Motley Crue, who helped usher in a swarm of glam-rock metal bands in the 80s and has since put up its lipstick and hair spray, will visit the Arena on Saturday. And on Monday at the Arena, 311, who is paving ways in the 90s with its twist of funk, rock and reggae, will play.

The Crue is touring for the first time in five years with outspoken frontman Vince Neil back in front of the microphone.

Crue bassist Nikki Sixx said that though the band has changed lead singers twice in the last few years, the wild demeanor of the band has remained the same.

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It’s the same attitude we’ve always had. It’s sarcasm and angst in rock. We’re smart asses with chips on our shoulders, he said. The band definitely lives by its own rules.

With the four of us together, it gets pretty chemical on-stage. It’s really good.

The Crue began rocking mainstream music in 1982 with the release of its debut album Too Fast for Love. After that, the band became one of the more popular glam-rock acts of the 80s with the help of albums Shout at the Devil and the derisively titled Girls, Girls, Girls.

It was not until the band released its greatest hits album Decade of Decadence in 1992 that Neil left the band much to the dismay of adoring Crue fans.

When the band regrouped with its original lead singer, the Crue released Generation Swine this year, the first full-length studio album since 1989’s Dr. Feelgood. The album utilized the original lineup of Sixx, Neil, guitarist Mick Mars and drummer Tommy Lee.

Sixx said the songwriting for the new album picked up right where it left off five years ago.

When I’m pissed I write a song. When I’m depressed, when I’m happy, when I’m in love I have emotional trigger points and that’s why I write songs, he said. They’re a little escape from consciousness.

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His songwriting influences range from the Sex Pistols and the Ramones to David Bowie and early Rolling Stones.

I always dug pop songwriters, Sixx said. I was never really so influenced by bands visually as I was by their music.

At Saturday’s concert, the Crue will be offering fans an opportunity to enjoy the show long after the ringing in their ears has subsided. Sixx said the band is allowing tape recordings and video cameras at the concert because it is something fans have been wanting to do for a long time.

Our record company (Elektra) tries to dictate to the fans what is cool, and I’ve never dug that, he said. Our fans have really wanted a live album, so we decided to let them make their own.

Rockford natives Cheap Trick will open the concert with a repertoire of songs dating back to 1977 when the band burst onto the popular music scene with their self-titled debut. Cheap Trick was a Top 40 radio staple in the late 70s and early 80s with such pure pop songs as Surrender and I Want You to Want Me.

The band made a comeback to radio in the later part of the 80s when it released the pop ballad The Flame. The song garnered heavy radio play and introduced the band to a whole new generation of listeners.

While the Motley Crue and Cheap Trick concert Saturday will bring fans back to the 80s, 311 will pull out its arsenal of modern rock to give fans a dose of 90s rock n’ roll Monday.

The quintet mixes its rock songs, such as the popular single Down, with an ample supply of rich reggae songs and guitar-driven funk.

Benjy Jeffords, a senior in radio and television from Marion who has seen 311 perform, said one of the reasons he likes 311 is its ability to mix different approaches toward rock n’ roll.

I like the blend of their music because they have instruments and turn tables, he said. (The music) has got a little bit of funk to it. Sometimes it’s a little bit rap and a little bit alternative, but it’s definitely not your usual drums-and-guitar band.

311 has also is notorious for incorporating high-octane energy in its live shows to go along with the sonic mastery of such songs as All Mixed Up and Jackolantern’s Weather.

Jeffords said when he saw 311 in St. Louis during the summer, he witnessed the atomic fury of the band from the intensified surroundings a 311 concert crowd produces.

I spent the whole time in the mosh pit. It was a good show, and it was really energized, he said. There is never a dull moment to it. As long as people are down there cheering and encouraging (311), they’ll keep on playing.

The electricity already will be in the air when 311 takes the stage because opening act Sugar Ray’s magnetic rock sound has the capacity to astound the crowd.

The band’s second album, Floored, moves Sugar Ray away from its concentration on heavy guitar riffs as on its debut album Lemonade and Brownies. The band now incorporates the riffs with more infectious and danceable grooves like the first single from the new album Fly.

It would be logical to expect Arena ticket sales to flourish, especially with two hot bands from the 80s and two relatively new bands of the 90s playing in the next few days.

But SIU Arena Director Gary Drake said ticket sales have yet to meet expected totals.

As far as Arena shows go, (ticket sales) are struggling, he said. We didn’t think we’d blow the doors off with the bands playing, but we thought the sales would be a little better.

Drake said the sales expectations were high out of necessity because the Arena’s expenses are covered by profit garnered from the events.

We get no state funds or students’ fees to pay for special events. They all have to break even or make money to keep the Arena running, he said. A building this age takes a lot of maintenance when you use it like we do.

Tickets:$25 for Motley Crue and Cheap Trick

$22 for 311 and Sugar Ray

Both shows start at 7:30 p.m. For more information or to order tickets call the Arena ticket office at 453-5341.