JACKBOYS & Travis ScottOUT WEST92.4856543519532
18PARTYNEXTDOOR & RihannaBELIEVE IT91.961373312832
19Gucci ManeBig Booty91.644167658106-2
20Doja CatLike That91.4303368537640
21UsherDon't Waste My Time91.0097805024641
22MustardBallin'89.493754730421
23PartyNextDoorLOYAL88.9863097772537
24H.E.R., Skip MarleySlow Down88.3942997799150
25DrakeMoney in the Grave88.3016379795992
26Chris BrownNo Guidance88.28784513839-1
27Summer WalkerCome Thru87.962580020116-1
28MustardPure Water87.340754752983-7
29Lil TeccaRansom87.2051374293930
30Trey SongzBack Home86.70436551374110
31Post MaloneEnemies86.6800552992498
32WaleLove... (Her Fault)86.2359986500150
33Lil Nas XPanini85.94998645508511
34Meek MillBelieve85.814087105738-6
35MahaliaWhat You Did85.21174692794-2
36Chris BrownHeat84.354200978075-1
37Young ThugHot84.025381562498-6
38KhalidUp All Night83.994857768109-4
39H.E.R.Slide83.95027105797-3
40SAINt JHNRoses Remix82.56920543756914
Alternative/ Indie Chart
RankArtist NameSong NameEQ ScoreChange
1GrouploveDeleter1000
2twenty one pilotsLevel of Concern98.5216948955642
3The KillersCaution98.44159675307418
4Tame ImpalaLost In Yesterday98.103210425408-2
5Major LazerLay Your Head On Me97.9695914155724
6Glass AnimalsYour Love (Déjà Vu)97.883840844858-3
7The Black KeysShine a Little Light97.118507007226-2
8Of Monsters and MenWars96.82392192187811
9Saint MotelVan Horn96.694559178006-3
10The StrokesBad Decisions96.68252797593212
11AJRBang!96.663087588731-3
12BeckUneventful Days96.439240619908-5
13AWOLNATIONThe Best95.726839869419-2
14White ReaperMight Be Right94.9120618161392
15KALEOI Want More94.87342495007911
16FoalsThe Runner94.460586269841-10
17Neon TreesUsed To Like94.281884883419-9
18Barns CourtneyYou and I93.6318141848930
19IncubusOur Love93.4038472503991
20Silversun PickupsDon't Know Yet93.2753137886764
21JoywaveObsession93.1523905404312
22Blue OctoberOh My My93.0824116751878
23Billie Eilisheverything i wanted92.81004394052-4
24Cold War KidsComplainer92.771756482023
25ColdplayOrphans92.766002427284-4
26WeezerHero92.759093784762
27lovelythebandloneliness for love92.4714432257583
28JoywaveHalf Your Age92.4288577258151
29Cold War KidsWho's Gonna Love Me Now91.8890960035692
30Tones And IDance Monkey91.127891197651-5
31The LumineersLife in the City90.960041069074-8
32White ReaperReal Long Time88.60591634578819
33BakarHell N Back86.20323852497116
34BastilleJoy86.1991798253850
35PhantogramInto Happiness85.361792008623-1
36Walk the MoonTimebomb85.2653862645541
37KennyHooplahow will i rest in peace if i'm buried by a highway?/84.9222562195451
38The Black KeysGo83.538040567789-13
39Rezz & GrabbitzSomeone Else82.6251945108623
40Magic GiantDisaster Party82.5094632995923
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