All around the world, tribute bands perform their best impersonations of artists, including Abba and Kiss, and everything in between. Whether it's for financial reasons or simply the love of the artists, these tribute bands put in a lot of time, effort and money into re-creating the stage shows and personas of the artists. On the 7th May 1998, Chronological Crue caught up with Mike Gallagher, the clone of Tommy Lee in Live Wire, to gain an insight into their tribute version of Mötley Crüe.

Chronological Crue: Who are all the members of Live Wire?

Mike Gallagher: EARL BARKER (VOCALS) 28YRS OF AGE. DAN PRIM (GUITAR) 28YRS OF AGE. BEN KELTIC (BASS) 26YRS OF AGE. MIKE GALLAGHER (DRUMS) 27YRS OF AGE.

CC: So when was Live Wire formed and how did it all come about?

MG: LIVE WIRE WAS FORMED BY DEC OF 97, IT CAME ABOUT WHEN WE ALL WERE AT THE SAME PARTY ONE NIGHT. WE ALL COME FROM SEPARATE BANDS AND WE WERE PARTING AT THE PRACTICE PLACE OF THE SINGER. SO AS THE NIGHT WENT ON WE ALL DECIDED TO JAM A LITTLE AND SOME OF THE SONGS WERE MÖTLEY CRÜE. SO WE WERE TALKING ABOUT MÖTLEY CRÜE AND HOW MUCH WE LIKE THEM AND WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GREAT IDEA TO START A TRIBUTE ON THE SIDE AND STILL PLAY IN OUR SEPARATE BANDS. WELL, WE HAD SO MUCH FUN DOING IT, THE TRIBUTE TOOK OVER AND WE FORMED LIVE WIRE. WE ALSO WRITE OUR OWN MUSIC AS WELL AND WILL RECORD SOON HOPEFULLY.

CC: Why was Live Wire chosen for the band's name?

MG: IT WAS THE FIRST SONG WE JAMMED TOGETHER. HOW APPROPRIATE HUH!

CC: Where do you play your Tribute shows?

MG: TRI-STATE AREA. OHIO, PA, NY.

CC: How do you spread the word about your gigs? What kind of promotion are you using?

MG: RADIO, FANZINES AND FLYERS. WORD OF MOUTH!

CC: Do you use any props to re-create Mötley's stage show?

MG: YES, WE DO. TWO BIG BANNERS THAT COVER BOTH SIDES OF THE STAGE WITH THEATER OF PAIN FACES AND OUR LIVE WIRE LOGO. ALSO TWO CANDLE STANDS THAT HOLD 30 CANDLES, FOG AND DEPENDING ON THE CLUB, FLASH POTS. WE ALSO USE THE INTROS "IN THE BEGINNING" AND "T-N-T" AND SOME CLOTHING, LIKE DR. FEELGOOD DRS. COAT AND THE EARLY LOOK OF CRÜE.

CC: I suppose you all study Crüe videos to get the moves down pat, right?

MG: YEA RIGHT!!!! NOBODY DOES IT LIKE THE CRÜE, BUT WE TRY.

CC: What songs do you play live?

MG: SOME FROM EVERY ALBUM WITH VINCE NEIL. WE DO ALMOST ALL THEIR SONGS.

CC: Which of these seem to get the best response from the crowd?

MG: MOSTLY THE REAL EARLY STUFF FROM TOO FAST FOR LOVE AND SHOUT, AS WELL AS FIND MYSELF AND AFRAID.

CC: What size crowds generally roll up to Live Wire shows?

MG: THE TURN OUT HAS BEEN GREAT! IT'S HARD TO SAY HOW MANY, BUT THE CLUB IS USUALLY FULL!

CC: Tell me about the best Live Wire gig to date. What made it the best?

MG: A CLUB CALLED THE CARIAGE HOUSE ON APRIL 30TH. THE CROWD WAS FREAKIN NUTS MAN! THEY SANG AND DANCED LIKE CRAZY PEOPLE. WE LOVED IT. YOU COULDN'T FIND A PLACE TO SIT, AND THE BAR SOLD OUT OF BEER AND HAD TO RUN AND GET MORE. WHAT A BLAST DUDE.

CC: How did you first discover and get into Mötley Crüe?

MG: HARRISBURG PA SHOUT AT THE DEVIL TOUR. IT WAS MÖTLEY CRÜE, ACCEPT, AND RATT. 1983 I THINK.

CC: So what would your favourite Crüe era or album be to date?

MG: TOO FAST FOR LOVE BECAUSE OF HOW HARD THEY MUST OF WORKED TO GET IT UP AND RUNNING.

CC: Do the guys in Mötley Crüe know of your shows?

MG: NO, DAMIT. WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO REACH THEM -"BUT HOW?". PANTERA STOPS HERE IN CANTON, OHIO TO SEE THEIR TRIBUTE. MARILYN MANSON STOPPED HERE AS WELL TO SEE HIS. PANTERA JAMS WITH THEIRS (TRIBUTE) AT A CLUB WE PLAY CALLED SADIE RENEAS. THEY ENDORSE THEM. I WOULD LOVE THE CRÜE TO DO THE SAME. WE ARE KICKIN ASS FOR THEM. WHAT CAN I SAY - WE LOVE THE CRÜE, MAN!

CC: Where do you want to go with Live Wire? What's the longer term plans for it?

MG: TO BUILD THE SHOW BIGGER AND SUPPORT THE CRÜE, AND BE ABLE TO OPEN WITH OUR ORIGINAL MUSIC EACH SHOW BEFORE WE COME ON AS LIVE WIRE.

CC: What's your thought on Mötley's future? Where do you see them in say 5 years time?

MG: MAN!!!! AS THE MUSICIANS THEY ARE, THEY WILL KEEP ON ROLLIN. A MUSICIAN JUST CANT STOP, AND THE CRÜE WILL NOT STOP. I THINK THEY WILL ALWAYS BE INVOLVED IN MUSIC, ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

CC: Thanks for your time Mike, and keep raising your hands to rock!!!!

Mike and the Live Wire guys would love to hear from Crüeheads like YOU. Write them a letter, giving them your thoughts on the interview at Chronological Crue. Send it to them at:

Mike Gallagher
Live Wire
1451 St. Elmo NE
Canton, OH 44705
USA

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