Riff Retrospective: Motley Crue "Girls, Girls, Girls"

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Its time for a brand new Riff Retrospective with Uncle Ben Eller! This time, we are gonna be talking about one of my absolute favorite albums from Motley Crue, their legendary 1987 album "Girls, Girls, Girls"!!! This record is chock full of sleaze, grime, and SICK RIFFS courtesy of Mick Mars and Nikki Sixx, and i'm gonna give you a guided tour of ALL the hottest cuts from the full album! No song is left untouched, cause there's killer bluesy riffs in every single song. Cure are the KINGS of the I-IV, and i'm gonna prove it to you!
Gear:
Dunable USA Minotaur
Synergy Soldano SLO
Revv Generator 100P power section
UA OX
What album do you wanna see featured on the next installment of Riff Retrospective? Let me know in the comments!

[@nahnotsomuch2292]

35+ years later and Wild Side still gets me fired up. Hands down my fav Motley tune.

[@Richorob]

Same!

[@K.V.H.]

Mick is criminally under-rated, and it makes me sad. Sure he wasn't overly technical or flashy, but his riff and solos fit perfectly. His solos flawlessly complimented the songs. Nothing more, nothing less, and that's just fine And OMG that picture of Eddie in the background 😍

[@1badsteed]

She's only 15...She's the reason, the reason that I can't sleep! Nikki was a fan of Tracii Lords,who started acting in ADULT movies when she was 15

[@K.V.H.]

@@1badsteed All in the name of, All in the name of ROCK N' ROLL!! 🤘

[@SkeeterMcBeater]

The best riffs aren't the ones with technical & harmonic complexity. The best riffs are the ones that get the mammaries jiggling. Also, that double-cut is beautiful.

[@Vulneravariable]

I saw Motley Crue on their first farewell tour. I arrived as a Tommy Lee fan (I mean, a rotating drum set is hard to beat). Then something involuntary happened: Mick Mars melted my face. It was a good show, but Mick Mars absolutely carried that concert. He’s a beast.

[@brianbrian1769]

Every guitarist wishes they'd been a drummer and every drummer wishes they'd been a guitarist. 5th law of feral dynamics. Maybe 6th. I lost count.

[@futarydary]

check out his guitar track from the latest 2022 tour. GUY IS A BEAST

[@thedoctormd1]

Nice to see no heavy distortion. MM was/is such a clean and solid picker.

[@BenEller]

Exactly! Those tones have a lot less gas on them than most people think.

[@RizoftheDead]

I share the sentiment that they went into this album with the idea of supplying strip music for all eternity, and bless them for it.

[@jamiec9080]

Girls will always be my favorite Crue album. Because it just sounds so raw and greasy

[@rockout55551]

Too young to fall in love is one of my favorite rock tunes.

[@KingBeevr]

Dude, you are making me feel super old. In '87 I was just hitting my teenage years. I went to my first concert, Def Leppard/Tesla, in November. I was 14 and life was glorious.

[@perpetualbystander4516]

And I was 19, but life was still glorious. 😁

[@richardspillers6282]

Be old, the rest of us will be jealous.

[@shanemiller6982]

Ben , you were my first KZbin guitar channel and your still my favorite.

[@BenEller]

Huzzah! Thank you!

[@gkroberts7816]

Live wire. Down stroke awesomeness Mick has always been an under rated player. He makes Motley Crue sound the way they do. Just look at when he guest plays with Crash Diet ( I dont care) who sound great as is btw. He brings their sound to another level. Love Mick. Guys a gun.

[@dirktucker77]

I love D standard tuning. It sounds awesome

[@wordsintowins]

Same ol situation does the same thing. The classic blues riff you showed.

[@PC85X]

Too Young to Fall in Love is my fav riff.

[@Jeffmetal42]

I know John 5 is a crazy good guitar player, but Crue will never be the same without Mick. He was the heart and soul behind anything they ever did that was awesome. They should have just let their final tour actually be their final tour.

