Crüe Cusses Out NBC in Court
Some TiVo tips from Mötley Crüe: Record VH1 and ignore NBC.
The comeback-minded '80s metal band sued the latter network Tuesday, alleging the Peacock caused the Crüe financial "harm" by banning the group after singer Vince Neil cussed during a live New Year's Eve appearance on The Tonight Show.
The group is making a federal case out of the NBC diss. According to the suit filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, the Crüe says the network's ban violates the group's First Amendment rights and caused the band "loss of exposure" and "substantial damage including loss of past and prospective income."
During a Jay Leno-hosted New Year's bash, Neil turned to bandmate Tommy Lee and wished him a "Happy f--kin' New Year."
Neil's F-bomb dropped live to East Coast viewers; the offending word was edited out of the tape-delayed West Coast broadcast.
Per the suit, NBC buckled after the incident in an attempt to preempt any potential FCC fines. The network held a press conference Jan. 21 announcing its ban on the "Smokin' in the Boy's Room" players from all programs, prompting shows like shows like Late Night with Conan O'Brien to cancel planned sets from the band.
The Crüe is crying foul, noting that U2 lead singer Bono, System of a Down and John Mayer have similarly said the dreaded F-word live on air without such severe consequences from NBC. (The FCC infamously ruled that Bono had used the expletive only as "a modifier.")
"NBC proceeded to single out Mötley Crüe as its scapegoat," the suit says. "Critical to the success of an album release and supporting tour is media coverage," the band argues.
In a statement, bassist Nikki Sixx adds, "This is about fair and equal treatment. We have a right to be treated in the same way as other artists who have made the same mistake."
Mötley Crüe also maintains NBC's ban has hurt sales of the band's latest CD, Red, White and Crüe, and tour sales.
NBC begs to differ."To ensure compliance with its broadcast standards, NBC has the right to decide not to invite back guests who violate those standards and use an expletive during a live entertainment program," the network says in a statement. "The lawsuit Mötley Crüe has filed against us is meritless."
Charles Tobin, a Washington, D.C., attorney specializing in First Amendment law, tells the New York Times the suit appears to be a publicity stunt.
"[Mötley Crüe] can't get NBC's help to boost its album through the airwaves. So it's going to try and do it by dragging NBC into court," he opined.
(Coincidentally or not, the suit was filed the same day Neil announced his new venture: Vince Vineyards. Apparently, the "Dr. Feelgood" singer fancies himself an oenophile and is slapping his name on $20 bottles of wine.)
Regardless of the suit's validity, NBC and at least one member of the band will have to learn to get along.
The network has picked up drummer Tommy Lee's reality show, documenting the bad boy's attempts to finish school at the University of Nebraska. Tommy Lee Goes to College is slated to debut Aug. 9.
While the Crüe clearly feels slighted by NBC, VH1 is a different story.
The music channel, which is largely responsible for the notoriously acrimonious band's recent comeback thanks to a heavily rotated Behind the Music, among other programming fixated on the aging L.A.-based foursome, announced yet another Crüe-themed show Tuesday.
The special, titled (inside)OUT: Resurrecting Mötley Crüe, will focus on behind-the-scenes action during the band's recent VH1-sponsored tour. The show debuts May 30 and is billed as "brutally honest and poignant look at a heavy metal miracle in the making."
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