The tour is set to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Crue’s live album Carnival of Sins as well as their 45th anniversary as a band. The 33-date tour will feature a “reimagined show” and an “updated setlist.”

Dubbed the “The Return of Carnival of Sins,” the run kicks off in mid-July in Pennsylvania and wraps up in late September in Washington. Crue will be joined by Extreme and Tesla throughout the run.

Tickets go on sale this Friday (Nov. 21) at 10AM local time and can be purchased through Motley Crue’s website. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to ASAP! (After School Arts Program).

See the full list of dates below.

 

The rockers just wrapped up their Las Vegas residency at the Dolby Live theater at Park MGM in early October, which was the only batch of shows they played in 2025. Thus, this upcoming run will be their first proper tour in a little over a year.

Motley Crue 2026 North American Tour Dates

July 17 – Burgettstown, Pa. @ The Pavilion at Star Lake
July 18 – Buffalo, N.Y. @ Darien Lake Amphitheater
July 20 – Clarkston, Mich. @ Pine Knob Music Theatre
July 22 – Toronto, Ontario @ RBC Amphitheatre
July 24 – Gilford, N.H. @ BankNH Pavilion
July 25 – Bangor, Maine @ Maine Savings Amphitheater
July 27 – Camden, N.J. @ Freedom Mortgage Pavilion
July 29 – Saratoga Springs, N.Y. @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center
July 31 – Holmdel, N.J. @ PNC Bank Arts Center
Aug. 1 – Mansfield, Mass. @ Xfinity Center
Aug. 3 – Bristow, Va. @ Jiffy Lube Live
Aug. 12 – Alpharetta, Ga. @ Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
Aug. 14 – West Palm Beach, Fla. @ iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre
Aug. 15 – Tampa, Fla. @ MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
Aug. 17 – Charlotte, N.C. @ PNC Music Pavilion
Aug. 19 – St. Louis, Mo. @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheater
Aug. 21 – Shakopee, Minn. @ Mystic Lake Amphitheater
Aug. 22 – Tinley Park, Ill. @ Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre
Aug. 24 – Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio @ Blossom Music Center
Aug. 25 – Cincinnati, Ohio @ Riverbend Music Center
Aug. 27 – Grand Rapids, Mich. @ Acrisure Amphitheater
Aug. 28 – Noblesville, Ind. @ Ruoff Music Center
Sept. 8 – Kansas City, Mo. @ Morton Amphitheater
Sept. 10 – Dallas, Texas @ Dos Equis Pavilion
Sept. 11 – The Woodlands, Texas @ The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Sept. 13 – Albuquerque, N.M. @ Isleta Amphitheater
Sept. 16 – Phoenix, Ariz. @ Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
Sept. 18 – Chula Vista, Calif. @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
Sept. 19 – Long Beach, Calif. @ Long Beach Amphitheater
Sept. 21 – Salt Lake City, Utah @ Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre
Sept. 23 – Wheatland, Calif. @ Toyota Amphitheatre
Sept. 24 – Mountain View, Calif. @ Shoreline Amphitheater
Sept. 26 – Ridgefield, Wash. @ Cascades Amphitheater

Live Nation

Top 30 Hair Metal Albums

The 30 best hair metal albums of all time.

Top 30 Hair Metal Albums

Loudwire

Top 30 Hair Metal Albums

Scroll through the gallery to see our picks for the Top 30 Hair Metal Albums of All Time!

30. White Lion, Pride (1987)

Atlantic

30. White Lion, ‘Pride’ (1987)

White Lion’s name is so dearly intertwined with the two ‘Pride’ power ballads “Wait” and “When the Children Cry” that the rest of the album is often overlooked. Well, it’s getting its due credit here, especially with the way Vito Bratta adds a layer of glitter to the razor edge of his brawny riffing. This gutter-slime meets glamor style was best exemplified on songs like the empowering “Don’t Give Up” and the cinematic “Lady of the Valley.”

29. Faster Pussycat, Faster Pussycat (1987)

Elektra

29. Faster Pussycat, ‘Faster Pussycat’ (1987)

Faster Pussycat’s hair days were short-lived before they made the switch to more blues-based rock. Their eponymous debut stands as their lone true glam contribution and it’s a damn fine one at that. Singer Taime Downe’s unmistakable voice brought a raw, punk flavor to the band, helping to distinguish them from the sea of clones. Armed with tracks like fun-grooving “Bathroom Wall” and the relatable “Don’t Change That Song,” it’s a shame the band didn’t stick with the hair sound and develop it even further.

