Following his fourth stroke in December 2024, Vince Neil is focused on proving his vocal abilities to himself and to fans, according to bandmate Nikki Sixx. Sixx discussed Neil’s approach to recent performances in an interview with USA Today.
Mötley Crüe took Neil’s health into account when selecting songs for him to perform, while Neil himself approached the work with determination to address long-standing criticism of his live singing.
“This was his fourth stroke, so his health is of most concern, as is the health of the band,” Sixx said.
Neil made clear that he wanted to perform at his best and was willing to take on challenging material. “Vince doesn’t want to pull any punches and we didn’t want to do any songs that maybe were too much on him,” Sixx explained. “But he was, like, ‘I’m in.’ I want to do ‘Red Hot’. I love these songs. He really came to work and was sounding good pre-production. But once we hit the stage, he really came alive. He just wanted to be the best he could be.”
Neil has faced years of criticism over his live vocal performances and other aspects of his career. “He’s taken a lot of bricks in the face over the years for his vocals live and he doesn’t like seeing that kind of stuff,” Sixx continued. “So he really wanted to come in and not only prove to himself but to the fans that he’s vocally totally capable.”
The comments came as Mötley Crüe moved forward with recent performances following Neil’s health setback.
Neil discovered the extent of his stroke history when a neurologist found four scars in his brain, revealing he had suffered four strokes over the years. The most severe stroke struck him on Christmas night 2024 while he was sleeping, leaving his entire left side immobilized. Doctors initially told him they did not think he would be able to return to the stage.
He spent months undergoing physical therapy in Nashville. His recovery was gradual and difficult: he progressed from needing help out of bed, to using a wheelchair, to a walker, then to a cane, before eventually regaining the ability to walk without assistance. By the time of his return to performing, he reported achieving about 90 to 95 percent recovery.
The band’s Las Vegas residency launched on September 12, 2025 at Dolby Live at Park MGM and ran through October 3, 2025, after being rescheduled from spring 2025. The shows were part of “The Return Of Carnival Of Sins” tour, which celebrated the 20th anniversary of the 2005-2006 Carnival of Sins tour and the band’s 45th anniversary. The tour featured special guest performances by Tesla and Extreme and stopped in 33 cities across North America.
Over the years, Neil has received harsh online criticism for his weight gain and an alleged drop in vocal ability. His determination to perform at his best during these recent shows reflected his desire to address such long-standing criticism and demonstrate his capabilities to both himself and his audience.
