Mick Mars Sues Motley Crue; All Hell Breaks Loose

Remember back when Motley Crue released a kind of vague statement about Mick Mars retiring and John 5 would be the new touring guitarist? Then the band announced The World Tour with Def Leppard and released an official photo with John 5.

Also recall Mick never released a statement of his own on the retirement?

I thought (incorrectly apparently) that the retirement was just from touring, as Mick still wanted to write and record with the band. Well, now we have news that Mick - the man I consider to be the sound of Motley - is suing the band over tour profits. In short, he's saying he was kicked out and ripped off. Remember, Mick suffers from ankylosing spondylitis which is painful and degenerative. He's been playing in agony for years and years.

Mick also took a jab at Nikki Sixx in the lawsuit, alleging that Sixx uses tracks and does not play his bass live during shows. Putting that aside, the financial argument alleges that Mick was basically stripped of his shares in the band's touring business, meaning he is not getting what he is owed from The World Tour.

So TMZ broke this news Thursday morning. I sat and waited until the rest of the Motley camp (and by that I really mean Nikki Sixx and the legal team) responded. A few hours after Mick's lawsuit made news, the rest of Motley responded and said that the suit is "completely off base." 

Mötley Crüe co-founder Mick Mars IS going away mad ... as they're in the middle of a farewell tour, without Mick, he's suing his ex-band. https://t.co/guHufoRSHZ

— TMZ (@TMZ) April 6, 2023

Deadline has the entire legal filing as a PDF. 

Members of Motley production team and management issued statements declaring that Mick was constantly missing chords during The Stadium Tour and that his performances were "unworkable" and he had to be "retaught" the parts.

This whole thing is just sad. I always thought it was pretty well known the best musicians in Motley Crue have always been Mick Mars and Tommy Lee. Mick actually knows notes and how to play chords. Tommy actually had some drum lessons and enjoys immense raw talent.

Over the past month, drummer Carmine Appice and Nikki Sixx have been in an online feud. Carmine put Nikki on blast saying he doesn't play live. Nikki shot back saying Carmine is "washed up."

So, to recap: sad and shameful. A horrible way for the rest of Motley Crue to treat Mick in this way if his lawsuit is to be believed. When you think about it, why wouldn't we believe Mick? The guy has always just been about playing his guitar. He stays quiet and never makes statements about anything. So for him to do this means he definitely felt slighted and has something to say. For 40+ years we have enjoyed Motley's music. It's a shame for it to all be tarnished in this way. There's no doubt more ugly statements are going to come from this. I also feel for folks that paid hundreds of bucks to see Motley on The Stadium and/or World Tours. At this point, if the entire show is taped, then why even bother to tour, other than for a big grift.

Now we're going to have to endure posts like this - just ridiculous:

MÖTLEY CRÜE's Monitor Engineer Rips MICK MARS's Playing During 2022 Tour: 'I Have Never Seen Mistakes Like This By A Guitarist On Stage'https://t.co/rfq854Tu67 pic.twitter.com/dQ9CDvDeNW

— BLABBERMOUTH.NET (@BLABBERMOUTHNET) April 7, 2023

Update on Friday, April 7, 2023 at 01:16PM by Allyson B. Crawford

Just a heavy freaking sigh. This is getting uglier, still. Nikki Sixx released a statement saying the rest of Motley has been "propping Mick up for years."

Sad day for us and we don’t deserve this considering how many years we’ve been propping him up-We still wish him the best and hope he find’s lawyers and managers who aren’t damaging him. We love you Mick -https://t.co/dhpu7ejxSi

— 📷 (@NikkiSixx) April 7, 2023

As you would imagine, Mick Mars clapped back:

Mick Mars blasts Motley Crue - 'I carried those bastards for years': https://t.co/TNIHXj1Su0

— Loudwire (@Loudwire) April 7, 2023

Also, the world is upside-down and RATT's Stephen Pearcy is now the bastion of common sense:

Yikes, c mon brother 6, lightn up on brother @mrmickmars eek. Propping him up? I hate seeing this, why? We all get the dirt blanket and cement pillow one day and you never know when the day arrives. Like brother “King”, then it’s to late for forgiveness. #livelifelove. ☠️🙏🏻☠️🏴‍☠️

— STEPHEN E PEARCY (@StephenEPearcy) April 7, 2023

Comments

[Him]

Well, Carmine had it right all along. And that guy is a bit full of himself. But, next to Sixx? He is as meek as a dove!

Seriously, though, the discrepancies in the initial announcements (from Mars; from Crue) signaled that this wasn't going to be pretty. And I held my tongue. So now I can say what I really think. As if I didn't do that most times?!?! This is a Bun E. Carlos situation, except it isn't going that well!

MC is a corporation that is basically ruled by Sixx. They do well by themselves by doing well by Sixx. That they resort to bringing in others to slam Mars is an indication of how this corp. runs and how it acts. He even offered his own response to some of those claims, and they made sense. Not that Mars had to do so.

