Loud guitars and even louder clothes. Big vocals and even bigger hair. There’s no denying that the ’80s rocked. But what are the gods of hair, glam and metal doing today? Let’s find out… starting with Mötley Crüe lead vocalist Vince Neil, who celebrates his 60th birthday on Feb. 8, 2021. The boys of Mötley Crüe brought a unique energy to the music scene with hits like “Girls, Girls, Girls” and “Dr. Feelgood.” And few lived a rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle as enthusiastically as Vince, who was booted from the band in 1992 due to the effects of his drinking and partying, though he reunited with the guys toward the end of the decade. Keep reading to see what he and more ’80s rockers are up to now…
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Like many of his peers, Vince Neil moved on to reality TV after shooting to fame as a rock star. In 2010, the father of three — who lost daughter Skylar to cancer in 1995 — separated from his fourth wife. That same year, Vince was busted for DUI. He served 10 days in jail in early 2011. From 2014 to 2015, Vince and the rest of Mötley Crüe embarked on their “Final Tour.” In 2021 once the coronavirus pandemic allows, the band is set to co-headline “The Stadium Tour” with Def Leppard and bring along Poison and Joan Jett & the Blackhearts as guests.
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Eddie Van Halen of Van Halen
Eddie Van Halen was responsible for some of classic rock’s biggest hits — from “Jump” and “Hot for Teacher” to “Runnin’ with the Devil” and “Dance the Night Away” — and was widely regarded as one of the greatest guitarists of all time.
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Eddie Van Halen in many ways shied from the spotlight after finding fame as a rock star, though after 14 years without new Van Halen music, his band finally released their 12th studio album in 2012. In 2015, they embarked on what would be their final tour, visiting 39 cities across North America in support of their “Tokyo Dome Live in Concert” live album. The rock legend struggled with alcohol and drug abuse for many years, which affected his first marriage — to actress Valerie Bertinelli, the mother of his only child, son Wolfgang — leading them to split in 2001 after more than two decades together. A year earlier, Eddie battled cancer for the first time, which led to the removal of about a third of his tongue. Years later, the disease returned. Wolf told radio host Howard Stern in a 2020 interview, “At the end of 2017, he was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer and the doctors were like, ‘You have six weeks.’ And then he went to Germany. Whatever the f*** they do over there, it’s amazing because I got three more years with him.” Eddie passed away at 65 in October 2020 with second wife Janie Liszewski, first wife Valerie and Wolf by his side.
Steve Perry of Journey
Steve Perry earned the nickname The Voice — from Jon Bon Jovi, no less! The singer-songwriter provided lead vocals for nine of Journey’s 14 studio albums, and he co-wrote one of the most famous rock anthems of all time: “Don’t Stop Believin’.”
Steve Perry eventually parted ways with Journey for good in the ’90s, and though he found moderate success as a solo artist, he’s since enjoyed a mostly low-key lifestyle away from the spotlight. In 2012, the rocker lost his girlfriend, psychologist Kellie Nash, to cancer. It wasn’t until 2014 that Steve returned to the stage — for the first time in 20 years! In 2017, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Journey and though he gave an acceptance speech at the ceremony, he respectfully declined to perform with the band, which has been fronted by singer Arnel Pineda since 2007. In 2018, Steve released his third studio album, “Traces,” which was his first solo release in 24 years. In December 2020, he released an acoustic version of the album.
Jon Bon Jovi of Bon Jovi
Jon Bon Jovi and his namesake group exploded on radio with tracks from the album “Slippery When Wet” in 1986. The New Jersey native proved to be such a success that he’s one of the most recognizable rockers today.
Jon Bon Jovi still performs with his band, Bon Jovi, but he’s also dabbled in acting. He’s appeared in films including “Vampires: Los Muertos,” “Cry Wolf,” “National Lampoon’s Pucked” and “New Year’s Eve.” Jon’s still married to his high school sweetheart, Dorothea, with whom he has four kids.
Bret Michaels of Poison
Rock fans loved a good dose of Poison, and the band — which formed in 1983 — owed much of its popularity to frontman Bret Michaels. He famously dated actress and model Pamela Anderson in the early ’90s.
Bret Michaels found his second calling in reality TV: He looked for that special groupie on VH1’s “Rock of Love” and then won the third season of “The Celebrity Apprentice” in 2010. He’s also continued to make music — in addition to releasing his fifth studio album, “Jammin’ with Friends,” in 2013, he in 2017 released the song “Jorja Bleu” in honor of his youngest daughter. In 2019, he released a music video for his single “Unbroken,” which he co-wrote with Jorja. Bret was in a relationship with Jorja and big sister Raine’s mother, Kristi Gibson, for about 16 years before they split in 2012. He’s also made headlines over the years due to various health issues. Bret, who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes as a child, in 2010 endured a brain hemorrhage and an emergency appendectomy and months later had surgery to repair a hole in his heart. In 2020, he revealed he was being treated for skin cancer.