28. Y&T, Mean Streak (1983)

A&M

28. Y&T, ‘Mean Streak’ (1983)

By their fifth album, Y&T were on a certified hot streak, but if you asked them, they called it a ‘Mean Streak.’ It was the first from the California act to break into the ‘Billboard’ 200 in the U.S. with the title track and “Midnight and Tokyo” serving as the best representations of T-top cruising tracks from the album’s nine cuts. With a flair of NWOBHM riffing, Y&T combined rhythmic heft with relatable lyrics right at the perfect time as glam started to gain traction.

27. Badlands, Badlands (1989)

Atlantic

27. Badlands, ‘Badlands’ (1989)

What happens when former Black Sabbath singer Ray Gillen and ex-Ozzy Osbourne six-stringer Jake E. Lee get together? You get one ripping, riffing album from Badlands! Their hair may not scrape doorways, but they had the riff-intensive aim of glam firmly in place (with a bit of blues for balance) and a wailing singer with tunes that fell in line with the rest of the scene. ‘Badlands’ is one of the era’s least recognized albums, but with songs like “High Wire” and “Dreams in the Dark” kicking off the record, the momentum never waned.

26. Slaughter, Stick It to Ya (1990)

Chrysalis

26. Slaughter, ‘Stick It to Ya’ (1990)

Slaughter were one of the last bands to cash in on the hair metal phenomenon before Nirvana swiftly wiped out the craze. Their ‘Stick It to Ya’ debut ultimately went double Platinum with heavy airplay and video rotation on MTV. Their chance of their success was never in question, equipped with a party anthem (“Up All Night”) and the power ballad “Fly to the Angels.” That tried and true winning combination isn’t the only shining light here, as Slaughter delivered one of the most consistent hair albums with tracks like “Eye to Eye,” “Burnin’ Bridges,” “Mad About You” and “Gave Me Your Heart.”

25. Razormaid, First Cutt (1987)

Razormaid

25. Razormaid, ‘First Cutt’ (1987)

Unless you scoured the record bins for anything and everything glam, Razormaid has likely flown under your radar all these years. The little-known outfit from Reno, Nevada, delivered one of the genre’s best records in ‘First Cutt’ and it’s pure mystery how songs like the riff-roaring “Sooner or Later” and “Livin’ on the Run” never put Razormaid at the top of the bill. The independently released album stands as genuine hidden gem that shan’t elude you any longer.

24. Poison, Open Up and Say… Ahh! (1988)

Enigma

24. Poison, ‘Open Up and Say… Ahh!’ (1988)

Following the overwhelming success of their debut, Poison were having “Nothing But a Good Time” after the release of ‘Open Up and Say… Ahh!’ Writing about a heartbreaking relationship experience, Bret Michaels authored the power ballad “Every Rose Has Its Thorn,” which topped the charts as a single. “Fallen Angel” showcased the attitude in C.C. Deville’s guitar playing supported by lyrics about starry-eyed Hollywood dreams.

23. Enuff ZNuff, Strength (1991)

Atco

23. Enuff Z’Nuff, ‘Strength’ (1991)

Enuff Z’nuff were latecomers to the proverbial and quite literal party when it came to the hair sensation. While their sophomore album, ‘Strength,’ didn’t light up the charts (ie: no marketable power ballad), it’s held up considerably well for a record that did little to move the needle in 1991. ‘Strength’ finds blue collar riffs colliding with washy, synth-laden atmospheres, finally doing something to set a band apart from the Sunset Strip mainstays rather than blindly imitate them. With no true standout hit, the album was aptly titled for its track for track… well, strength! Though if we had to pick one, “The World Is a Gutter” is our top cut.

22. Steel Panther, Feel the Steel (2009)

Universal

22. Steel Panther, ‘Feel the Steel’ (2009)

Don’t like Steel Panther? Now is a good time to just get over it. The subject matter in glam metal may not rival Shakespeare … until now! Frontman Michael Starr, equipped with a Ph.D. in English literature, put his degree to good use with plenty of wordplay (and foreplay) on ‘Feel the Steel.’ There’s no denying the writing chops from the band on the whole and with “Asian Hooker, “Community Property,” “Eatin’ Ain’t Cheatin’” and, really, everything else on the album, Steel Panther successfully pulled off a brilliant hair metal album in the 2000s.

