Red White & Crue

Red, White & Crüe is a 2-CD career spanning “greatest hits” compilation by Mötley Crüe, released February 1, 2005. Around the time of release, the band had just announced a reunion tour with drummer Tommy Lee, who had originally exited in 1999 due to creative differences and personal strife with lead singer Vince Neil. Bassist Nikki Sixx commented on the band’s reunion, comparing it to “seeing Mike Tyson fight. He probably won’t bite anyone’s ear off — but you’re there in case he does.”

According to Neil, the beginning of the band’s reunion was “kinda strained. I hadn’t talked to Tommy Lee in years. Everyone was really guarded and had their managers there. It was very strange. Mick was home, I guess. Either there or the hospital.”

Red, White & Crüe features three new tracks, among them the first single “If I Die Tomorrow”, which was cowritten by pop punk band Simple Plan. However, Tommy Lee didn’t play on the cover of “Street Fighting Man” - drumming duties were handled by Josh Freese of the Vandals.

Though Red, White & Crüe sold decently, even going platinum thanks to the publicity generated over the reunion tour, many fans criticized the band for putting out yet another greatest hits album.

A video was made for “Sick Love Song,” another new track off the album. Though the video, which was basically a well produced concert clip, got only scarce airplay, the song itself got some airplay on rock radio.