As part of the 2012 hennemusic Rock News Awards – recognizing the biggest rock news stories and artists of the year - hennemusic is counting down the Top 10 Rock News Artists of the year.
Finalists for the 3rd annual hennemusic Rock News Awards are chosen by readers: winners are determined by the combined total page views of the top 50 hennemusic rock news stories of the past twelve months.
The 2012 hennemusic Rock News Awards winners will be announced on Friday, December 21 at hennemusic.com.
Rock News Artist Of The Year - TOP 10
#08 - AEROSMITH
#09 – SLASH
#10 – QUEEN
Rock News Artist of The Year - #7 – MOTLEY CRUE
Motley Crue kicked off 2012 in early February when they were featured in a high-profile Super Bowl ad for a car company; the commercial was actually previewed in movie theaters across the U.S. just days before the big game.
That same month, the Crue launched a Las Vegas residency at the Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, becoming the first hard rock group to play such a series in Sin City.
The following month, frontman Vince Neil announced he was going to open his own strip club in Vegas, just one of the many business ventures he has in the area.
Vince made more headlines in April in a public dispute with the Palms in Las Vegas which left him banned from the hotel.
Following a spring UK tour, the Crue teamed up with KISS for a North American summer run, for which they released a new single, “Sex.”
Vince could not stay out of the headlines, and made more in August when he flipped out on a group of parking valets at the Planet Hollywood in Vegas. The singer reportedly snapped when the valet refused to return his Rolls-Royce, and it was all captured on video (here).
More news for Vince in September when he broke his left foot during a concert in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio; he finished the final few dates of the KISS tour with a cast and walking boot.
Neil launched his own brand of vodka in November, despite a long history of DUI convictions, including a fatal 1984 collision where Vince’s actions killed Hanoi Rocks drummer Nicholas “Razzle” Dingley.
Bassist Nikki Sixx announced his engagement to longtime girlfriend, model Courtney Bingham, in November.
Vince was in the news again in December, taking a swing at a fan in the front row during a solo concert in New Mexico.
Late the same month, Vince announced plans to open a sports bar in Vegas, where he’s lived for a number of years.
Ahead for the Crue in 2013, there’s talk about a possible second Las Vegas residency, while the band is already confirmed for a spring tour of Australia with KISS.
Mötley Crüe 