John Corabi Discusses His Departure from Mötley Crüe: ‘It Was Like a 300-Pound Weight Was Lifted Off My Shoulders’

Corabi’s Experience with Mötley Crüe

Former Mötley Crüe singer John Corabi has spoken out about being fired from the band, saying it was a relief.

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Corabi was part of the group from 1992 to 1996, serving as the singer after Vince Neil was dismissed. However, in 1996, Neil rejoined Mötley Crüe, leading to Corabi’s exit from the band.

Relief Amidst Turmoil

While appearing as a guest on a YouTube show, Rock Daydream Nation, the former singer disclosed that although his dismissal was not his desired outcome, he felt considerable relief due to the tension and chaos within Mötley Crüe.

“There was so much drama and turmoil in this group,” Corabi told host Peter Kerr. “And so when they told me they were bringing Vince back, a huge part of me was upset and angry, but there was another part of me that felt like there was a 300-pound man standing on my shoulders. So at the same time, I felt relieved, if that makes any sense.”

The Replacement Revelation

Corabi also reflected on how he learned that he was being replaced by Neil, explaining that people at the record company, specifically Doug Morris, informed the band that they needed Neil back. “He didn't even know my name. He was like, ‘Get rid of the new guy and bring Vince back.’ And they didn’t inform me until the very end,” he stated.

He continued, “But from the moment we all flew to New York, I knew this was before we even started making what became the Generation Swine record. Damn, that was probably a year and a half ago, a year ago.”

“And I heard: ‘No way, Crab.’ We'll never get this guy back. No way, dude. No way, dude. In the meantime, they met with him, held meetings, and tried to resolve the situation. I think they kept me in their back pocket in case things didn't work out with Vince. I understand. It's the smart thing to do.”

Elsewhere in the conversation, the vocalist shared insights into the band’s internal drama, stating: “I was practicing in the morning with Nikki, and he was discussing Tommy and Mick. In the afternoon, I went to hang out with Tommy to write some music, and he talked about Nikki and Mick. And I was staying at Mick's guest house, so I’d come home in the evening, sit and have a drink with Mick, and he’d talk about Tommy and Nikki.

“And I thought, ‘Oh my God. It's impossible to keep up with all this nonsense.’ If you know what I mean? So when they told me, ‘Hey man, Vince is coming back,’ I was upset. But like I said, it felt like someone had lifted a 300-pound man off my shoulders.”

In other Mötley Crüe news, it was recently reported that the band's iconic drummer Tommy Lee only showers once a week.