S.L.R. Magazine

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LIVE REVIEW: Motley Crue, Tesla, Extreme in concert on September 19th, 2026, by Don Adkins

Motley Crue is down to the final week of shows of their 33 date North American tour. This past Saturday their tour stop hit LA, the original ground zero for Motley Crue. LA is where it all started in 1981 when Nikki Sixx formed the group with drummer Tommy Lee, guitarist Mick Mars and lead…

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Motley Crue is down to the final week of shows of their 33 date North American tour. This past Saturday their tour stop hit LA, the original ground zero for Motley Crue. LA is where it all started in 1981 when Nikki Sixx formed the group with drummer Tommy Lee, guitarist Mick Mars and lead singer Vince Neil. From the beginning they made a big splash on the Sunset Strip and within the first couple of years hit the big time touring with acts such as KISS and Ozzy Osbourne. The stories of notorious, document in books and movies such as The Dirt and Nothing But A Good Time.

Written by Don Adkins

Poster for Motley Crue's 'Carnival of Sins' tour, listing concert dates and locations alongside the opening acts Tesla and Extreme.

This tour is a fan delight as we see several songs from this first game changing album along with their other biggest hits. The show is totally Crue, a large circus themed production complete with the usual assortment of pentagrams and scantily attired back-up singers/dancers. The group was in good form and Mick Mars replacement John 5 brings his own energy to the mix. The energy level is high from start to finish with dialogue between the songs that tells the story of the group and all-in-all it’s one entertaining night of classic Crue.

In fact along with this tour there has been a great deal of buzz for the upcoming Too Fast For Love boxed set which is now available for pre-order. This author has been heavily involved in this project since I did the first-ever studio photoshoots for this band. This is the box set which fans have for decades been waiting for. This boxed set evens includes a copy of my proof sheet of the images used for their first-ever 45 rpm release!

Collection of Motley Crue albums and memorabilia, including vinyl records, covers, and promotional materials featuring iconic imagery and band art.

This year’s tour features Extreme and Tesla with them as openers who also had high energy sets that results in a cool classic rewind to the 80’s.

Motley Crue 2026 Setlist

  • Red Hot
  • Louder Than Hell
  • Wild Side
  • In the Beginning
  • Shout at the Devil
  • Too Fast for Love
  • Looks That Kill
  • Too Young to Fall in Love
  • Take Me to the Top
  • Primal Scream
  • Afraid
  • Home Sweet Home
  • Smokin’ in the Boys Room (Brownsville Station cover)
  • Live Wire
  • Girls, Girls, Girls
  • T.n.T. (Terror ‘n Tinseltown)
  • Dr. Feelgood
  • Kickstart My Heart

Special note: we have the usual image gallery below — unfortunately for the 3 photographers covering this show we were limited to shooting from the soundboard as this is a new venue the F&M Bank Amphitheater located next to the Queen Mary in Long Beach, quite the scenic setting on a Summer night.

Motley Crue website

https://www.motley.com

Story & Images by Don Adkins

https://www.instagram.com/donadkinsphoto

A bass guitarist performing on stage, wearing a leather vest and black pants, with dramatic stage lighting in the background.
Two male musicians perform on stage with vibrant lighting. One plays the bass guitar and the other holds a microphone, engaging the audience.
A rock band performing on stage, with members in elaborate costumes and energetic poses, against a bright, atmospheric backdrop.
A singer performing on stage, wearing a long black coat, gloves, and a headband, holding a microphone.
A male guitarist in a black leather outfit performing on stage, surrounded by four female dancers in varying outfits, with colorful stage lights in the background.
A vibrant concert scene at an amphitheater featuring a large crowd and a stage show with colorful graphics, including a performer with a megaphone and a theatrical costume, illuminated by bright lights.
Two male rock musicians performing on stage, one playing a bass guitar and the other playing an electric guitar, with dramatic lighting and stylish outfits.
A live performance featuring four musicians on stage, one playing bass guitar in a red and black outfit, another in metallic clothing, a drummer in the background, and a vocalist holding a microphone with dramatic lighting and a colorful stage backdrop.
A musician performing on stage with a white bass guitar, wearing a black outfit and accessories, with colorful lighting and a backdrop featuring abstract designs.
A rock band performing on stage with a bassist and guitarists, surrounded by multicolored stage lights.
A musician playing the bass guitar on stage, wearing a black sleeveless shirt and camo-patterned pants, with tattoos visible on his arms.
A musician performing on stage with a bass guitar, wearing a black tank top and accessories, with dramatic lighting in the background.
A musician performs on stage, playing an electric guitar against a backdrop of colorful lights and smoke.
A rock band performing on stage with dramatic lighting, featuring a bassist on the left, a singer in a colorful outfit in the center, and a male vocalist on the right, with a large drum set visible in the background.
A male performer with long hair and a black coat singing into a microphone on stage, with a brightly colored light backdrop and a band member playing guitar in the background.
A performer on stage wearing a black coat and headband, smiling while holding a microphone. The backdrop features colorful lighting, creating a vibrant concert atmosphere.
Rock musician playing a black bass guitar on stage, wearing a sleeveless shirt and visible tattoos, with a dramatic lighting background.
A male singer with long hair and a black coat performs on stage while a female dancer in lingerie poses nearby, with colorful stage lighting creating a vibrant atmosphere.
A dynamic stage performance featuring three entertainers: one holding a large black fan, another with a decorative fan, and a vocalist in a long coat. The background includes a band and dramatic lighting effects.

Tesla links

https://teslatheband.com

Guitarist performing on stage with an electric guitar, wearing sunglasses and a decorative black outfit, surrounded by colorful stage lights and smoke.
A rock band performing on stage with vibrant lighting, featuring a lead singer holding a microphone, two guitarists playing electric guitars, and a drummer in the background.

Extreme

A live performance scene featuring a drummer with curly hair playing drums, a lead vocalist wearing sunglasses and a bandana, and a guitarist with long hair in a star-patterned shirt.
Lead singer performing passionately on stage with a microphone, wearing a sleeveless shirt and accessories.

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