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."
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:
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."
As you would imagine, Mick Mars clapped back:
Also, the world is upside-down and RATT's Stephen Pearcy is now the bastion of common sense:
Sunday, June 11, 2023 at 11:58AM