Motley Crue’s bitter feud with Mick Mars
Nikki Sixx recently accused former Mötley Crüe guitarist Mick Mars of lying to fans and attempting to damage the band. He shared his allegations in a statement posted on X / @NikkiSixx.
The bassist’s statement referenced a recent Los Angeles Times article. It focused on what he described as Mars’ betrayal of both the band and their fans.
“Read this LA Times article and find out how Mick Mars lied to you to try to hurt the band,” Sixx said. “Why would he betray you and us? Money?”
Sixx carried on with his criticism by referencing legal proceedings between Mars and the band.
“Wow—Read it and find out what happened to him and his dirty lawyers in arbitration,” he continued. “I’m actually ashamed of him. So should you be too—More to be revealed soon.”
The statement references a Los Angeles Times article covering the ongoing legal dispute between Mars and his former bandmates. Sixx has promised additional revelations in the near future.
The conflict arose when Mars retired from touring in 2022 due to health issues, leading to a legal battle over his financial stake in the band. Mars filed a lawsuit, claiming the band attempted to remove him as a stakeholder and reduce his financial rights.
This effort included a proposed severance that cut his touring profits from 25% to 5%, and eventually to zero, while still allowing the band to use his name and likeness indefinitely.
Mars’ attorneys described the severance offer as “horrifically unfair and one-sided” in court documents. The guitarist insists that his announcement of being unable to tour due to health reasons should not affect his status as a shareholder in the band.Sixx responded to Mars’ allegation that the band does not play live, calling it a betrayal to the band “who saved his life.”
Mick Mars’ allegations against Motley Crue
Mars has strongly pushed back against Sixx’s narrative, accusing his former bandmates of trying to force him out financially while continuing to profit from his legacy. In his lawsuit, he alleged that Mötley Crüe’s live shows were increasingly reliant on pre-recorded tracks rather than fully live performances, a claim that generated major headlines when it first surfaced. According to Rolling Stone, Mars contended that Nikki Sixx did not play a single note on some recent tours, with most of the bass parts pre-recorded. He further claimed that his own guitar parts were lowered in the mix during performances to mask the reliance on backing tracks.
Mars also argued that the band unfairly sought to cut his stake in their touring and business revenue, while still using his name and likeness. In his arbitration filings, he described the experience as being “gaslighted by my brothers,” adding that he felt betrayed after decades of loyalty. He insisted that stepping back from touring due to his ankylosing spondylitis diagnosis should never have equated to surrendering his rights as a founding member.
