John Corabi @ The Rockpile, Etobicoke, Ontario
Thursday, October 6, 2011
By: Backstageaxxess.com Correspondent Jewel Black
John Corabi played at the Rockpile in Etobicoke, Ontario, on October 6th and if he "ever said goodbye," the industry would surely lose one of them most underrated rock musicians of all time. Whether you first listened to Corabi back in the days of "The Scream," fell in love with his vocals and song-writing during his "Motley Crue" days, or admired his guitar playing with "RATT," it is undeniable that he loves music. He introduced each song with a story, a smirk and an intimate candor that one wouldn't expect from a rock star. As he began playing "Father, Mother, Son," he announced a dedication to Jani Lane, the lead singer of Warrant, who was recently found dead in his hotel room alone, "If you can hear me right now Jani, this one's for you."
Corabi, decked out in blue leather with Harley boots, chains and feather hair extensions, heated up the Rockpile with his signature warm and raspy vocals. It is easy to forget that it has been almost 20 years since the days of Motley Crue. It is even easier to forget that he is now in his fifties.
"The day I was asked to leave Motley Crue, I was dating a 20-something model, who would eventually have a part on Seinfeld (not naming names). Anyway, I came home and told her 'Honey, I have good news and I have bad news.' I am going to be home a whole lot more to spend time with you, but I'm no longer in the band." With a smirk on his face, he continued, "she looks at me and says, I have good news and bad news as well, my acting career is FINALLY beginning to take off, but I think I'm going to need some more space, like, a lot more space."
He played an all acoustic solo set of songs that he has both written and performed throughout the years. Ironically enough, he wrote arguably one of the best Motley Crue songs of all time, "Misunderstood" and "Hooligans Holiday" shortly before Crue management refused funding for future recordings unless former lead singer Vince Neil was asked back into the band. As he spoke candidly about being asked to leave Motley Crue, the audience began to boo and shouted, "You were the best!"
For the final encore he sang "Live Wire" and "Helter Skelter," which he revealed, "is one of my favorite songs of all time, I sang it when I auditioned for Motley Crue." If the packed crowd at the Rockpile didn't already believe Corabi to be down to earth, he solidified it after inviting the Toronto based Motley Crue tribute band CRUED on stage to perform with him for the last two songs.
Setlist:
Love (I Don't Need It Anymore)(Union cover)
If I Ever Said Goodbye
Father, Mother, Son (The Scream cover)
Seasons of Whither (Aerosmith cover)
Hooligan's Holiday (Motley Crue cover)
Oh Darlin (Beatles cover)
Driftaway / Home Sweet Home (Motley Crue covers)
Man in the Moon (Union cover)
Loveshine (Motley Crue cover)
Live Wire (Motley Crue cover)
Helter Skelter (Beatles cover)