Tommy Lee of Mötley Crüe
When you think of the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle, you might as well picture Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee. From hard living to lady loving, Tommy embodies the stereotype.
Tommy Lee isn’t just famous for his music and the, er, intimate video he made with now-ex-wife Pamela Anderson — the mother of his two sons — that was leaked in 1995. The Mötley Crüe drummer is also known for his stints on reality TV (remember “Tommy Lee Goes to College”?) and other various television projects. The rocker, who was married to actress Heather Locklear from 1986 to 1993 — pre-Pam — wed again, making former social media influencer Brittany Furlan his bride, in 2019.
Dee Snider of Twisted Sister
Hits like “I Wanna Rock” and “We’re Not Gonna Take It” thrilled the rock-hungry masses, and Twisted Sister lead vocalist Dee Snider regularly wowed with his freaky-glam stage persona.
For starters, Dee Snider cut his hair! Then he took his talents to Broadway, where he performed in the musical “Rock of Ages.” In 2014, he debuted a musical of his very own, “Dee Snider’s Rock and Roll Christmas Tale,” at Chicago’s Broadway Playhouse. As for his solo albums? Dee has released four, including 2018’s “For the Love of Metal.” Dee is still married to his longtime love, costume designer Suzette Snider, with whom he shares four children.
Gene Simmons of KISS
KISS first hit it big in the ’70s and continues rocking today. If you’re not familiar with their hits like “Detroit Rock City,” we’re sure you recognize their trademark makeup — and Gene Simmons’ seven-inch tongue!
From 2006 to 2012, fans met the man behind the makeup on his reality TV show, “Gene Simmons Family Jewels.” In 2011, the KISS rocker — who previously wooed Cher and Diana Ross — finally married longtime partner Shannon Tweed. The duo have been an item for more than three decades and have two kids together. In 2019, he and his bandmates kicked off their final concert trek — aptly named the “End of the Road” world tour — which has been temporarily halted due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi
His band might have been called Bon Jovi, but Richie Sambora actually co-wrote many of the group’s biggest hits with lead singer Jon Bon Jovi.
Richie Sambora regularly found himself in the headlines thanks to run-ins with the law, stints in rehab and his tumultuous love life: The guitarist — who famously dated Cher and shares an adult daughter with ex-wife Heather Locklear — was also off-and-on with Denise Richards from 2006 to 2012. He was then in a relationship with Australian singer-songwriter Orianthi from 2014 to 2018. Richie, who quit Bon Jovi in 2013 after 30 years so he could focus on daughter Ava — but continued to perform solo and with Orianthi under the name RSO — also co-founded lifestyle and fashion line Nikki Rich. Metal couture, anyone?
Sebastian Bach of Skid Row
Sebastian Bach lived up to his namesake by making metal an art form. But Johann Sebastian Bach certainly didn’t have golden locks like this rock stud — or hits like “18 and Life.”
Yes, even Sebastian Bach got bit by the reality TV bug. He appeared on VH1’s “Supergroup” and jammed alongside legends like Ted Nugent, Evan Seinfeld, Jason Bonham and Scott Ian. He went on to make appearances on television shows including “Trailer Park Boys” and “Gilmore Girls.” But it hasn’t been all good times for the Skid Row singer: In 2011, he and his wife called it quits after 18 years of marriage. Later that year, Hurricane Irene destroyed his New Jersey home. In 2014, he released his fourth studio album, “Give ‘Em Hell.”
Ozzy Osbourne of Black Sabbath
Mock devil worship and urban legends about deviant stage antics gave Ozzy Osbourne just the kind of rep a rock legend needs. So surely he’s as tough and crazy as the rumors make him out to be, right?
“The Osbournes” re-introduced Ozzy Osbourne to the world as the fumbling, mumbling patriarch of his Hollywood clan — and made stars out of his entire family. But it hasn’t always been easy for the father of six, who in recent years has weathered serious health problems, affairs that affected his long marriage to Sharon Osbourne, struggles with drug and alcohol addiction and more. In 2020, Ozzy — who’s repeatedly had to postpone his final world tour due to injuries sustained in a fall as well as the coronavirus pandemic — revealed that he’d been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
Slash of Guns N’ Roses
You might know him best for his trademark mop of hair and top hat, but it’s Slash’s guitar prowess that made him famous. Total Guitar magazine once named his riff in “Sweet Child o’ Mine” the best in music history.
