POP MUSIC REVIEW : Vince Neil on Cruese Control

Vince Neil, the rebel without a Crue . . .

But in his show at the Roxy on Sunday, the first with his new band since leaving the multi-platinum L.A. hard-rock group last year, Neil did have Motley Crue songs--four of them, out of 10, in an hourlong set previewing a summer tour opening for Van Halen.

For the most part these were the Crue’s biggest hits--”Kickstart My Heart,” “Girls, Girls, Girls,” “Home Sweet Home,” “Dr. Feelgood”--only one of which Neil even had a hand in writing.

Some rebel! Rather than make a clean break from his old group and stand or fall on the songs from his new album, “Exposed,” the blond belter opted to play it safe. Given that the Crue songs are infinitely catchier than the new material, it’s almost understandable, if wimpy.

The irony is that Neil’s band, which more or less co-stars former Billy Idol sidekick Steve Stevens, might be stronger than Crue. As annoying as Stevens’ squealing fretboard effects are, he can play. But that’s not going matter as long as Neil only asks these guys to be little more than a Crue cover band.