Concert news: Mötley Crüe to play Save Mart Center Dec. 17

Mötley Crüe is one step closer to its end.

The iconic rock band, which ushered in Sunset Strip hair metal in the 1980s, will play its final show (the band signed legal paperwork and everything) Dec. 31 at Staples Center.

Before that, the band is finishing off the final round of its North American tour with additional dates in October and December, including its stop at Fresno’s Save Mart Center on Thursday, Dec. 17.

Tickets for the show are $20-$129.50 and go on sale 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, at the arena’s box office, select Save Mart Supermakets, online or by phone at 800-745-3000.

Shock-rock icon Alice Cooper continues in the opening slot for this leg of the tour.

The additional shows were the direct result of demand from fans, says Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx.

“We want to say goodbye to as many fans as possible, so we added these shows around the holidays. No better way to spend them than with the people who have supported us over all these years.”

The cities were chosen in part by the fans themselves via social media under the hashtag #DemandtheCrue.

Mötley Crüe last played in Fresno in 2011 with Poison and New York Dolls. The band recently played California’s Mid-State Fair in Paso Robles.

Also on the radar

There is a chance that the iconic leather-clad metal band Judas Priest will be stopping in Fresno on its “Redeemer of Souls” tour, which kicks off Oct. 16 at Vina Robles Amphitheater.

The key word at this point is might. While a press release received last week lists an Oct. 23 date at the Saroyan Theatre and it was added to the band’s tour dates on Pollstar, there is no confirmation of ticket prices on sale dates. If the show is happening, it has yet shown up on Ticketsmaster, the band’s website or the theater’s calendar. Check back for more details.

Judas Priest’s latest records (its 17th) debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 charts last year, proving that metal music is not dead. At least among people who still buy albums.

This story was originally published August 4, 2015 at 11:19 AM with the headline "Concert news: Mötley Crüe to play Save Mart Center Dec. 17."