Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx has pushed back against long-running claims that the band do not perform live, insisting during a fan Q&A session on X that they "play 100% live". He explained that the band began using backing tracks after seeing Queen do so during "Bohemian Rhapsody", allowing them to bring in orchestral or saxophone elements that cannot be reproduced live while still performing every note themselves, calling it "a win win" for the band and fans alike.

The comments echo a May 2026 interview in which guitarist John 5 defended the band's live performances, insisting Sixx, drummer Tommy Lee and singer Vince Neil all play and sing everything themselves, though backing vocals, sirens and intros are pumped in via track. The row over Mötley Crüe's live authenticity dates back further, including a 2023 claim by former guitarist Mick Mars that only he played entirely live on the band's 2022 stadium tour, an assertion former singer John Corabi said was technically plausible with modern studio software but which he could not confirm having left the band nearly three decades ago.