Phil X has addressed why Motley Crüe didn’t approach him to replace Mick Mars. He opened up on the band’s decision in an interview with The Metal Voice.
The Bon Jovi guitarist was questioned about being overlooked for the position. The interviewer expressed surprise at the band’s choice.
The interviewer was shocked that Motley Crüe didn’t call him when Mick Mars was no longer in the band. Phil X offered his understanding of the situation.
“John Five is amazing,” Phil X said.
“Him and Nikki are like best friends. Also they’re probably respecting the fact that I’m playing in a band like Bon Jovi and they’d think like, ‘If we go out and what if Bon Jovi calls? Is he going to leave to go do that?’”
Phil X also explained his commitment to his current role and how it influences other opportunities.
“It’s what I call the mega band,” he continued. “When you play in a mega band and when they call everything else you know falls to the wayside.”
Phil X’s comments highlights the complex dynamics behind Mötley Crüe’s guitarist replacement decision. The decision involved both personal relationships and practical touring considerations.
The situation surrounding Mick Mars’ departure from Motley Crue has been more complicated than initially revealed. Ultimate Classic Rock noted that Mars recently alleged in a lawsuit that the band has repeatedly tried to oust him since 1987. He claimed to be involved in ongoing financial and personal disputes with his former bandmates. Mars stated in a recent interview that “those guys have been hammering on me since ’87, trying to replace me.” This suggests long-standing tensions within the group.
Motley Crue moved quickly to bag John 5 as their new guitarist for the 2023 world tour following Mars’ retirement from touring in 2022. American Songwriter noted that the band cited John 5’s long-standing friendship and prior collaborations with Nikki Sixx as key reasons for the decision. Sixx has publicly acknowledged the difficulty of replacing Mars but expressed satisfaction with the choice.
“It was a perfect fit. He’s a friend, he knows the band, and he’s a fan,” Sixx said about bringing John 5 into the fold.
