Cruise control

All aboard the sponsor ship

What?: Don your lifejackets (and check there’s enough lifeboats) as music marketing takes to the high seas. A host of bands – Mötley Crüe, Ratt, Skid Row and Slaughter – will be rocking the boat on the 2008 ‘Motley Cruise’. The event, in association with Vince Neil and Carnival Cruise Lines, promises “four days of rock ‘n’ roll on the high seas [...] filled with music, fun and sun – and of course plenty of Girls Girls Girls!”. The floating resort takes in Miami, Key West and Playa Del Carmen, Mexico with ‘wet and wild’ shore excursions. Rooms start at $479 and those opting for the $1400 -1700 suites get priority seating for concerts.

So what?: Forget going to a concert – go on holiday with the stars instead (just like the tabloids currently do). Vince Neil is creating quite the marketing empire off the back of his debauched hair metal history. Vince has his own vineyard, Dr. Feelgood’s Bar and Grill, plus his own poker and golf tournament. Playing at being rock ‘n’ roll pirates on a luxury cruise liner sounds like a riot (and with such close proximity to your fan base, could well become one). However, I’m holding out for the Pete Doherty Pedlo tour of Great Yarmouth.

“Vince Neil’s Motley Cruise, billed as a wet ‘n’ wild rock ‘n’ roll vacation, was basically some drunken old rockers on a boat. I’ve seen the pictures. It looks like a biker bash with deckchairs.”
Pippa Moye, General Manager, Rokkpool

www.motleycruise.org