Mötley Crüe frontman Vince Neil was born Vincent Neil Wharton in Hollywood, California on February 8, 1961. Neil was born to Odie and Shirley Wharton and the family moved frequently around southern California before finally settling in Glendora.As a teenager, Neil attended Royal Oak High School, where he became friends with drummer Tommy Lee. Lee was already a member of Mötley Crüe, and when the position of vocalist opened, he recommended Neil, who was performing with a group called Hard Candy at the time. Vince accepted the job in Mötley Crüe on April 1, 1981. The newly formed band toyed with the band names XMAS, Trouble, Bad Blood and Suicidal Tendencies. In Vince’s autobiography, “Tattoos and Tequila,” he recalls the final choice, saying: “We were a motley crew — a foursome of high school dropouts dedicated to nothing but partying and music.”