The rumors of Mick Mars stepping down from MÖTLEY CRÜE proved true, as Mars left the band and his replacement, John 5 was announced for touring commitments in 2023!
Industry sources have now shared more info on the same situation, saying Mick Mars left the band due to Nikki Sixx and Tommy Lee – telling Mars they want to replace Vince Neil.
Here’s what the TheMetalDen report says:
“Mick Mars, the legendary guitar player of MÖTLEY CRÜE took a stand against Nikki Sixx and Tommy Lee when he learned that they were seriously considering replacing vocalist Vince Neil after The Stadium Tour ended.
Mars told Sixx and Lee he would not tolerate the power move to oust Neil in such a way that would make the whole original lineup look bad. Mars felt that the original lineup owed it to the fans to play the overseas tour dates together in 2023, instead, Sixx opted to give John 5 a call to set up a double move that would shake up the lineup for good.”
The source also says Nikki tried to confront Mick Mars, saying:
“When he was confronted by Sixx and Lee about the vocalist change, Mick started to cry and according to an insider, told the two biggest knuckleheads in rock n roll: “You can’t have the Crue without Vince fronting it, man. He busted his tail to be out there, and if your plan is to replace him then it’s time for me to walk away.”
EDITOR NOTE: There’s no detailed information shared by the band yet. We are checking with multiple sources to see if this is a legit update on Mick Mars. Till then, take it with a pinch of salt.
In a new interview with Michael’s Record Collection, legendary drummer Carmine Appice touched on Mick Mars’ retirement topic.
He said:
“We [in VANILLA FUDGE] don’t do big tours anymore ’cause nobody wants to do a big tour anymore.”
“Nobody wants to sit in a bus. We wanna go out, do three dates in close ratio, split a van and we fly to the gig, 150 miles, 200 miles, we’re in there for three or four hours and we do the gig. And we go to a hotel and do it the next day. And then third day, fourth day, we go home. Then two weekends later we do the same thing.
Carmine continued:
“I’m friends with IRON MAIDEN, with Nicko [McBrain, MAIDEN drummer]. He left his house in Florida in April. He’s coming home next week. He’s been on tour the whole time, rehearsing and on tour. We’re too old for that.
“I talked to [guitarist] Mick Mars, who’s been touring with MÖTLEY CRÜE. He just gave up his seat in touring with MÖTLEY CRÜE. And John 5 is gonna tour with them. He said, ‘Man, we did our final tour [seven years ago]. Now we’re out again doing this major tour with DEF LEPPARD.’ And he said, ‘I don’t wanna do it no more. I’m sick of being in a bus.’ He said he’s gonna do a solo album and go out and do some gigs.
“I said, ‘Look, if you need anyone to play drums, I’ll play with you.’ He goes, ‘That would be great.’ So maybe I’ll do some gigs with him. But it’s not gonna be big tours. It’ll be a weekend maybe somewhere and then go home. Two weekends later maybe a weekend and go home.”
John 5 entry to the CRUE was made official by the band in a new statement, saying:
“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.”
“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 togther. 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!”
— Mötley Crüe (@MotleyCrue) October 27, 2022
14 comments
It’s time for them to just stop already. I have been a crue fan since day one. But have some dignity and just stop. When it’s done it’s done. If they kick vince out it will then become a joke of a band. Just stop please
Agreed 10000%
Ready ripped fans off with a “final” tour to come back a few years later. No Mick no Motley. Goes gains everything they said when they finished the first time.
To actually charge fans money to watch waddling wastoid Vince half-ass his way thru a show is the ultimate insult.
They should honor their commitment to their fans, after making such a big deal out of “THE END” contract & overcharging for the farewell tour, only to come back again, & be WORSE than last time… Vince is horrible. Tommy plays to drum tracks, 1/2 of the vocals, (if not more) are computer generated samples…. Just Go Home, Retire & have a shred of decency.
Greed pure and simple. when 50% of the bands changed it’s no longer motley Crue it’s the motley two (basically cover band)
I don’t believe Nikki Sixx would do that to Mick Mars. Nikki loves and respects Mick. And if part of the reason Mick left is Tommy and Nikki wanting to replace Vince, Vince is still in the band. I believe Mick left on good terms and if he did cry, it was because of the 41+ yrs they’ve been together, and Nikki’s love and respect for Mick. But I could be wrong.
I honestly believe it didn’t go down that way but who knows. I do agree that most of these bands from the ’80s need to retire. Yes they can still play..but the songs suffer. They are slower or down tuned to accommodate the singers weak vocals. I’m not going to name the other bands but we all know who they are. What happened to wanting to go out on top..so the fans can remember how good you were. The cost of concerts nowadays for an uneven performance is not worth it. At least these bands have good lighting and stage shows to make up for it.!
I hate that everyone is always bashing Nikki Sixx. Nikki Sixx loves Mick Mars. Sixx has a tattoo of Mick Mars. Mick Mars suffering from a disease and gave the last tour his everything I read. Maybe Mars and Vince Neil simply can’t make the last leg of the extended tour. I believe Nikki Sixx is the man of metal, that lesser men love to hate. I bet Nikki Sixx doesn’t loose sleep over the negative Nancy drivel from the peanut gallery. Perhaps the US tour was the final tour forever with the original Motley Crue. Be thankful!
No Mick, No Motley! Everytime they have tried to replace someone they have failed. Motley is Nikki, Tommy, Vince and Mick. Anything else is crap! RIP Motley Crue!
My name is David kolas from pittsburghnikk six wants me to replace mick Mars not Johnny 5 I declined,reason being they wanted to give me 15 percent of tour income. Know thanks.im worth more
I would hope that this is not the case but if it is shame on Nikki Sixx and Tommy Lee.
I’ve been a fan since the beginning. I remember when Vince needed vocal lessons way back in the day so it doesn’t surprise me of his issues singing today. This isnt the first or second time Nikki and Tommy have wanted to boot Vince from the band. You want to boot Vince, so be it. Now Mick is leaving? It’s not Motley Crue with those two. John 5 has entered the scene now and who knows how this will turn out? End it for good, hire a new front man and then change the name out of respect. Farewell Crue.
I’ve loved The Crüe my whole life, but moving on from Vince has been a long time coming. It’s embarrassing to even tell people I’m a fan when you see the memes online, the subtitle parody videos on YouTube. They used to be a kick ass heavy metal monster, now just a shell of that. The merit of keeping the original members left a long time ago. Change could do them and us some good.
They should all hang it up. Nikki Sixx said in an interview a few years back when they were on another final tour. That they all are getting tired and up in age and felt that they should all retire as the ordinal Motley Crue. His Words ( We wish more bands would do this) But I guess greed in the almighty dollar wins over every time. There ticket sales will drop like a rock without Mick. Be proud of what you have accomplished and hang it up. Don’t try to be something your not anymore
Sixx and Lee are MORONS. Yes, Vince isn’t the best but there is NO Crue without Vince. Just like there is no Crue without Mick, Sixx or Lee. How is this a hard concept to grasp?