38 years ago today September 30th: MOTLEY CRUE releases 'Home Sweet Home' single

Published September 30 2023 at 12:55

"Home Sweet Home" is a signature power ballad recorded by American heavy metal band MOTLEY CRUE.

It was originally released in 1985 on their 3rd album 'Theatre Of Pain', and again in 1991 for the 'Decade of Decadence 81-91' compilation album.

It has been covered by several artists, most notably country singer Carrie Underwood, who released her version as a single in 2009 (interestingly, her version made it to #21 on the charts, while the original version only reached #89).

"Home Sweet Home" is one of the great hair-metal power ballads - an epic slow song that expanded the band's aural palette upon its release in 1985, and has proven over time to be one of their most popular and satisfying tracks. Written by drummer Tommy Lee (who provided the instantly recognizable piano intro) and bassist Nikki Sixx (who contributed the melody and world-weary lyrics), "Home Sweet Home" was unlike any other song in the Motley Crue catalog at the time.

The song ranks number 12 on VH1's list of the greatest power ballads.

Here are 5 interesting facts about the "Home Sweet Home" single:

1. The video topped the MTV daily request chart for over three months, until MTV invoked the (unwritten) "Crue Rule", dropping videos from their request line 30 days after their MTV premiere.

2. When it came time to select a second single from the 'Theatre Of Pain' album, the band wanted "Home Sweet Home," but the record company absoutely did not, refusing to promote the song or fund a video. "So we funded it," Nikki Sixx said. "We shot the video ourselves, went on MTV and the rest is history."

3. "Home Sweet Home" is known for its emotional lyrics and powerful delivery, making it a favorite among fans and a song that resonates with anybody with the feeling of longing for home.

4. The song has appeared in various movies and TV shows, including "Hot Tub Time Machine," "The Wedding Singer," and "Napoleon Dynamite."

5. The live sequences for the original video was shot in Houston, Texas live at The Summit during the 1985 'Theatre Of Pain' tour. They actually performed the song twice that night, apparently to get more video footage available for the edit. 

You can watch the video here: