The Crüe Have Plenty More in the Tank…
When you buy a ticket to see Mötley Crüe, you know exactly what you’re getting – massive singalongs, towering stacks of amps, Tommy Lee’s outrageous drum antics, Nikki Sixx stalking the stage, Vince Neil belting out the classics, and enough pyro to warm up half of Wales.
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with hearing Kickstart My Heart, Girls, Girls, Girls, Wild Side, Dr. Feelgood, Home Sweet Home, and Shout at the Devil. They’re legendary for a reason.
But every now and then, every rock fan dreams of hearing something completely unexpected.
Imagine the lights going down and instead of another predictable opener, the band launches into a song that hasn’t echoed around an arena for decades. Those are the moments that become legendary, the ones fans talk about for years afterwards.
With a back catalogue stretching over four decades, Mötley Crüe have more than enough forgotten gems to surprise even the most dedicated fans. Here at The Riff Report, we’ve dug through the archives to pick ten deep cuts we’d absolutely love to see return to the setlist in 2026.
🔥 1. On With The Show
Album: Too Fast for Love (1981)
Before the hairspray reached dangerous levels and the arenas came calling, Mötley Crüe ended their debut album with this emotional slow-burn.
It’s a haunting closer that showcases a completely different side of the band. While it may not have the instant punch of Live Wire, it’s become something of a cult favourite among long-time fans.
🎤 Last known live performance: 1982
⚡ 2. Knock ’Em Dead, Kid
Album: Shout at the Devil (1983)
Ask most fans to name songs from Shout at the Devil and they’ll immediately shout out the title track or Looks That Kill.
But Knock ’Em Dead, Kid is every bit as ferocious.
Powered by one of Mick Mars’ nastiest riffs and dripping with early Sunset Strip attitude, it’s the perfect reminder of just how dangerous the Crüe sounded in their early years.
🎤 Last known live performance: 1984
💀 3. Louder Than Hell
Album: Theatre of Pain (1985)
While Theatre of Pain is often remembered for ballads and glam, Louder Than Hell reminds everyone that the band could still hit like a sledgehammer.
Fast, loud and unapologetically aggressive, this one deserves another shot in front of a modern festival crowd.
🎤 Last known live performance: 1985
🎭 4. Dancing on Glass
Album: Girls, Girls, Girls (1987)
Hidden behind the album’s radio hits lies one of Nikki Sixx’s most underrated compositions.
The groove is infectious, the chorus is massive, and it feels tailor-made for thousands of fans singing every word.
It’s criminally overlooked.
🎤 Last known live performance: 1988
🐍 5. Rattlesnake Shake
Album: Girls, Girls, Girls (1987)
Dirty riffs.
Swagger.
Attitude.
Everything that made Mötley Crüe infamous is wrapped up inside Rattlesnake Shake.
This is the sort of song that would fit perfectly into today’s heavier live production while still delivering all that classic Sunset Strip sleaze.
🎤 Last known live performance: 1988
💉 6. Slice of Your Pie
Album: Dr. Feelgood (1989)
Opening arguably the band’s biggest album, Slice of Your Pie has somehow disappeared from the live show despite being an absolute monster.
Imagine the lights dropping…
The opening riff begins…
The crowd instantly realises they’re about to witness something they’ve waited decades to hear.
Goosebumps.
🎤 Last known live performance: 1990
⚙️ 7. Five Years Dead
Album: Dr. Feelgood (1989)
Dark.
Heavy.
Groovy.
This is one of the band’s most underrated heavy tracks and proves Dr. Feelgood offered much more than just the radio singles.
If there was ever a deep cut built for modern arenas, this is it.
🎤 Last known live performance: 1990
🔥 8. Smoke the Sky
Album: Mötley Crüe (1994)
Let’s address the elephant in the room…
The John Corabi era deserves far more love than it gets.
Over the years, the self-titled 1994 album has become something of a cult classic, with many fans now appreciating just how heavy and bluesy it really was.
Smoke the Sky would absolutely tear the roof off any venue.
🎤 Last known live performance: 1994
🎸 9. Misunderstood
Album: Generation Swine (1997)
Generation Swine remains one of the band’s most divisive releases, but hidden inside is Misunderstood.
A darker, moodier track that showed the Crüe experimenting with a different sound while still keeping plenty of attitude.
It deserves another chance.
🎤 Last known live performance: 1997
🤘 10. Primal Scream
Album: Decade of Decadence (1991)
Despite debuting on a greatest hits album, Primal Scream quickly became a fan favourite and a live staple throughout the early ’90s.
It eventually disappeared from regular setlists, but every time fans discuss dream songs for the band to revive, this one always finds its way onto the list.
It feels long overdue for a comeback.
🎤 Last known live performance: 2015
🎤 Honourable Mentions
The Crüe vault is packed with songs that could easily make this list, including:
- 🤘 Take Me to the Top
- 🔥 Bastard
- 💀 Danger
- ⚡ Raise Your Hands to Rock
- 🎸 Jailhouse Rock (live favourite)
- 😈 All in the Name Of…
- 🐍 Saints of Los Angeles
- 🚨 If I Die Tomorrow
- 💥 Angela
- 🎵 Merry-Go-Round
🤘 The Riff Report Verdict
Mötley Crüe have spent over forty years building one of hard rock’s most recognisable catalogues, but there’s far more to their legacy than the songs played every night.
Bringing back just two or three of these forgotten tracks would instantly make the 2026 tour feel fresh, rewarding the die-hard fans who’ve supported the band through every era while introducing newer audiences to some seriously underrated material.
Whether it’s the crushing groove of Five Years Dead, the sleazy swagger of Rattlesnake Shake, or the overlooked brilliance of Smoke the Sky, these songs deserve another chance to shake arena walls.
Here’s hoping Nikki, Tommy, Vince and John 5 decide to raid the vault rather than stick to the greatest hits.
Because sometimes the biggest surprise isn’t a special guest…
It’s hearing a song you thought you’d never hear live again.
🤘 What Would Be on
Your
Dream Setlist?
Which Mötley Crüe deep cut would you love to hear live in 2026?
Drop your picks in the comments and let us know which forgotten anthem deserves to make a triumphant return to the stage.
Stay loud, stay proud, and keep it locked to The Riff Report for the latest rock news, nostalgia, tour coverage, and everything in between. 🔥🎸
