In a 2009 interview with Rolling Stone, Nikki Sixx and Mötley Crüe frontman Vince Neil revealed what inspired all of the songs on the Dr. Feelgood album. When it came to “Without You,” Sixx noted that when he wrote the song, he’d been spending a lot of time with Lee and Locklear and he “thought to myself one day, ‘Without You’ coming from Tommy’s perspective, life would not be the same.” He went on to call the couple’s relationship “good at the time” and then in true metal fashion apologized for making “sort of a romantic moment.” We forgive you, Nikki. Vince Neil called the song a “great ballad” and admitted that he loves singing it because “it really lets me go and get my voice out there.” 

Unfortunately, the relationship that inspired “Without You” didn’t last; Lee and Locklear divorced in 1994 thanks to “Lee’s ill-concealed on-the-road philandering,” according to Entertainment Weekly. He went on to marry (and divorce) actress Pamela Anderson while Locklear went on to marry (and divorce) Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora. 

There appeared to be no hard feelings between Lee and Locklear years later. On May 10, 2016, which would have been their thirtieth wedding anniversary had they not split, Heather took to Instagram, posted a picture from back in the day of she and Tommy kissing with their tongues out, and captioned it “Happy 30 years baby.” No word on whether or not Nikki Sixx found this sort of romantic.