Enter the dark, provocative world of Mötley Crüe's early visual masterpiece.
The Song
"Looks That Kill" is an iconic heavy metal track by the American band Mötley Crüe, released as a single in January 1984. Written by bassist Nikki Sixx, the song is a quintessential example of their raw, aggressive sound that defined early glam metal. It's featured on their pivotal second album, Shout at the Devil, which was recorded in 1983. The track is celebrated for Mick Mars' distinctive, saw-toothed guitar riff, which is considered one of his best and a staple of their live performances.
"Looks That Kill" showcases Vince Neil's powerful vocals, Tommy Lee's drumming, and Nikki Sixx's driving bass. The lyrics describe a dangerous, alluring woman with a commanding presence, capturing the band's rebellious and often provocative thematic style. The song has consistently remained a fan favorite and a regular inclusion in Mötley Crüe's setlists.
The Artist
Mötley Crüe formed in Los Angeles in 1981, consisting of Nikki Sixx (bass), Tommy Lee (drums), Mick Mars (lead guitar), and Vince Neil (lead vocals). They quickly rose to prominence as one of the leading heavy metal acts of the 1980s, known for their wild antics, hard-living lifestyles, and theatrical stage presence. The band's unique blend of hard rock and glam, along with their defiant outfits, helped them stand out in the burgeoning L.A. metal scene.
Their second album, Shout at the Devil, proved to be their breakthrough, solidifying their signature sound and launching them into mainstream notoriety. Mötley Crüe has sold over 100 million albums worldwide, including 25 million in the US, cementing their place as rock legends.
Chart Performance
"Looks That Kill" made a significant impact on the charts, marking Mötley Crüe's inaugural appearance on mainstream MTV, which greatly expanded their exposure to a wider audience. The single was released in January 1984 and spent a notable 10 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States, peaking at number 54.
On the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart (Billboard), the song achieved an even higher position, peaking at number 12. This chart performance contributed significantly to the success of its parent album, Shout at the Devil, which reached number 17 on the Billboard 200 and was eventually certified 4x Platinum.
Cultural Impact
The music video for "Looks That Kill" was a pivotal moment for Mötley Crüe, serving as their debut on MTV and introducing their distinctive image and sound to a mass audience in early 1984. At a time when MTV was largely dominated by pop acts, Mötley Crüe's pseudo-Satanic, post-apocalyptic themed video provided a stark contrast, captivating alienated teens and solidifying their place in music history. The video's intense visuals, combined with the song's powerful riff, had a "Pavlovian effect" on viewers, drawing them into the world of glam metal.
The track and its accompanying video played a crucial role in establishing Mötley Crüe as one of the top-selling heavy metal acts of the 1980s and influenced a generation of rock and roll. The controversial aesthetic of women in cages and an S&M look generated a stir, but ultimately contributed to the video's memorability and the band's rebellious image.
Fun Facts
- The music video for "Looks That Kill" was filmed in an intensive 18-hour session at A&M Records' main sound stage in Los Angeles.
- The video features the band performing in a post-apocalyptic setting, where they initially trap women in a cage.
- A "warrior queen," played by Wendy Barry, appears in the video to release the women and confronts the band before disappearing in a flash of a flaming pentagram.
- "Looks That Kill" was Wendy Barry's first music video appearance. She later appeared in Ratt's "Back for More" video.
- The song was first performed live by Mötley Crüe on October 31, 1982, at the Concord Pavilion in Concord, California, even before its official single release.
- In 2019, Mötley Crüe released a new music video for "Looks That Kill" featuring footage from their biopic, The Dirt.