[@CrueHead18]

So true what you said about Mick. He's not a shredder. But what he contributed to Mötley and those bands at the time. Underrated.

[@Black-Viper75]

Mick is the reason I started playing guitar. Wild Side, Dancing On Glass and All In The Name Of... are some of his coolest riffs. I still love playing them after all these years. #iStandWithMick

[@JustAdude291]

Definitely my favorite crue album too, bad boy boogie and all in the name of, dancing on glass, wild side, so many of my favorite motley crue songs. So sleezy and blusey sounding, I love Mick Mars

[@gibonshank3680]

My favourite Motley album as well. Super underrated.

[@RazorRiley]

Love it, Mick Mars is why I started playing 27 years ago this week! 🤘🏽

[@beforethunder4987]

Yes, he was a big influence on me as well.

[@leftofzeroofficial]

Mick had the three Ts, tone taste and talent. Seriously a riff monster and definitely carried motley, no way that they would have been half as big without Mick. No way.

[@TheBfutgreg]

Curious how John 5 can fill in that role....he's a great player as well, much more technically gifted/skilled too so curious if he'd play by the numbers in their shows....it's said they'll never record another studio album but they say all sorts of shit that's contradicted by the flow of time

[@leftofzeroofficial]

@@TheBfutgreg from what I read the other day they are recording stuff. As for Mr 5, he is a ridiculously good player, total beast but, in my personal opinion he doesn't have the swagger Mick has. Live videos are proof. He plays the songs perfectly, but definitely feels wrong .

[@magamaga1827]

I know nothing about playing guitar, but I sure as hell can tell you how great it was to be a teenager in the Summer of 1987 with Girls, Girls, Girls plastered on MTV all day! Great time to be alive.

[@StuPedassol]

I too, was just a wee lad back then and growing up thrash/punk, meant I wasn't really "allowed" to enjoy Crüe stuff. However, as I matured and kinda took that "I dont care" attitude to it's natural conclusion, I found myself enjoying some of the carefree, Mars' driven rock. Thanks, Uncy Bang!

[@Jeffmetal42]

man, I know exactly what you mean ab being in the Thrash scene and not being "allowed" to like certain things. I used to have hide to enjoy Gangster Rap and other styles of music. It followed me into my Death Metal conversion but In my early to mid 20's I stopped giving a shit and finally was free to listen to whatever. Silly looking back, but getting caught up in a scene can do weird stuff to a person. 🤘Cheers!

[@brianbrian1769]

You did the thing with the u. How'd you do that. Ű AHA! Thänks I really didn't know how to do that. Ü r a good teacher

[@ThePhilTorretto]

Thank you Uncle Ben for once again reminding the world of what a Riff Master Mick Mars was/is and giving proper respect to Mötley Crüe in general. You are a National Treasure. 😉🤘🏼

[@BenEller]

Many thanks!

[@benpowersguitar]

Mick knows how to lay down a groove. Pretty tasteful soloing as well.

[@ponzo1967]

I was 18 when Girls came out, we had alot of fun with rhis record. Its just fun music to listen to and dabble in. Its also been fun going over the riffs, I forgot how much I miss these songs.

[@mathewhudson7649]

Mick was just a riff monster, luv the Crew for that. LOL you're right, I can't unhear the sesame melody

[@simonpsychosis2812]

That all-downpicked riff in Live Wire would give most guitarists carpal tunnel syndrome. Brutal.

[@BenEller]

So fast!!!!

[@fatShowPony]

I remember playing that in the cover band I used to be in, I had to stretch my wrists (holding a drumstick then twisting out) otherwise I kept cramping up.

[@k_im.c_am]

I love hearing covers of this song, fucking Mick man. Fuckin Mick Mars “Thanks babe”

[@silvertear87]

This is so cool. This is part of why I love transcribing songs. You pick apart this heavy music and find all these cool licks from blues and other genres you wouldn't think about, especially when it's slowed down.