21. Twisted Sister, Under the Blade (1982)

Secret Records

21. Twisted Sister, ‘Under the Blade’ (1982)

After years and years of packing bars and delivering knockout performances, glam workaholics Twisted Sister finally landed a record deal. While ‘Under the Blade’ doesn’t pack the same power as their live shows (no studio album does), it does bear the most balanced production job in their discography. The show-ready “What You Don’t Know (Sure Can Hurt You)” opener dictates the energy, which never dips as they run through other time-tested classics in “Sin After Sin,” “Shoot ‘Em Down,” the thunderous “Destroyer” and the riveting title track that had Tipper Gore’s knickers all… twisted!

20. David Lee Roth, Eat Em and Smile (1986)

Warner Bros.

20. David Lee Roth, ‘Eat ‘Em and Smile’ (1986)

Out of Van Halen, David Lee Roth had no problem securing an all-star lineup on his first solo full length. With the acrobatic Steve Vai on guitar, he arguably raised Eddie Van Halen’s bar with even more adept shredding and emotive phrasing. Add Billy Sheehan on bass and Gregg Bissonette behind the kit and you’ve got 30 minutes of madness on ‘Eat ‘Em and Smile.’ “Yankee Rose” screamed with the same youthful pride as any classic VH track and was the obvious hit, but “Elephant Gun” and the racing “Shyboy” would have likely yielded similar results.

19. Great White, …Twice Shy (1989)

Capitol

19. Great White, ‘…Twice Shy’ (1989)

Great White’s fourth record landed the band their biggest hit yet. The ‘…Twice Shy’ title played off the previous album, ‘Once Bitten,’ and thematically worked its way into their smash hit cover of Ian Hunter’s “Once Bitten, Twice Shy.” “House of Broken Love” was a painfully honest single, showcasing the opposite side of love with pure heartache. They still found time for lovin’, however, especially on “Mista Bone,” which houses a riff so sultry, it’s recommended you wear protection just while listening to it.

18. Warrant, Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich (1989)

Columbia

18. Warrant, ‘Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich’ (1989)

No, this isn’t the album with “Cherry Pie” on it and no, we didn’t make a mistake! By all accounts, Warrant’s ‘Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich’ is a more formidable effort than its successor, even if it doesn’t have an genre-defining (non ballad) hit. “Sometimes She Cries” and “Heaven” are the two ballads that were certainly of no detriment to the band’s superstardom, but it’s the other eight tracks that oozed with a ceaseless libido (“Down Boys”) and carefree attitude (“32 Pennies”).

17. Kix, Blow My Fuse (1988)

Atlantic

17. Kix, ‘Blow My Fuse’ (1988)

By the tail of the ‘80s, it was pretty much a guarantee that one power ballad on the radio and MTV would return a Platinum record. This held true for Kix’s fourth and significantly most successful record, ‘Blow My Fuse,’ and the hit “Don’t Close Your Eyes.” The band found their groove as well with an all-around standout effort with tracks like “She Dropped Me the Bomb” and the rocksteady sway of “Cold Blood.”

16. Tesla, Mechanical Resonance (1986)

Geffen

16. Tesla, ‘Mechanical Resonance’ (1986)

Frank Hannon and Tommy Skeoch are two of glam’s most underrated twin guitar attacks (just listen to “Cumin’ Atcha Live”). Tesla’s bombastic songwriting was felt from the get-go when they came onto the scene with ‘Mechanical Resonance’ in 1986. The record went Platinum just three years later, largely thanks to the Western flair of “Modern Day Cowboy.” Balancing out the guitar theatrics were ballads like “We’re No Good Together” and a cover of Ph.D.’s “Little Suzi,” falling right in line with the money-making efforts of their contemporaries.

15. Winger, Winger (1988)

Atlantic

15. Winger, ‘Winger’ (1988)

Winger’s self-titled debut naturally gets attention because of the popular track “Seventeen” and its questionable subject matter (sex with underage girls). It somehow became a hit despite the age of censorship and stands as one of hair metal’s downright sleaziest moments. ‘Winger’ was more challenging than like-minded albums with the band focusing on complex arrangements and time signatures rather than going for the obvious songwriting punchlines.

14. Dokken, Tooth and Nail (1984)

Elektra

14. Dokken, ‘Tooth and Nail’ (1984)

Selecting the best Dokken album is no simple task, but track for track, nothing tops the vivacious energy and fret-melting frenzy of ‘Tooth and Nail.’ The hits are all here in “Just Got Lucky,” “Into the Fire” and “Alone Again,” but there’s more than just catchy radio fare. The sizzling title track is on of the band’s hardest hitting numbers and Side A closer “Don’t Close Your Eyes” wrestles with drastic tempo differences and more of George Lynch’s top shelf riffage.

