According to band manager Doug Thaler in The Dirt, Vince Neil's self-sabotaging behavior in the early '90s threatened his position in Mötley Crüe. Ultimatums, a rehab stint, and promises all resulted, but by the end of 1991, Neil was leaving in-studio rehearsals early, "claiming he was too tired to sing." By February 1992, bassist Nikki Sixx was over it.
During a major rainstorm that flooded large parts of L.A., each member made the treacherous journey to the studio. But not Neil, who, according to Sixx, "lived half the distance away that we did." After waiting for Neil for hours, the band's tour manager faxed the singer, telling him to show up ASAP. Neil then called, explaining that he hadn't done so already because the phone lines were down. Then how did you get the fax? Sixx wondered. "That set me off," he wrote. Then a studio tech pointed out that Neil had been seen partying at 3AM the previous night, and, according to Sixx, "By the time he arrived the seed was already planted in our minds that he was holding us back."
Neill finally arrived, "soaked and sulking." Sixx casually mentioned that the band was considering "new lead singer talks," while Neil retorted that the reason he skipped rehearsals was because "The album is stupid." After more bickering, Neil left in a huff, bellowing, "I'm f****** out of here! I quit!"
"He says he was fired," Sixx wrote. "I say he quit."
