Step into the gritty, glamorous world of Mötley Crüe's "Dr. Feelgood" video, a classic that defined an era.
The Song
"Dr. Feelgood" is the hard-hitting title track from Mötley Crüe's fifth studio album, released on September 1, 1989. Penned by bassist Nikki Sixx and guitarist Mick Mars, the song delves into the dark underbelly of Hollywood's drug scene, depicting a notorious drug dealer. Sixx reportedly wrote the lyrics, initially with a different theme, but ultimately inspired by his own experiences with various drug dealers. The track stands out with its heavy, distorted guitar riffs and a distinctive funk-rock groove, showcasing a more sophisticated musical style for the band.
The song opens with a memorable "bomp bomp bomp bomp" intro, a riff that immediately grabs attention. It follows a short instrumental intro track on the album, "T.n.T. (Terror 'n Tinseltown)," which features police dispatch sounds and a call about a 17-year-old overdose, setting a grim context for "Dr. Feelgood" as a flashback narrative. The track was produced by Bob Rock, who helped the band achieve a powerful and polished sound, a significant departure from their earlier work.
The Artist
Mötley Crüe, hailing from Los Angeles, California, became synonymous with the excess and spectacle of 1980s glam metal. Formed in 1981, the band's classic lineup features Vince Neil on vocals, Mick Mars on guitar, Nikki Sixx on bass, and Tommy Lee on drums. By 1989, they had already established a reputation for their wild lifestyle, which included significant struggles with drugs and alcohol.
Dr. Feelgood marked a pivotal moment for the band as it was their first album recorded after all members had sought sobriety and rehabilitation. This newfound focus allowed them to channel their energy into creating what many critics and fans consider their strongest and most musically solid album. Their journey to sobriety and the subsequent creation of Dr. Feelgood is a testament to their resilience and commitment to music.
Chart Performance
"Dr. Feelgood" was released as the lead single from the album on August 28, 1989. It quickly became Mötley Crüe's first American Top Ten hit, peaking at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 on October 28, 1989, and remains their highest-charting single to date. The single was certified Gold by the RIAA in November 1989, selling over 500,000 units in the United States, making it the band's only Gold-certified single. The song also topped the Mainstream Rock chart.
The album Dr. Feelgood debuted at No. 24 on the U.S. Billboard 200 on September 23, 1989, and soared to No. 1 by mid-October, where it stayed for two weeks. It was the band's only album to achieve the top position on this chart and spent a remarkable 109 to 114 weeks on the chart. The album achieved massive commercial success, selling over six million copies in the U.S. and earning a 6x Platinum certification.
Cultural Impact
"Dr. Feelgood" and its eponymous album are widely regarded as a pinnacle of 1980s hard rock and glam metal. The album's commercial success, coupled with its critical acclaim, solidified Mötley Crüe's status as global superstars. It closed out the decade with a bang and is often cited as one of the greatest hard rock albums of all time.
The track itself has remained a staple in hard rock, being ranked as the 15th greatest hard rock song of all time by VH1 in 2009. The album's polished, powerful sound, crafted by producer Bob Rock, was so influential that Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich recruited Rock to produce their self-titled "Black Album" in 1991, aiming for a similar sonic impact. This demonstrates the significant impact the album had not just on the band's career, but on the broader rock and metal landscape.
Fun Facts
- The nickname "Dr. Feelgood" for the song was inspired by real-life controversial doctor Max Jacobson, known for administering amphetamine injections to celebrities like John F. Kennedy in the 1960s and 70s.
- The music video for "Dr. Feelgood" was directed by Wayne Isham, a frequent collaborator with Mötley Crüe, who also directed their "Girls, Girls, Girls" video.
- Producer Bob Rock encouraged band members to record their parts separately during the album's production in Vancouver to minimize conflicts, a tactic that contributed to the album's focused sound.
- Mick Mars initially found the Garnet amplifier suggested by Bob Rock to sound "trashy," but Rock pushed him to use it, mainly for the low-end elements, contributing to the album's distinctive guitar tone.
- MTV initially banned some narrative elements from the "Dr. Feelgood" music video, opting to show only the performance version.
- The album Dr. Feelgood won Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Album of the Year at the 1991 American Music Awards. The title track was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance in 1990 but lost to Living Colour's "Cult of Personality."