He’s still Slash, all right! In 2001, the Guns N’ Roses guitarist married Perla Ferrar. They renewed their vows in 2011, though ultimately divorced in 2014. The father of two taught a whole new generation to appreciate his coolness by licensing his likeness to the video game “Guitar Hero III.” In 2016, Slash reunited with Guns N’ Roses to headline the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Along with original band members Axl Rose and Duff McKagan, Slash also embarked on the Guns N’ Roses “Not in This Lifetime… Tour” from 2016 to 2019.
Rob Halford of Judas Priest
Judas Priest found success in the world of metal with their music — and infamy in the world of pop culture when it was alleged that the subliminal message “do it” in their song “Better By You, Better Than Me” had convinced a fan to take their own life. But the band’s legacy of body-shaking music is how they’re best remembered.
Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford stunned the music world when he came out as a gay man in 1998. Though he’s shied away from LGBTQ+ rights advocacy, his coming out nonetheless marked a famous first in the rock world. He happily counts sobriety among his other accomplishments. In 2010, Judas Priest earned a Grammy for best metal performance for the live version of “Dissident Aggressor.”
Jani Lane of Warrant
Warrant scored a major hit with “Heaven,” but they’re probably best remembered for the rock standard “Cherry Pie” — and Jani Lane’s impressive vocals! Speaking of “Cherry Pie”…
Jani Lane actually married Bobbie Brown, the model from the “Cherry Pie” music video. Sadly, their marriage didn’t last. Jani also appeared on “Celebrity Rehab” and “Celebrity Fit Club.” Sadly, the father of four — who married twice more — passed away of alcohol poisoning in 2011.
Steven Tyler of Aerosmith
Easily one of the most famous groups of all time, Aerosmith has a seemingly infinite catalog of rock hits. It’s too bad that most youngsters know them as “the band that did that song from ‘Armageddon,'” or their frontman as “actress Liv Tyler’s dad.”
Steven Tyler is still going strong — at least as far as his star power is concerned! In 2011, he surprised fans by becoming the new Paula Abdul on the “American Idol” judging panel. And while that decision wasn’t received warmly by Aerosmith fans — or allegedly by his bandmates! — it hardly bothered Steven. In 2016, he released his debut solo album, “We’re All Somebody from Somewhere.” Steven has also continued to tour with Aerosmith over the years. In 2019, the band began their “Deuces are Wild” concert residency in Las Vegas. The rocker has been married twice and has four children.
Sammy Hagar of Van Halen
Though he scored his first hit, “I Can’t Drive 55,” before his days fronting Van Halen, the song and Sammy Hagar’s persona got inextricably wound up in the history of this legendary rock band. Fans were divided on whether he adequately replaced former frontman David Lee Roth, but Sammy undoubtedly left his mark on the band and the genre.
Outside of Van Halen, Sammy Hagar has made quite the career as an author, a purveyor of tequila and as the owner of the Cabo Wabo chain of booze emporiums. Sammy is also part of the band Sammy Hagar and the Circle, which formed in 2014. They released their debut studio album, “Space Between,” in 2019, followed by their second album, “Lockdown 2020,” in 2021. The father of four has been married twice over the span of his lengthy career in rock ‘n’ roll.
Paul Stanley of KISS
He’s iconic enough in his face paint, but put a guitar in Paul Stanley’s hands and you’ll understand why he’s a god among rockers. And though he continues to wail away even today, music isn’t his only creative outlet…
Though KISS and Paul Stanley are still going strong — they’ll finish their final world tour as soon as the coronavirus pandemic allows — the rocker has also wowed fans with his art talents: He’s a respected painter. The rocker and his wife, Erin, welcomed their third child (and Paul’s fourth) in 2011.
Alice Cooper of Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper paved the way for guys like Marilyn Manson to shock and rock with a lady’s name. Alice and his eponymous band have a huge discography, but “School’s Out” stands out as one of the best rock anthems of all time.
Alice Cooper is still rocking. In 2001, he found a way to shock even the most jaded of rock fans when he came out… as a born-again Christian. Talk about a curveball! He also beat his addiction to alcohol — by replacing it with an addiction to golf. In 2012, he made an appearance in Tim Burton’s feature film adaptation of “Dark Shadows,” which starred Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer and Helena Bonham Carter. Alice and Johnny are also in the band, Hollywood Vampires, together. In 2021, Alice will release his 21st solo album, “Detroit Stories.” The rocker has three daughters with his wife of almost four decades.
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