After filing a lawsuit against Motley Crue members, Mick Mars has given his first official interview.
In his interview with Variety, Mars stated about his bandmates:
“Those guys have been hammering on me since ’87, trying to replace me. They haven’t been able to do that, because I’m the guitar player. I helped form this band. It’s my name I came up with [the MÖTLEY CRÜE moniker], my ideas, my money that I had from a backer to start this band. It wouldn’t have gone anywhere. And then to be hearing stuff from people like Bob Daisley from Ozzy Osbourne‘s band, when we were touring with them, and Carmine Appice…
“The thing that they keep pushing, for many years, is that I have a bad memory. And that’s full-blown, out-of-proportion crap. Around 2012, when they first started saying that my memory was bad and I didn’t remember the songs, I came home and saw all my doctors, because I keep myself together, because I’m an old b*stard. They had all the 10th Street people there [from the band’s management] — probably about five or six people — [versus] all my doctors going: “There’s nothing wrong with him.” And now they’re still playing that game with me.
“So, no, the truth is: I want to retire from touring because of my AS [Ankylosing spondylitis, an inflammatory, arthritic disease that causes vertebrae to fuse]. I don’t have a problem remembering the songs. I don’t have a problem with any of that stuff. But I do have a problem with them, constantly, the whole time, telling me that I lost my memory. No. Wrong. That’s wrong. Absolutely wrong.
“But my stupid body is telling me ‘No, don’t do that’ [stay on the road]. You know, I’m gonna be 72 years old, and I’ve been touring with these guys 41 years, helping build the brand, helping do this and that. And you’re served with papers and going, this is crazy. This is stupid. I mean, come on.”
“Anyway, that was the worst 36 gigs ever had with the band,” he added.
“It was 36 [instead of the originally scheduled 12] because they knew I wanted to retire from it after that. [Mars says in the suit he did not want to do the extra two dozen dates that got added but went along with it.] I don’t know, and I can’t say I positively know, but I have a pretty good feeling that they wanted me gone anyway. Because they’ve been wanting that since forever. It’s just frustrating for me. I’m pretty upset that they’re even pulling this crap, when I carried these b*stards for years.”
Mars, whose actual name is Robert Alan Deal, revealed in October that he was quitting touring with MOTLEY CRÜE because of his continuous, excruciating battle with Ankylosing spondylitis, a kind of arthritis that causes swelling in the joints and ligaments of the spine and can eventually cause rigidity.
But according to the 71-year-old’s lawsuit, which TMZ was able to get, he made it clear that while he could still record with the band or play in small doses, he couldn’t manage a full tour due to his illness.
Mick also repeatedly accused bassist Nikki Sixx of “gaslighting” him about his guitar skills diminishing, despite the fact that Sixx didn’t “play a single note on bass” during a recent tour, according to the guitarist. Mick claims all of Nikki‘s parts were pre-recorded.
10 comments
If I had to believe one person…Mick or Nikki, I would chose Mick every single time. Nikki seems to be the most self centered guy on planet earth. I don’t think anyone thinks Nikki is a good bass player, so his parts being pre-recorded for live shows sounds about right.
Nikki is like Gene Simmons, they are all about the PR and money and will do anything to promote themselves that way, honest or lies.
That’s Nikki. He’s been this way his entire life with this band. It was always about him first.
Every band or musicians who plays a soundtrack or prerecorded song music or larics is lier and deciver expecually a con artest who should pay the fans all there money back. Why?! Because the fans went to see there favorite person or band. lIVE IN CONCERT. NOT TO LISTEN TO A PRERECORDED TAPE. .
Mick ,you are Motley Crue !!!!!, those are the guys in the band or just fill-in musicians !!!!,You made them wealthy ,and to think they are treating you like this is so Damn Sslfoish !!!!
Someone said Nikki Sixx is the Gene Simmons of Crue. I I’m about to defend Gene Simmons but reality is he has written some pretty cool bass parts and can actually play. He’s also the best singer in Kiss presently.. Sixx greatest achievement is a 40 yr career and he still can’t play bass
This BS has been going on for a while now, and it’s beyond ridiculous to keep seeing the same s**t posted repeatedly. The one thing I don’t think I’ve seen anyone point out is this (and I’m sure someone will say they have seen it): Mick has every right to sue. The man has had AS for YEARS and I give him huge credit for sticking with it for over 40 years, even when he is in excruciating pain. He never slacked off, always gave 110% and always played hard and never disappointed. I will always be on Team Mick. BUT…now you have Nikki putting his 2 cent’s worth in, you have all these accusations of prerecorded tracks and lip synching at their live shows. You’ve got fingers pointing everywhere. What comes out of all of this? TICKET SALES. MUSIC SALES. MORE MONEY and then EVEN MORE MONEY. HEADLINES. It keeps them relevant, people! It keeps paying customers coming to their shows, yes most are fans, but now people will go out of curiosity! “Do they really use prerecorded stuff? Does Vince really lip synch? Let’s find out and keep the gossip monster alive, shall we?” I loved MC for a lot of years, but this whole scenario has soured me. I will not add my hard-earned money to their profits, including this “new material” they are working on with John5. I’m so done with this band!
I saw the stadium tour in the 5th row. I have seen the Crue every time they’ve been in my area since 1988. The one thing that has always been good with their concerts was Mick’s guitar playing. I stand with Mick and I hope he prevails with the lawsuit. They should have stayed retired. If one person shouldn’t be on the tour, it should be Vince!
Mick stole his whole act from Justin Bieber.
Vince Neil is one of the worst people I know and that’s all I’m gonna say
Unbelievable, these guys need to just retire and stay retired. Yes we all loved (past tense) the Crue however they are broken now. Mick Mars is now gone, Nikki cant play his instrument at all anymore and Vince is way out of shape and cant sing at all. If it wasnt for pre recorded tracks and backing tracks these guys could not preform . Its gotta be bloody embarrassing …Say goodbye Motley Crue.