Vince Neil is no stranger to challenges, but his most recent health scare nearly ended his career. The Mötley Crüe frontman revealed that he suffered a stroke the morning after Christmas, waking up unable to move the left side of his body. “My whole left side went out,” Neil explained, recalling how even walking to the bathroom was suddenly impossible.
According to Review-Journal, Neil shared the news while explaining why the band’s Park MGM residency was delayed. Doctors initially warned him that he might never return to the stage. But Neil refused to accept that outcome. “No, no, I’m going to do it. Watch and see,” he insisted. Months of determination and rehabilitation would follow as he worked toward recovery.
Vince Neil’s Grueling Recovery Journey
The first step was canceling the early shows so Neil could focus on healing. From his Nashville home, he began intensive physical therapy with the support of his longtime girlfriend, Rain Hannah. At first, he needed help just getting to the bathroom. He then advanced from a wheelchair to a walker, then to a cane, before finally walking unaided. “It’s like a full-time job getting back to where you feel good again,” Neil admitted.
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His training included drills led by a local football coach. One of the hardest was the “ladder” drill, designed to rebuild agility and coordination. Neil even had to relearn how to run. Today, he says he is “90 to 95 percent” back to where he was before the stroke. Importantly, his voice was never affected, allowing him to keep working toward performing again.
Returning To The Spotlight With Mötley Crüe
Vince Neil returned to the stage on August 2 with his solo band, performing alongside Bret Michaels and Stephen Pearcy of Ratt. While some fans worried over his slower movements, Neil stayed committed to regaining his strength for Mötley Crüe’s residency shows at Dolby Live in Las Vegas. The setlist promises both deep cuts and classics like “Dr. Feelgood” and “Girls, Girls, Girls.”
Neil also addressed past tensions with former bandmate Mick Mars, who left the group in 2022. Despite the drama, Neil is focused on moving forward with Nikki Sixx, Tommy Lee, and John 5. With the release of Mötley Crüe’s new greatest-hits collection and a run of high-stakes performances, Vince Neil is proving that resilience and rock and roll spirit can go hand in hand.