Mars wants to review the books
Mötley Crüe co-founding guitarist Mick Mars is suing his former bandmates over financial terms after stepping back from touring last year. TMZ has obtained a lawsuit the rocker has filed stating the band cut his percentage of profits from 25 percent to five percent after he announced his touring retirement in October due to ankylosing spondylitis he has suffered since his late teens.
His suit further claims the band’s lawyers state that Mars should be grateful for receiving any royalties as the band doesn’t feel that they owe him one cent. Mars also claims there was a full band meeting that “unilaterally” removed him from the group.
His suit also accuses bassist Nikki Sixx of “gaslighting” him about his guitar skills diminishing. Mars claims he played each show live from start to finish, but states Sixx pre-recorded all of his bass parts for The Stadium Tour and didn’t “play a single note” on stage. Mars also states most of Vince Neil’s vocals and some of Tommy Lee’s drum parts were also pre-recorded.
Mars is suing for access to the band’s financial records so they can be reviewed to see if he’s receiving what he feels he deserves.
In October, Mars announced his retirement from the road after 41 years with his iconic group. The guitarist, who has suffered from AS since he was in his late teens, says the struggle is too painful to continue touring.
“Mick Mars, co-founder and lead guitarist of the heavy metal band Mötley Crüe for the past 41 years, has announced today that due to his ongoing painful struggle with Ankylosing Spondylitis (A.S.), he will no longer be able to tour with the band,” Mars tells Variety. “Mick will continue as a member of the band, but can no longer handle the rigors of the road. A.S. is an extremely painful and crippling degenerative disease, which affects the spine.”
The next day, the band released a statement reaffirming Mars decision to step away from the band with John 5 stepping in his place.
“While change is never easy, we accept Mick’s decision to retire from the band due to the challenges with his health. We have watched Mick manage his Ankylosing Spondylitis for decades and he has always managed it with utmost courage and grace,” Vince Neil, Tommy Lee and Nikki Sixx write.
“To say ‘enough is enough’ is the ultimate act of courage. Mick’s sound helped define Mötley Crüe from the minute he plugged in his guitar at our very first rehearsal together. The rest, as they say, is history. We’ll continue to honor his musical legacy.
“We will carry out Mick’s wish and continue to tour the world as planned in 2023. No doubt will it take an absolutely outstanding musician to fill Mick’s shoes so we are grateful that our good friend, John 5 has agreed to come on board and join us moving forward. We’ll see all you Crüeheads out on the road!”
Last year, more than 1.3 million tickets sold for The Stadium Tour which also featured Def Leppard, Poison and Joan Jett & The Blackhearts. Mötley Crüe and Def Leppard continue the trek with The World Tour hitting the US, Europe and beyond.