In contrast to MC LLC, Mars seems like a class act. That they bring his disease into the mix is just sad, in part because I don't think that Sixx, Lee, or Neil can claim that their need to rely on backing tracks is due to a disease. And Mars has been vocal in saying that he didn't like the added tracks, basically contradicting Siixx's earlier claims that it was just used to 'sweeten the mix' live. And I have known and lived with people that had ankylosing spondylitis. To turn that sort of pain into a talking point in your attempt to claim the moral high ground? Sixx? Come on! Your wig is more savvy that you at this point.

On the issue of using backing tracks, I get it: you have orchestration, additional guitars, effects, that you used to make an album. You want that sound live. Good for you. Go for it! But running to your kit as your drums are already playing? Raising your hands to wave while your bass is still playing? Balancing out Neil's vocals? Well, on that point, I am a bit befuddled, as I think they actually need to use more backing tracks for his vocals!

I still hope those attending this series of concerts have a great time. And I still recognize MC's place in the firmament of heavy metal, no less my early years. But I wouldn't pay a dime to see them these days and I wouldn't go to see them for free either. Supporting a narcissist like Sixx, and hangers-on like Lee and Neil strikes me as disloyal to what I used to think the band was really about (and I bet they were about in the earlier, hungrier, days). Mars? I'd see him in a club in a second. And I would go out of my way to do so. I will also pay whatever it costs to buy his solo stuff when it comes out . . . not that he needs my money. But my money is an indication of who I am as a fan. You support what makes sense. You don't support nonsense, even if it includes a lot of what you love(d) and a lot of smoke and mirrors.

Bottom-line? The emperor has no clothes. And he knows it. Who is he? We all know. And Mars deserves credit for finally pulling back the curtain.

Carmine? Well, again, he was right. So, a lot of people are eating humble pie with a side of cactus!!!

[Kixchix]

Him. Fire away my friend!!!! Lol
1. Does Sixx really wear a wig? 2. Yes! We vote with our dollars 3. We have entered a new phase of our beloved 80’s genre and it ain’t pretty. 4. Live concerts have evolved into “re-enactments”. The more you pay, the more it’s fake. 5. I won’t despair! The spirit of the good ‘ol days is with me as I evolve with the times. I hope said “spirit” will guide me: to a young band that plays hard, Street art in a city, helping another, helping my friends and family thrive all the while having access to a wonderful soundtrack 🤘

[Gogmagog]

Does Sixx wear a wig? Is water wet? Is grass green? Does a bear ___ in the woods?

[GNR]

Did I miss the Mick Mars album that was supposed to come out during COVID ? On topic, I said my peace with this band when they did their "FINAL" tour. Saw them multiple times, bought the merch on the way out, even the discounted condoms wrapped in the All Bad Things moniker for white elephant gifts someday. Vince became the butt of all jokes of eating and not singing, Tommy can't seem to decide if d*ck picks are necessary at his age to stay relevant, and Nikki just needs to add two "ss" to the end of his name to continue this cash grab. Nikkiss ? He learned from the best ! Mick has always been the mysterious one, but even to go public is unnecessary. They have lawyers for all of this. To air dirty laundry over millions of dollars given to them by fans around the world ? Sad...

[Him]

GNR, I too was waiting for that album. I even liked the tracks he recorded and then scrapped with Corabi a few years ago. I suspect, when and if it does come out, it will be decidedly different from MC, though carrying a bit of the MC DNA, as that is part of what made MC so great once upon a time. As a non-musician, it always amazed me how Mars made a song so damn engaging by means of a lot of repetition. I mean, in lesser hands, that would just seem, well, repetitive. But he knows how to draw you in. So I hope his solo stuff shows off other aspects of his craft that didn't see the light of day in MC.

Gogmagog, what's with so many darn questions?!?!? I kid. Priceless.

Kixchix, you remain a resplendent fo(u)nt of well=stated POVs and eager wishes for a positive future. I, like you, try to turn to the new bands while still reveling in the memories of what once was . . . and occasionally still is! And an empathetic approach to all that faces us is always a good thing. To think that I, in my early days on this site, dared to poke fun at you. I appreciate you sticking with this site and making it what it is. Hope you are well.

You all read Mars' 'felons' comments yesterday? I mean, he didn't have to go low. But they did. So, I give him that. And those comments were hilarious (even when they were, by turns, dark and patently true). Talk about the dirt. There are no clean hands in what remains of MC. Why poke an injured bear who basically helped you get to where you are or were? Oh, yeah. Money.

[Kixchix]

Him. You poked fun at me? The audacity!!! I really don’t recall and it all good.

