Hlas: Motley Crue fans not in tune with Hawkeyes

LOS ANGELES — This week, Staples Center is one city block and a world away from Iowa's football team.

The Hawkeyes' Rose Bowl housing is the JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE Hotel. It is 21 stories of swanky. It also is a very short walk from Staples, the multipurpose downtown arena that is home to the NBA's Clippers and Lakers and the NHL's Kings.

Thursday night, Los Angeles-based rock/metal band Motley Crue is performing at Staples after also performing there on Monday and Wednesday. Tonight is billed as the group's last show, ever, anywhere. It's the end of its 35-year-long run.

But what do fans of the Crue think about the Hawkeyes? What do they think about the Rose Bowl? What do they think of the state of Iowa? I had to ask some of them on their way to the arena Monday night.

'According to a friend of mine who lives in Iowa, the counties' names are on the license plates,' said Richie Maragliano of Long Beach, Calif. Which is true. But then he added something that didn't sound as accurate.

'You've got to stick in your county or you might get pulled over.'

Well, no. But what about Nikki Sixx, Tommy Lee, Vince Neil and Mick Mars? Those are Motley Crue's members, as if you didn't know.

'Motley Crue is more of a lifestyle,' said Mike Lane of Los Angeles, an actor who also writes and does video interviews for Tattoo.com. He has seen the band over 30 times.

'I'll always have Motley Crue with me wherever I go,' Lane said.

Julie Ann Paige of Los Angeles has been a voice-over artist, photographer and senior staff writer for Lost Anarchy Magazine. She calls herself 'Ultimate Bandgirl.'

Her real name is Julie Asperger. 'I'm related to the guy (for whom Asperger syndrome is named) and hate it.'

She said had no opinion about the Rose Bowl, by the way.

Neither did Jaakko Lampinen of Tampere, Finland, who said he was realizing his dream by seeing Motley Crue in concert.

Lampinen said he will spend New Year's in Las Vegas. Asked if he would bet on Iowa or Stanford in a Vegas sports book, he replied 'I don't follow your championships.'

Ricky Shina of San Diego had a keener interest in college football. He's a native Midwesterner who said he's a fan of the Cleveland Browns. And Ohio State.

'With Urban Meyer, Ohio State should win (the Big Ten) every year,' Shina said.

'Iowa's overrated.'

Ouch. I daresay Shina might not have dared tell that to Hawkeye linebacker Bo Bower, but the two would have at least had similar tastes in music.

'I definitely would have gone (to the concert),' West Branch's Bower said Tuesday, 'but there wasn't enough time in our schedule. It's their last tour. It would have been cool to see them.

'I love Motley Crue. When I was growing up, my dad listened to them. I love '80s rock.'

Teammate Josey Jewell of Decorah was in agreement, saying 'Heck, yeah,' when asked if he would see the Crue if he could. 'One hundred percent.'

Meanwhile, Ed Campbell of Bellflower, Calif., was more interested in talking about Motley Crue than the Rose Bowl. But he was loquacious about both subjects.

'I've been to 29 shows and I'm going to the three here,' he said. 'I've been in riots at their shows. I've seen debauchery to the highest extent.'

Presumably, riots and debauchery won't be part of the Rose Bowl's backdrop Friday.

'I like Michigan State because my girlfriend's a Michigan State fan,' Campbell said.

As for the Rose Bowl, he insisted he is rooting for the Hawkeyes. But why?

'My friend has an allegiance to USC, so he hates Stanford.'

That's not quite a 'Let's Go, Hawks!' But this particular crowd was a long way from Iowa. A world away.

Comments: mike.hlas@thegazette.com. Twitter: @Hlas