By Steve Newton
Way back in December of 1992 I did my second interview with Vancouver-based hard-rock producer Bob Rock, who is well known for producing albums by multi-platinum acts like Metallica, the Cult, Bon Jovi, and Mötley Crüe.
At the time Rock was promoting his own group, Rockhead, but as the interview wound down I asked him about the more famous band he was working with at the time, Mötley Crüe. I wanted to know how the notorious glam-metal band was doing with its new singer, John Corabi.
“Well, I mean–not that I’m supposed to tell anybody, but…it’s definitely a new Motley, and it’s amazing, Steve. It’s the heaviest thing they’ve ever done, but it’s just like, it’s better than anything they’ve ever done. It’s truly amazing.
“And I mean, I guess you’d expect me to say that, but I gotta tell ya, these guys have really brought it all together.”
Then I asked Rock if he was planning on producing the upcoming solo album by the band’s then ex-singer, Vince Neil, as well. His answer came pretty quick.
“No. That’s a big N O. I wish him the best of British luck, but, uh, you know, my heart lies with the Crue.”
(For those who aren’t aware, the Cambridge Dictionary defines “the best of British luck” as a phrase “used to wish someone luck, especially when you do not think they have much chance of success or happiness.”)
To hear the full audio of my interview with Bob Rock from 1992–and my interviews with him from 1991 and 2002 as well–subscribe to my Patreon page, where you can eavesdrop on over 500 of my uncut, one-on-one conversations with the legends of rock since 1982.