[@darthdurkelthewise320]

Dude, first off I thought I was the only one that thought that melody sounded like the Sesame Street theme! I felt the same way as a kid as I was way more of a “Shout” era MC fan than I was a “Girls” fan so kudos to your wife! As the years went by I’ve grown to appreciate that record a lot more. Secondly, Mick Mars was and will always be IMO the heart & soul of Motley Crue. Personally, I even really love the “TOP” record although it’s not a band fave. All Mick’s stuff is killer and thanks Ben for featuring his greatness 🤘🏻

[@dmitch1983]

The solo in You're All I Need was 🔥

[@AlbertoHernandez-ow3xh]

Love Girls girls girls, but Kickstart my heart is where they really gave the beans

[@KarlKarsnark]

Gods bless Mick Mars. One of the all-time great Riff lords with a killer tone too. \m/ (Imagine making a vid like this today. LOL! and it was what kids were watching on MTV!)

[@christopherhorton4634]

Mick rocks so damn hard. He has melted more faces than an A Bomb.

[@wildcyote717]

I literally looked up how to play "Girls Girls Girls" yesterday, perfect timing Uncle Ben!

[@andrewpappas9311]

I’ve always thought Mick was always fairly underrated, he’s such a great guitarist and wrote some of the coolest hard rock riffs imo and Girls, Girls, Girls is no exception. Definitely one of his best

[@LuisLondonG]

I've listened to this video 2 times yesterday and 2 times today, also going back and forth. Awesome riffs, awesome tone on your guitar!

[@deadlegends5498]

I was just diving back into this album yesterday! Thank you universe for blessing me with this upload

[@SlyHikari03]

I remember playing this with a cover band from school of rock (a music lesson school) back in 2018-ish. and my guitar was tuned in e flat while everyone else was in D standard. Worst moment at a gig but hey, the guitar techs didn't tune the guitars before the song happened. Thats one memory i have of this song.

[@neenjaaa]

You are such a great personality and adept teacher. I value your contributions. 🎉

[@neenjaaa]

I’ve learned so much from your videos alone at the point I feel like I owe you money. Endless thanks for all you’ve given for free.

[@TheRicardoSanchez]

Uncle B you’re approaching national treasure level 🤘🏻

[@scribeofsolace]

Watching this on birthday!!! I share it with sir Mick. Great breakdown. One of my favorite riffs of all time for me. Catchy, dirty and innovative.

[@BenEller]

Happy birthday!

[@scribeofsolace]

@BenEller thank you Ben!! Huge fan. You've helped me a ton.

[@KarlKarsnark]

"Wild Side" is an EPIC! as a vid, lyrics and riff. Probably their "darkest" song. The drum solo is probably still the best ever.

[@deano572]

Ben this video is such a good, instantly motivational lesson. I was nose to the grindstone in theory for a couple months, now I’m pushing aside the scales and gonna play crue licks this week! I was in high school when the first album was released…. So this hits me smack dab in the soul

[@beforethunder4987]

Too Fast for Love is my favorite album. Raw, hard and attitude. Mick Mars is most certainly in my list of under rated guitarists. The title song is so great. Simple but carrying the same frame across and down the fret board......very cool. Oh, by the way, I missed seeing them in Nashville 1985....long story but that was the night I got booted from the military lol

[@seanxduffy]

This brings back the days of trying to learn this Drop-D, because I didn't want to reset my Floyd Rose....fixed bridges, oh yeah...thanks for the memories Ben

[@davidbrassard9125]

Amazing album, one of the guitar tone ever. Underrated. The Girls Girls Girls tour with Whitesnake was an wonderful experience. 87 rules!

[@1badsteed]

My first concert!

[@shawnok1]

Mick has never got the credit he deserves.

[@Yttikymmug]

first time I had to turn down the volume listening to your vid! Crue loud and proud!