[oper8n]

A little disappointed that nobody has made a "Don't Go Away Mad, Just Go Away" reference at this point. 🤷‍♂️
It seems like most of the band members have not liked each other for years, so just a ticking time bomb that finally went off. 💣

[Bkallday]

Not even a tad surprised that everyone is taking Mick’s side in this. All I’ll say is that there are 2 sides to every story. Seems like the Crüe has their side as well, so I will factor what they said in instead of just being mad cuz they’re rich and have been around forever. Bottom line is this, they don’t need any of you at their shows, they’re doing just fine & will continue to be just fine when it comes to selling tickets. As a longtime diehard it sucks for all this to be happening but name a band at their level, that hasn’t had these kind of issues, that has been around as long as they have. Mick is now free to go play his bluegrass at ymcas across the globe and the band is free to tour wherever & as much as they want to, with absolutely no restrictions. Win/win for both parties imo!

[Him]

Bkallday, I kinda' expected this response from you. But, remember, you have slagged Sixx too. And he really runs the band these days. No empathy for Mars? None? You just sorta' launch your barely lobbed jibe-grenade and go, Ta-da! Is that really how you feel about this?

We are both fans of MC. And, while I agree there are two sides to every story, you have to suspect that this is the rot in the band finally being exposed to the light of day. And we are both just armchair quarterbacks too. I get it. But, really, you don't even feel a bit, just a bit, of a pull towards Mars' side in all this?

I guess my more general response is this: selling out (no pun intended) across the world is a good thing for all involved, natch. But trying to make this a 'poor me' story is kinda' cringe-inducing, considering the band, the history, and the problems within said band.

I totally support your loyalty to MC. Truly do. But you can't take swings at them and then decide that you have to defend them for being less than honorable. Well, you can. But, why?

[Shawn]

I wanted to drop in and see what the metalologist on the site thought about the implosion of the Crue. Nice to see some really cool people putting in their thoughts. It' is a very sad day and I guess I side with Mick but also to BK's point there is probably more to the story. Backing tracks that is a about par for the course but not to irritate Metalboy - Go see TESLA no backing tracks there.

[bkallday]

No Shawn, only Mick's side can be taken here. Because of his disease, how old he is, and how quiet he has always been, he is perfect and anything he says is complete and total truth to never ever be questioned. Nikki, who of course had absolutely nothing to do with Motley, their outrageous success, the over hundred million albums sold, countless arena tours, or the timeless songs most of us still rock to this very day. Mick was the one that came up with the name and everything else that has made this band famous. Nikki, Vince, and Tommy were merely along for the ride that Mick was providing for them. Hell, they only ever got women due to so many of them wanting to be around Mick's stunning charm and ultra hotness. Mick's incredible persona & amazing personality are only surpassed by his scary song writing talents. We all also know that everyone that goes to see them live have only been doing that to witness the true brilliance and utter flashiness of Mick Mars. I just don't know how these little fellas will ever be able to continue trying to sell tickets, it's clearly a waste of time now. They definitely need to call it a day, I was in Cincy over the summer, at the nfl stadium, and there was really noone there. Def Leppard, Poison, Joan Jett, and Mick were the main reason anyone even came at all! No buddy, there is no other side whatsoever. /s

[fletch]

Shawn: Allow me to respond to your comment by quoting/paraphrasing the late and great Jim Morrison. When Jim was asked by a friend to get him tickets to The Rolling Stones, he responded, "Why do you need Mick Jagger when you have me?". A few days later, front row tickets to the Rolling Stones came in his mail.

So, Shawn, why do you need Mentalboy, when you have?

[fletch]

Him: I know what happened to Jim Morrison. I don't need a reminder.

[Shawn]

Oh Fletch I have missed you peeps - HIM always on point - Dang BK thought I was agreeing with you. As with any relationship and actually compare the Crue to a marriage sometimes there are rifts that are deeper than what we see on the surface hence I was agreeing there are two sides even though on the surface it does look a little cold from the boys to Mick but again that is the surface. I am sure Nikki feels attacked by the lawsuit. Hence we become the divorced children as fans. I don't know anymore as I get older so do my heroes and I find them less heroic as time passes. Still enjoy the music after all I guess that is all that matters - the music and memories.

Oper8n hope your doing well in NWA.

[oper8n]

Hey Shawn! We'll be back in NWA this summer. 🙂

Saw this on Facebook. I'm not an audio engineer, but this is an interesting read.

https://killerguitarrigs.com/leaked-mick-mars-in-ear-monitor-mix-motley-crue/

[bkallday]

Is that supposed to prove something, oper8n? If so, please explain how?

[oper8n]

bk, my understanding was that it showed MM was the only member not using backing tracks.
I could be wrong.
Stay angry. 😠

[fletch]

oper8n: if I asked you this before, . my apologies. I've had two strokes so my memory..well, you know.

Did you like the Cinderella demo CD? Thoughts?

Hi bk.

[oper8n]

fletch: I loved it! Thank you! How may I repay your kindness?

[fletch]

Shut up, you fool! Cheers, mate!