John Corabi

The vocalist who steered Mötley Crüe through their heaviest era before returning to lead The Dead Daisies today.

John Corabi is an American hard rock singer and guitarist born on April 26, 1959, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He served as the frontman of The Scream during 1989 before replacing Vince Neil as the lead vocalist of Mötley Crüe between 1992 and 1996. During this hiatus for the original singer, Corabi recorded the self-titled album Mötley Crüe in 1994 and the EP Quaternary. Although the music was heavier than previous releases, it did not achieve platinum status, leading to significant challenges for the band. Beyond his time with Mötley Crüe, he is a recognized rock journeyman who has collaborated with acts like Angora, Union, ESP, Ratt, Brides of Destruction, and currently leads the supergroup The Dead Daisies.

Quick Facts

Born

26 April 1959

Birthplace

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.

Genre

Hard rock
heavy metal
glam metal

Occupation

Musician, singer

Instrument

Vocals, guitar

Years active

1988–present

Current member of

ESP; The Dead Daisies

Lore & Background

Corabi's tenure with Mötley Crüe began after bassist Nikki Sixx and drummer Tommy Lee hired him, citing his ability to sing "anything and everything." He recorded the band's 1994 self-titled album, which featured a heavier, more elaborate sound that ultimately failed to sell well. A defining low point occurred before a concert in Tucson, Arizona; despite the venue holding 15,000 seats, only 4,000 tickets were sold. Sixx offered free tickets via radio, but only two fans showed up, convincing him the era was over. When writing for Generation Swine, the record label refused funding unless Vince Neil returned. Corabi departed in 1997 as a result, though he retained co-writing credits on several songs from those early sessions. His contributions were later portrayed by Anthony Vincent Valbiro in the 2019 biopic The Dirt, a depiction Corabi criticized in September 2021 as "incredibly STUPID" and "ludicrous," noting his lack of interest in rejoining the band.

Reader's Guide

John Corabi's career extends far beyond Mötley Crüe, defined by numerous collaborations with established acts. In 1997, he formed the band Union with former Kiss guitarist Bruce Kulick, releasing three albums including The Blue Room. He also played guitar and bass in the Eric Singer Project (ESP), which featured Kulick and included a special appearance by Ace Frehley on a Hendrix cover. Corabi served as the second guitarist on Brides of Destruction's 2004 album Here Comes The Brides, though he left due to creative differences with Tracii Guns and the band's direction regarding their drummer singing lead. He joined Jerry Cantrell's covers band Cardboard Vampyres in early 2004, touring the West Coast until 2005. In August 2008, he parted ways with Ratt to pursue a solo career, having previously replaced guitarist Keri Kelli in that group. He is currently the lead singer for The Dead Daisies and has released solo singles like Your Own Worst Enemy (2022).

Did You Know?

Corabi shared a single microphone with Vince Neil to perform 'Highway to Hell' on the 2008 Motley Cruise.
He was replaced in Ratt by Keri Kelli, whom he later joined for Brides of Destruction and Angel City Outlaws.
His autobiography, Horseshoes & Hand Grenades, was released in 2022 after a long career as a rock journeyman.