[@deigov]

Appetite For Destruction! Both Izzy's and Slash''s riffs

[@BenEller]

Oh that’s definitely coming!

[@johnmorrison9883]

​@@BenEller Yay

[@randallhaney7909]

Yes indeed, Cool stuff and more Cool stuff. thanks Boss, You are Appreciate.

[@IWishUWereTacos]

More of this! I really enjoy these album riff breakdowns 🤘

[@c-6-c]

Obsessed w the guitar sound on this album specifically. So much muscle in it. Thank u❤️

[@asshat7160]

Dunable guitars are the absolute bomb. Iv sold many guitars I swore I'd never sell to acquire a few of those customs. Got an Asteroid and a Cyclops...next up is a yeti.

[@TylerGuitar5617]

Awesome! More Crue plz! Micks playing is never really delved deep into. But the riffs are bonkers! Also, love the shoutout for Micks downpicking. I Remember too young to fall in love kicking my ass years ago.

[@frostyriffs]

Awesome stuff. I wanted tattas painted on the back of my guitar just like Mick did. Skip to 1988 and Zakk Wylde hit the scene with the boss man. No rest for the wicked retrospective would be cool.

[@lailer1975]

“No rest for the wicked” would be great.

[@judu2b]

I still remember the first night I played that record. Definitly a before and an after into my guitar journey. Actualy I made several guitar pro tabs of that album that still are references. even though, there's some mistakes. I've wrote them 10 years ago when I was a young teenage Cruehead, and there was no such tools as today. Anyway, great video !

[@johnnyhd]

Awesome lesson! And awesome Motley love fest. Thanks for highlighting the coolness of this album. Would love similar either the other motley albums. Of course too fast and shout although they have probably been gone through numerous times. Theatre would be awesome!!!

[@Gerisheng]

Thank you! This album is a treasure trove of raw, tasty riffs. For some reason that I've forgotten, I ignored this album for years. Then I "discovered" it a couple of years ago. Now I can't listen to it enough, and it's all about Mick. It doesn't matter to me who is the credited songwriter, Mick's riffing on this album is huge ear candy.

[@jayschulz8060]

Big bird and Elmo with Mick Mars . Yup my birth and teen years

[@ColinCayvzmusic1111]

Hellz yeah. Dancing On Glass is a super underrated riff and song 🤘

[@patrick6951]

Hey Uncle Ben! Great stuff! Love the old Crue licks, classics. Wondering if you’d do suicidal tendency pledge your allegiance, guitar lesson. Thanks

[@deltalegendsguitaramplific5450]

Thänks Un̈cle Bën !

[@PastirellaGuitar]

Love these, and all your videos (and you!)

[@mazbou]

I have always liked the music and the playing on Motley Crue songs but I just can't stand Vince Neil...just can't. This video demonstrates the music perfectly! Thanks Uncle!

[@ericklingenberg5309]

He was tolerable for a time, but now he just can't perform at all!

[@mindofmatter071]

I can't unhear that...thanks alot! Damn it, Damn it,Damn it!!! Dancing on glass is and will always be one of my faves from the crew.

[@mikesurel5040]

Dear god, that sesame street/ girls girls girls thing. My wife did that to me a few weeks ago with the chorus from scorpions rock n roll band and the theme from law and order.

[@sickman777]

we were teen doing skateboard listening to that album in a loop!

[@JasonMcNamara]

Stoked you included “Something For Nothing”. I remember struggling to play that riff back in the day with just a Drop D before I learnt they were tuned down a Tone across all strings. Drop D vs D Standard… two very different worlds. System Of A Down also live in D StandardVille (well with occasional Drop C’s for fun).

[@Mixolydio]

I’ll call the un-unhearable Sesame Street/Girls Girls Girls connection with the chorus of Juice Newton’s Angel of the Morning and Whitesnake’s Here I Go Again

[@DaganWilkin]

This is sublime work! 🙌

[@scottthompson850]

My favorite Crew album. Mick had some some the coolest riffs of the era.

