Motley Crue Calls Mick Mars Lawsuit a 'Sad Day' for Band

Nikki Sixx also recently noted that the band was blindsided when Mars couldn't perform while in the midst of a tour.

By Andrew Roberts

Motley Crue and Mick Mars have been locked in a legal tug of war since the guitarist's departure from the band. The band has tried to move on and speak out in response to the lawsuit filed by the former guitarist, according to Variety. In the suit, Mars alleges the band allegedly wanted to force him out of the group after 41 years together. The band disputes the claim they are trying to push Mars away, saying he resigned when he decided to retire from touring.

"We never saw it coming that Mick wasn't going to be able to tour and was going to have to quit the band," Nikki Sixx told Guitar World. "In the middle – not even the middle – of a huge tour, we had to ask ourselves, 'Do we want to let the fans down? Do we want to let Live Nation down? Do we want to let Def Leppard down? Do we want to let ourselves down because an original member of our band can't tour anymore?' We had to have a deep, deep look into what we were going to do."

The band also hit back at Mars' claims in a series of signed statements from members of the touring crew, supporting the assertions that Mars was "under par" and "created problems for the entire group" during their stadium tour in 2022. He also publicly announced his cessation of touring, leading to the band's decision.

"After the last tour, Mick publicly resigned from Mötley Crüe," Sasha Frid, the band's ligation attorney said. "Despite the fact that the band did not owe Mick anything – and with Mick owing the band millions in advances that he did not pay back – the band offered Mick a generous compensation package to honor his career with the band. Manipulated by his manager and lawyer, Mick refused and chose to file this ugly public lawsuit."

The band had tried to keep their comments through their attorney, but Variety notes that Nikki Sixx spoke out at the time on social media, quote tweeting a link to the story about the lawsuit. His comments did not sugarcoat the situation.

"Sad day for us and we don't deserve this, considering how many years we've been propping him up. We still wish him the best and hope he find's lawyers and managers who aren't damaging him. We love you Mick," Sixx wrote on social media.

According to Variety, the band's statement raised questions about their stance that Mars "publicly resigned" from the band, while Mars' initial retirement statement was different. "Mick will continue as a member of the band, but can no longer handle the rigors of the road," the statement read. This is not how the band sees it.

"That's correct. Retiring from touring is resigning from the band," the band's lawyer told the outlet. "The band's primary function is to tour and perform concerts. And as you saw from the amendment, if a shareholder resigns, he cannot receive any compensation from touring – which is what Mick is trying to get. It's clear-cut that Mick is not entitled to any more money."

He also addressed the claims that the band is faking performance in their live concerts. "Mötley Crüe always performs its songs live, but during the last tour, Mick struggled to remember chords, played the wrong songs and made constant mistakes which led to his departure from the band. There are multiple declarations from the band's crew attesting to his decline," they said. "The band did everything to protect him (and) tried to keep these matters private to honor Mick's legacy and take the high road. Unfortunately, Mick chose to file this lawsuit to badmouth the band."

The legal bickering is tinged with plenty of personal love for Mars, showing that the situation is like a family disagreement and not a blood feud that would sink the band. Still, it is an unfortunate ending.

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