Mars made headlines last fall when he announced his retirement from touring as he continues to deal with his lifelong struggle with Ankylosing spondylitis, a type of arthritis that affects the spine and worsens over time; the rocker’s statement revealed that Mars “will continue as a member of the band, but can no longer handle the rigors of the road.”
In a new report by TMZ, the media outlet notes that Mars’ lawsuit – filed this past week in Los Angeles – makes it clear he could still record with the band or do limited performances ... he just couldn't handle a full tour with his condition.
According to documents, obtained by TMZ, Mars says the band cut his percentage of profits from 25 percent to 5 percent ... after he announced he was stepping back from touring; furthermore, he claims the band's lawyers made him feel like he should be grateful for even that small cut, because they didn't feel they owed him anything at all.
Mars also claims there was a full band meeting and that they decided to "unilaterally" remove him from Motley Crue.
“How did Mars’s brothers of 41 years respond to Mars’s tragic announcement [about quitting the road]?” asks the suit, reports Variety. “They noticed an emergency shareholders’ meeting for the band’s main corporate entity in order to throw Mars out of the band, to fire him as a director of the corporation, to fire him as an officer of the corporation, and to take away his shares of the corporation. When he did not go away quietly, they purported to fire him from six additional band corporations and LLCs.”
In the suit - filed by his attorney Ed McPherson - Mars repeatedly accused Nikki Sixx of "gaslighting" him about his guitar skills diminishing while Mars claims the bassist didn't "play a single note on bass" during a recent tour because Sixx’s parts were pre-recorded.
Mars is suing Motley Crue to review the band’s financial books in an effort to see if things are in order or if the group owes him additional funds.
Read more at TMZ here and Variety here.
Motley Crue formed in early 1981 after Sixx left the band London and began rehearsing with drummer Tommy Lee and vocalist/guitarist Greg Leon (who later left); the pair then added guitarist Bob Deal (aka Mick Mars) before singer Vince Neil accepted an offer to join (after turning them down) in April, and the group released their debut album, “Too Fast For Love”, just seven months later.
In sync with Mars’ retirement announcement, Motley Crue revealed that John 5 would join the group as a touring member in his place; the guitarist played his first show in the lineup in Atlantic City, NJ on February 10 as the band launched their joint 2023 world tour with Def Leppard after a hugely successful run last year.
The two classic rock bands will resume the series in Sheffield, UK on May 22.
Pick up your copy of Motley Crue’s “Greatest Hits” here.
See also:
Motley Crue and Def Leppard win Pollstar's 2022 Rock Tour Of The Year
Motley Crue play first show with new touring guitarist John 5
Motley Crue reveal first photo of 2023 world tour lineup
Nikki Sixx recaps Motley Crue’s first rehearsal with guitarist John 5
Search Motley Crue at hennemusic