[@577buttfan]

Ahhh I think theater of pain and shout had the best.

[@gitaaa7740]

My fav Looks That Kill!

[@23dvs]

A ‘Back in Black’ or ‘Highway to Hell’ album rundown would be cool….lots of great classic riffs!

[@BenEller]

How about Powerage?! Most underrated album of theirs by far!

[@23dvs]

@@BenEller that’ll work 👍

[@standingvertical3048]

Yes sir!! good stuff.

[@carsandconcerts]

Awesome lesson!!!👍👍👍

[@oldmanriff7633]

Hah! Reminds me of a shop I worked at in the 90s with a couple of guys younger than me. I put Lynch Mob's "Wicked Sensation" on the shop cd player (there's a killer retrospective album for ya) and one of the young guys looked at the other one and said: "Stripper music." They weren't wrong!

[@kingdwan6486]

"A riff so nice, they used it twice".... Rock poetry at its very best. Love your vids. Keep Rocking!

[@georgebanks4360]

Wild Side has been one of my favorite MC tracks. Can’t explain it but to me that riff just kicks large ass. Hey BTW I love your rice, man.

[@HannahCope88]

Love this Ben! Girls!Girls!Girls! is just a banger of a tune, always turned up to 11 when it comes on on my radio 🤘🔥

[@63Spatch]

Sunny day! Thanks Ben.....🤣🤘

[@aerosmith7175]

One of my favourite albums thanks Ben 🤘 Could you consider doing more synyster gates or a7x videos in the future on how he makes such awesome solos

[@AD1978leo]

One of my favorite albums for sure. Always really liked You're All I Need. The solo is so different from most of their stuff.

[@teddwayne]

I was living in East Texas back when this came out/was a huge SRV/blues fan,plus I was trying to learn to play guitar,and stuck on the blues scale. I drove my buddies crazy,always saying this album was kick ass blues! They would say -NO WAY! Its Crue! HA HA ! Great album,great lesson here Ben ! Thank you young man!

[@theantiqueninja4743]

Always awesome. Thanks Uncle Ben

[@dstdrummer]

I do like me some Crüe Girls Girls Girls was actually my first concert ever. Whitesnake/Mötley Crüe July 24th 1987

[@shawnpedersen6330]

Great rhythm guitar please do the solos🤘

[@brianbrian1769]

Mick MADE Motley!

[@empirelight5477]

Riff retrospective album tour!!! Love it.❤ How about kill 'em all or master of reality?

[@bghammock]

Too Fast, Shout, and Girls for me. Saw Crue live for the second time on the Girls tour. Great stuff live! Thanks Ben! Great retrospective! Oh crap .. Sesame Street .. AAAARRRGGGGGGHHH!!!

[@stefanloof1643]

Love it, Ben - you’re the best! 🎸Cheers from Sweden!🇸🇪

[@pilot4them2010]

Mick is one of the most under rated 80’s guitarist. He is in my top 3 of my favorite guitarist which include Vito Bratta and David Gilmore. Thanks for showing Mick some much needed love.

[@brianbrian1769]

Mick MADE Motley!

[@hikimad1523]

So what you're telling me is it alll started with Sesame Street. Great work Ben, enjoyed the video.

[@AlexPhantom1292]

Dancing on glass is for me, it´s the best Girls, Girls, Girls song

[@felipegomabrockmann2740]

I enjoyed every single second of this video. So much fun.

[@BenEller]

Thank you!

[@thephatalien]

Fantastic lesson Ben! Mick is a definite blues riff master. Thanks for breaking it down.

[@Kvltiam]

Appreciate you! best guitar lessons 🤘🏼

[@johnsguitarmusicanddemos]

_Great tabs Ben. ⚔️🛡️ Definitely enjoying this cuz I love jamming to this album and Shout at the Devil._