MÖTLEY CRÜE Fanatic: 'I'm Always Defending The Music, But I Can't Defend The Lifestyle'

Malene Arpe of the Toronto Star reports:

"I'm outing myself. Most people would never believe it," says Laura Suchan. She's a 41-year-old mother of two boys and the executive director of the Oshawa Community Museum. But what co-workers and acquaintances may not know is Suchan is obsessed with veteran rockers MÖTLEY CRÜE — and lead singer Vince Neil in particular.

In fact, she's writing a novel "about a fan who meets her idol and finds herself swept up in some awkward situations as a result." And it's based on a CRÜE encounter.

Q: What is your first memory of MÖTLEY CRÜE?

"My very first memory is coming across a picture of the band in the early '80s. It was before 'Shout at the Devil' came out, the album that put them on the map. I saw this picture in a magazine and it made me go out and get 'Too Fast for Love'."

Q: When did you know for sure that you were a fan?

"It was probably after I saw them at the 'Shout at the Devil' tour in 1984. At that moment I thought that I really enjoyed myself, really enjoyed the music. As I got older and got out of school I was able to indulge myself more, travel to see them, meet up with people."

Q: How many concerts have you been to?

"With the band, over 50 and then probably another 40 with Vince Neil. He is my obsession."

Q: Why him?

"I've been trying to think of some profound reason, but I don't have one. It's purely physical, the first time I saw him I thought he really attractive. Since then I've just had an interest in his life. It's been a life of a lot of hardship and a lot of highs and lows."

Q: Have you met him?

"I met him for the first time in the early '90s. My most memorable meeting with him was in Barrie in 2004. I escorted a cancer patient to meet him; we got to spend half an hour with him. It was a really nice, low-key meeting. He went out of his way to meet with this girl with cancer. His 4-year-old daughter died of cancer, so he has an affinity. He was wonderful. I even got a kiss on the cheek."

Q: What do you consider to be the greatest achievement of MÖTLEY CRÜE?

"Probably their longevity. They've been around since the early '80s (and) there are a lot of younger fans getting into it. They're still packing in the audiences."

Q: What are you less thrilled about?

"Some of the off-stage antics of the band. I'm not really the kind of person who is into that kind of lifestyle. You hear about them getting into fights, Tommy going to jail, the assaults, Vince Neil's accident (he crashed a car in 1984, killing a fellow musician). I'm always defending the music, but I can't defend the lifestyle."

Read the rest of the interview at www.thestar.com.