Metal Sludge — Rock bassist Robbie Crane has recently spoke to the Straight To Video podcast at length about his music history.
Crane who grew up in Hollywood ran in the same circles as members of Guns N’ Roses, Warrant and Red Hot Chili Peppers as a young teenager.
“I was the kid outside the Rainbow with my skateboard” says Crane as he goes on to note seeing the likes of Nikki Sixx (Motley Crue) and Blackie Lawless (W.A.S.P.) along with the who’s who of 80’s rock royalty coming and going.
By the summer of 1986 Crane found himself on the road with Poison and acting as bass tech for Bobby Dall at 17 during summer break before his Senior year at Fairfax High School.
Over the next several years during the late 80’s and early 90’s Crane details his run-ins, friendships, bands, projects and more that includes a laundry list of Sunset Strip stars.
In more recent years Crane has been a member of Black Star Riders since 2014 but really cut his teeth as a member of the Vince Neil Band (1992-1995) and Ratt (1996-2012).
“He gave me $900.00 to be in the video” Crane talking about how much Vince Neil paid him to be in the “You’re Invited (But Your Friend Can’t Come)” 1992 video clip.
Shortly after Crane details going to the (at the time) former Motley Crue singer’s lavish home and sitting in his office as Neil wrote him a check for $5,000.00.
He goes on explaining how excited he was to be in the singer’s new solo group.
Crane then talks how he told his Dad he needed to get a bank account to cash the big check, and it wasn’t until he was actually at the bank with his Dad, that he realized the check was for $50,000.00 and not $5,000.00.
“Vince, it’s Robbie (nervously calling his new boss on the phone)… there is a problem with the check. Dude, it’s for fifty thousand I think you meant to make it for five thousand?” says Crane.
Neil replied: “Five thousand! What are you gonna do with that?”
“I went from zero to a hundred in 2 minutes, I was like wow” says Crane.
Crane talks at length about all kinds of experiences that helped shape him for what has become a 35+ year career doing music.
Over time Crane has also done stints with Adler’s Appetite, Lynch Mob, the Sebastian Bach Band and most recently subbing in Warrant for Jerry Dixon.
Check out the Straight To Video podcast to hear the full interview.