13. Motley Crue, Dr. Feelgood (1989)

Elektra

13. Motley Crue, ‘Dr. Feelgood’ (1989)

With clearer heads following a rehab stint, Motley Crue entered the studio with Bob Rock to record what became one of the era’s biggest selling records: ‘Dr. Feelgood.’ The robust production put an extra thud in the lumbering title track and the engine-revving “Kickstart my Heart,” both unhinged, all-time classics. On top of this, the band cut two ballads (“Don’t Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)” and “Without You”), making this particular sonic brew all too potent.

12. Whitesnake, Whitesnake (1987)

Geffen / Warner Bros.

12. Whitesnake, ‘Whitesnake’ (1987)

Whitesnake’s seventh album, ‘Whitesnake,’ proved persistence pays off as the David Coverdale-led group netted their most successful release yet. Reworking the ‘Saints and Sinners’ track “Here I Go Again,” it was glitzed up with a modern feel and an all-around smash hit. Digging into the archives again, “Still of the Night” was culled from a demo with Ritchie Blackmore from the duo’s Deep Purple days, resulting in yet another show-stopping hit. With “Give Me All your Love” and “Is This Love” in addition to John Sykes’ ripping guitar work on hard-chargers like “Children of the Night” and “Bad Boys,” there was something here for fans of current trends as well as those who preferred screaming ‘80s guitar.

11. Quiet Riot, Metal Health (1983)

Pasha

11. Quiet Riot, ‘Metal Health’ (1983)

Quiet Riot have the distinction of being the first metal band to have a chart-topping album. Riding high on the back of the title track and their iconic cover of Slade’s “Cum on Feel the Noize,” the band did better than striking gold with their third effort. The multi-platinum record helped popularize the burgeoning glam scene filled with songs about fast cars (“Slick Black Cadillac”) and, of course, women (Love’s a B–ch”).

10. Poison, Look What the Cat Dragged In (1986)

Enigma

10. Poison, ‘Look What the Cat Dragged In’ (1986)

Poison were not scooped up among the glam wave as a means of making a label boatloads of cash. Their ‘Look What the Cat Dragged In’ was not foreseen as a future smash hit, but the single “Cry Tough” was met with an overwhelmingly positive response, spurring the subsequent push of “Talk Dirty to Me,” “I Want Action” and the ballad “I Won’t Forget You” to radio and heavy MTV video play. With their dolled up faces representing the four corners of the album’s cover, fans looking for any and all glam had no apprehensions blindly adding this record to their collection in 1986.

9. Def Leppard, Pyromania (1983)

Mercury

9. Def Leppard, ‘Pyromania’ (1983)

On their third LP, ‘Pyromania,’ Def Leppard took the formula from the ‘High ‘n’ Dry’ track “Bringin’ on the Heartbreak,” shedding their hardened riff-centric rock in favor of more glamorous structures with pop sensibilities that would hint at even greater success to come. Polishing things up, they cut tunes like “Rock! Rock! (Til’ You Drop)” and “Foolin’” which hit harder than their contemporaries. Both “Photograph” and “Rock of Ages,” two moody songs, shined even brighter courtesy of Mutt Lange’s boisterous production job, netting the band a Diamond record just over 20 years later, a testament to the staying power of ‘Pyromania.’

8. W.A.S.P., W.A.S.P. (1984)

Capitol

8. W.A.S.P., ‘W.A.S.P.’ (1984)

W.A.S.P. were the most sinister looking of all the glam acts. With an affinity for buzzsaw blade codpieces and a reputation for hurling raw meat at their crowds, Blackie Lawless and W.A.S.P. were poised for world domination. Their eponymous debut record was famously stricken of the provocative “F–k Like a Beast” single, but it mattered not as they produced 10 more tracks across 38 minutes of equally macho heft. “I Wanna Be Somebody,” “L.O.V.E. Machine” and “School Daze” catered to the more typical glam affairs, but their sexual prowess oozed on “The Torture Never Stops” and “Tormentor,” showcasing a much more dangerous attitude.

