Mötley Crüe Musician Mick Mars Sues Bandmates 2023
In October, Mötley Crüe guitarist Robert Deal, 71, retired due to a spinal condition. According to the New York Times, Mars filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court on Thursday, accusing the other three band members of forcing him out and shutting him off from future revenues.
According to Mars, the remaining members of Mötley Crüe—lead singer Vince Neil (born Vince Wharton), drummer (and inadvertent adult film star) Tommy Lee (born Thomas Bass), and bassist-principal songwriter Nikki Sixx (born Frank Feranna Jr.)—held an emergency shareholders’ meeting with the principal members of the organization and decided to throw him out of the band, remove him as a director of the corporation, and take away him
All across the Crüe camp, discordant sounds ring forth
Mars’s lawyer, Edwin F. McPherson, stated, “It is beyond tragic that, after 41 years together, a band would want to kick out a member who is unable to perform anymore because he has a crippling disease.” “Mick has been pushed around for far too long in this band,” he said.
The suit alleges that Nikki Sixx, the band’s de facto leader, has been making decisions without consulting other members and “gaslighting” Mars. Mars alleges Sixx accused him of terrible guitar playing, striking the incorrect notes on stage, and having “some form of cognitive disorder.”
Sasha Frid, the band’s lawyer, called the claim “unfortunate and absolutely off base” and said the members signed an agreement in 2008 that they would stop collecting money if they quit. Frid stated Mars was offered money “despite the fact that the band did not owe Mick anything,” but “Mick rejected and opted to bring this ugly public lawsuit.”
Mötley Crüe reps have not responded to V.F.
The musician was diagnosed with lower back-paining ankylosing spondylitis decades ago. Mars announced in October that he “can no longer take the rigors of the road” but “will remain as a member of the band” due to the sickness. Soon after, the band called Mars “retired” and named John 5 his replacement.
Mars alleges the band then insisted he sign an agreement dramatically lowering all subsequent touring and merchandising income and that he would receive nothing from any product that mentioned or represented his successor.
Frid said the band tours and performs. Mötley Crüe performs live despite their 1980s platinum success. Saints of Los Angeles (2008) was their last full-length album. Since then, they have released few singles, typically with guest artists.
Discordant notes ring out throughout the Mötley Crüe camp.
The Dirt, a Netflix film about the Crüe’s heyday, shows that Mars was the last member and the only one who could perform. According to the movie, the Los Angeles band, known for their teased hair and faintly devilish emblems, had mixed sentiments about their new member being nearly a decade older than everyone else. Mars named the band. Vince Neil added heavy metal umlauts. (The vocalist was inspired, so the tradition goes, by Löwenbräu beer.)
Mick Mars co-wrote the Crüe’s catchy songs “Girls, Girls, Girls,” “Dr. Feelgood,” and “Don’t Go Away Angry (Just Go Away).”
