Mick Mars, the longtime guitarist of Mötley Crüe, has opened up for the first time about his decision to take legal action against the band he’s been a part of for over 40 years.
Mars, who stepped away from touring due to a medical condition, now claims he “carried these b*stards for years” and is determined not to let anyone strip him of his rightful share of Mötley Crüe’s success.
On April 6, Mars’s lawyer, Edwin McPherson, filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles County’s Superior Court. The lawsuit targets seven corporate entities tied to the band, demanding they hand over documents detailing their business operations. Mars believes his bandmates have been working behind the scenes to push him out and deprive him of his ownership stake in the band’s ventures.
According to the lawsuit, after Mars informed the group of his intention to stop touring, Mötley Crüe allegedly cut his percentage of the band’s profits. They reportedly pressured him to accept a smaller share of earnings, leaving Mars feeling as though he should be thankful for even the reduced amount.
His claims suggest the band held meetings where they made a “unilateral” decision to remove him from Mötley Crüe, despite his continued involvement outside of live performances.
Mars’s legal filing also sheds light on the growing tension between him and the rest of the group. He describes a pattern of behavior from his bandmates, particularly Nikki Sixx, whom he accuses of “gaslighting” him. Mars asserts that Sixx and the others belittled him, frequently insulting his abilities and accusing him of cognitive decline.
In contrast, Mars claims he was the only one performing live throughout Mötley Crüe’s 2022 stadium tour, while the other members allegedly relied on partial or full miming. Yet, despite his contributions, the band allegedly offered him a severance agreement in exchange for giving up his 25% ownership stake in Mötley Crüe, offering a mere 5% cut of the profits from their 2023 tour as compensation.
When Mars initially announced he would be stepping down from his touring duties due to health concerns, he made it clear that he intended to remain a member of the band. However, just a day later, the other members issued a conflicting statement, declaring that Mars had fully “retired” from the band.
In response to Mars’s lawsuit, Mötley Crüe’s legal team has argued that Mars is already out, claiming his decision to retire from touring signaled his departure from the group. But Mars isn’t backing down, intent on holding onto his share of the band that he helped shape over the past four decades.
As the legal battle unfolds, it’s clear that Mars is determined to protect his legacy with Mötley Crüe, even if it means standing up to those he feels have wronged him.