7. Cinderella, Night Songs (1986)

Mercury

7. Cinderella, ‘Night Songs’ (1986)

As glam’s influence spread worldwide, it reached places like Pennsylvania where bands like Cinderella cropped up with a boost from Jon Bon Jovi, who discovered the group and helped land them a record deal. Touring under Bon Jovi following the release of ‘Night Songs,’ the band broke big in conjunction with the “Nobody’s Fool” ballad. Their more fortified rock moments came with Tom Keifer’s Brian Johnson-esque shriek, devastating riffs and hooky choruses found on tracks like the thumping “Somebody Save Me,” “Night Songs” and “Shake Me.”

6. Twisted Sister, Stay Hungry (1984)

Atlantic

6. Twisted Sister, ‘Stay Hungry’ (1984)

By 1984, Dee Snider’s makeup-clad mug and enormous, frizzy, bleach-blonde hair was plastered virtually everywhere. The face of ultimate expression and empowerment for the youth was also a target for Tipper Gore and the PMRC, who found Twisted Sister’s “We’re Not Gonna Take It” to tout violence. The band authored another multi-generation-spanning hit in “I Wanna Rock,” but it wasn’t just the hits that made ‘Stay Hungry’ so impactful. Their prideful energy found in the title track resonated with an impassioned fanbase, to which the closing track “S.M.F.” was dedicated. In 1983, the band declared ‘You Can’t Stop Rock and Roll’ and just one year later they proved it.

5. Bon Jovi, Slippery When Wet (1986)

Mercury

5. Bon Jovi, ‘Slippery When Wet’ (1986)

The Diamond RIAA-certified ‘Slippery When Wet’ took an already piping red hot Bon Jovi to even greater heights. Propelling this success was the transcendental hit “Livin’ on a Prayer,” a favorite that has penetrated the mainstream on unthinkable levels. The outlaw, Bob Seger-inspired “Wanted Dead or Alive” wasn’t far behind at the time and is another all-timer from Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora. Toss in “You Give Love a Bad Name” and “Raise Your Hands” and you’re looking at one of the most definitive glam albums ever.

4. Skid Row, Skid Row (1989)

Atlantic

4. Skid Row, ‘Skid Row’ (1989)

Skid Row debuted with one hell of a record shortly after recruiting a young yet unbelievably capable Sebastian Bach behind the mic. Offering a different take on the glitter-dominated L.A. scene, the New Jersey outfit were decidedly more edgy, focusing more on razor sharp riffs than razor-slashed stage wear. The hits “18 and Life,” “Youth Gone Wild” and “I Remember You” get most of the attention, but ‘Skid Row’ is a knockout from the top (“Big Guns”) to the bottom (“Midnight/Tornado”).

3. Ratt, Out of the Cellar (1984)

Atlantic

3. Ratt, ‘Out of the Cellar’ (1984)

Ratt initially struggled to land a record deal; something that was seemingly handed out to anyone with teased hair and Spandex on the Sunset Strip. When Ratt finally did get the chance to sign their names on that dotted line, they delivered ‘Out of the Cellar’ in 1984. Making good on lost time, they became glam darlings with the “Round and Round” music video and the gutter riffing of “Wanted Man.” Their pompous lyrical attitude was commanding, best exemplified on the underrated closer, “Scene of the Crime.”

2. Def Leppard, Hysteria (1987)

Mercury

2. Def Leppard, ‘Hysteria’ (1987)

You’re just going to have to get over the whole “pop-metal” thing! In the grand scheme of the entirety of heavy metal, Def Leppard’s ‘Hysteria’ often gets a lot of flak, but we’re talking about a hit-driven, image-centric genre to begin with, so why wouldn’t this album make its way up so high? Lined with seven undeniably smash hit singles, ‘Hysteria’ pulled off what every other band of this ilk was trying to achieve.

1. Motley Crue, Shout at the Devil (1983)

Elektra

1. Motley Crue, ‘Shout at the Devil’ (1983)

Motley Crue’s ‘Shout at the Devil’ stands at the top of our list of the 30 Best Hair Metal Albums! The sophomore effort from the L.A. glam rockers was as scathing as the boys were pretty, with a visceral production that aligned with the band’s notorious reputation. Packed with sleazy riffs, a street-born attitude and just enough glitter, the Crue delivered timeless hits like “Shout at the Devil,” “Looks That Kill” and “Too Young to Fall In Love,” all anthems of angsty youth while they saved their more mean-spirited moments for “Bastard” and the sizzling “Red Hot.”

Read More: Motley Crue Announce First 2026 North American Tour Dates | https://loudwire.com/motley-crue-first-2026-tour-dates/?utm_source=tsmclip&utm_medium=referral