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[Photo via Netflix]

10 bands referenced in ‘The Dirt’ who new fans should check out

When The Dirt premiered early in 2019, it reignited the buzz around Mötley Crüe. It introduced the legendary glam-rock band to a generation of music fans who never really caught on to them. Their music was at the forefront of people’s minds and led to them reuniting and announcing a tour after they said they were done for good. 

While young fans may not have experienced the band prior to the Netflix film, there’s plenty of others Mötley Crüe considered peers who are hidden gems in their own right. 

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Take a look below for 10 bands who you will likely enjoy if you’re a new Mötley Crüe fan after seeing The Dirt.

1. Van Halen

It’s surprising that so many people didn’t know how great Mötley Crüe were when they were in their prime, so if you skipped over the band for all these years, Van Halen should be your next stop. They were the ultimate influence for any rock band in the ’80s, and between Eddie Van Halen’s iconic shredding setting the bar for guitarists and David Lee Roth’s too-cool attitude becoming the stereotype of singers throughout the decade, it would be foolish not to dive through their music.

2. Hanoi Rocks

It’s incredibly sad what happened to Hanoi Rocks member Razzle (who died in a car accident), and the band’s career never seemed to bounce back after their time with Mötley Crüe. They fell off after his death, but their discography is something any Mötley Crüe fan can get behind with its British-leaning rock sound.

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3. Dokken

Dokken were only briefly mentioned in the film, but they were an integral part of the ’80s glam-rock scene. Their sound was jammed with highly proficient musicianship, given so many others were about image over skills. They were also a key component of the Nightmare On Elm Street: Dream Warriors film, with their songs being written for the soundtrack.

4. Y&T

It took Y&T a lot longer to catch on than most glam-rock bands, but they persevered and prevailed to become one of the leaders of the Sunset Strip. Aside from a short hiatus in the mid-’90s, the band were consistent in everything they did and are still rocking out today.

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5. James Brown

Even if you don’t think you know the “Godfather of Soul,” you’ve definitely heard his songs before. With four-and-a-half decades’ worth of music to pick through, there’s a never-ending stream of James Brown’s material to choose from, but he’s also famously known as the most-sampled artist in hip-hop.

6. Skid Row

While Mötley Crüe were raging on the road and setting the bar for debauchery, they influenced tons of younger bands in their heyday. Skid Row are a prime example of their influence as their sound takes Mötley Crüe’s influence and gives it a heavier touch. They were also managed by Doc McGhee and caused many problems for him, just like their idols. Just as Mötley Crüe got sober and made Dr. Feelgood, Skid Row stepped in to take their place as the trashy glam-rock hoodlums of the Sunset Strip.

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7. Scorpions

You likely know Scorpions for their song “Rock You Like A Hurricane,” but the band had countless unforgettable hits. The German rockers were an influence on everyone from Guns N’ Roses to Metallica and Megadeth, and despite announcing they were breaking up in 2010, they had their own mini Mötley Crüee moment where fans were supporting them so much, they called off the entire farewell to continue making music.

8. Bon Jovi

Bon Jovi were always favored over Mötley Crüe by their shared manager, which caused a lot of tension that doesn’t get explored in The Dirt. Despite their butting heads, they do have a sound that fits with each other. Think of Bon Jovi as the cleaned up suburban mom version of Mötley Crüe, and that’s essentially what you’ll get by listening to them.

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9. Ratt

Ratt technically weren’t mentioned directly in the film, but guitarist Robbin Crosby was the one who hooked up Nikki Sixx with the heroin dealer who helped him OD. The bands were friendly with each other, and taking the drug use out of the picture, Ratt pulled together some solid tunes if you like the ’80s glam-rock sound.

10. Whitesnake

If you’ve made it through a list of corny glam bands and still find yourself looking for more, the cheesy sounds of Whitesnake should capture what you’re looking for. The band were massive at one point and seemed to constantly be dominating MTV throughout the ‘80s with huge songs including “Here I Go Again” and “Still Of The Night.”