Nikki Sixx recently shared insights regarding Mick Mars’s departure from Mötley Crüe in an interview with Guitar World. Mars announced his retirement in 2022 due to ongoing health issues, leading to John 5 stepping in as his replacement.
Sixx explained the difficult position the band found themselves in, stating, “Listen, we were forced. Guy’s gotta choose: you want to break up? Do you want to f*ck over Live Nation? You want to screw Def Leppard? All those tickets, all that planning that we’d done because one of your band members is too ill to perform live?”
Following Mars’s retirement, tensions escalated between him and the band, culminating in a lawsuit over unpaid royalties. Mars also alleged that the band pressured him to sell his remaining stake in Mötley Crüe and accused them of miming their performances during the 2022 stadium tour.
Sixx reflected on the gravity of the situation, saying, “We really had to think about it, bro. Like, do you think we wanted to take the grief we took, and end up in a lawsuit? But what were we supposed to do? Go home and f*cking mow the lawn? It’s like your f*cking football team; if one of your guys can’t play anymore, they bring in another guy.”
While Mars stepped back from touring, he quickly redirected his focus to solo endeavors, releasing his debut album, The Other Side of Mars, earlier this year. Meanwhile, Mötley Crüe, with John 5, has also been active, releasing a three-song EP titled Cancelled.
This new record features a title track, a single called “Dogs of War,” and a cover of the Beastie Boys’ “Fight for Your Right,” all of which have been well-received by fans.
5 comments
Mick could’ve performed onstage in a wheelchair and been better than Vince.
Can’t help but feel that the story got cut short
…”all of which have been well-received by fans.”
Are you kidding me?!? Cite your sources on that last line. I myself have been a fan of the Crüe since 1983, and know hundreds of fellow fans with that length of appreciation for this band. Nobody, and I mean absolutely nobody I know – thinks their garbage cover of “Fight For Your Right” is anything but utter garbage. Vincent Neal Wharton hasn’t been able to properly sing live since the ’90’s, Tommy Lee is the only remaining original member of this band with any musical talent – which is completely wasted carrying Vinnie and Nikki live onstage. John 5 is indeed a great player – but will never hold a candle to the awesome Mick Mars. This band needs to call it a day, and properly retire. But when thousands of stupid fans keep showing up to their gigs and blindly accept their performances as, “Passible, but a good memory of better days gone by”…well, we all know that a fool and their money are soon parted.
It’s really about money and not all the othe BS he said. They all should have retired they have done what they set out to do. It would have been easier for them to refund monies to fans instead of treating Mick as they did. Especially since he was there from the beginning. They didn’t fire him. It was time for Mick to retire he couldn’t handle the road anymore. His disease was way to much. (I know I was once engaged to him) He did the right thing while Nikki only thought of his wallet! My opinion!
So tired of all the Crue poo already.mick was the backbone and sound of motley.truthfully they had one masterpiece “shout at the devil” album then changed style got all MTV glam and soft and never recaptured the fire and sound of SATD.conned fans with fake retirement tour and now are a pathetic joke.john 5 is a great guitarist, he’s just not Mick Mars….give it up already, should’ve fired Vince since he can’t sing anymore.shouldve kept mick and hired bach.dont go away mad,just go away.