Mick Mars’ estrangement from Motley Crue has taken an unsightly flip after the guitarist launched a lawsuit claiming – amongst different issues – that bassist Nikki Sixx was “gaslighting” him.
In authorized papers filed right this moment (April 6) at Los Angeles Superior Courtroom, Mars makes a variety of explosive claims, together with that Sixx, singer Vince Neil and drummer Tommy Lee all used pre-recorded backing tracks throughout their latest run of reveals with Mars.
The 71-year-old guitarist stepped again from touring duties final yr as a result of his ongoing battle with Ankylosing Spondylitis. The announcement on the time mentioned Mars would proceed to be a member of the band.
He was later changed within the reside line-up by John 5, who has been touring with Crue ever since.
As reported by Deadline, the lawsuit reads, partially: “Though Mars had indicated that the 12 U.S. stadium dates could be his final reveals whereas touring, the 12 anticipated reveals finally expanded to 36 reveals, and Mars carried out at each single considered one of them, in fixed ache.
“Sixx’s gaslighting got here to a crescendo in the course of the stadium tour, when he, figuring out that this was Mars’s final tour on account of his more and more painful and debilitating AS, and apparently already plotting to pressure him out of the band and take his shares, repeatedly instructed Mars that he was taking part in the fallacious chords, and that followers had been complaining about his taking part in.
“Astonishingly, Sixx made these claims about Mars’s taking part in whereas he (Sixx) didn’t play a single observe on bass throughout the whole U.S. tour. Sarcastically, 100% of Sixx’s bass elements had been nothing however recordings. Sixx was seen fist pumping within the air along with his strumming hand, whereas the bass half was taking part in.
“The truth is, a good portion of Neil’s vocals had been additionally pre-recorded. Even a few of Lee’s drum elements had been recordings. Some followers really seen that Lee was strolling towards his drum set as they heard his drum half start.”
The authorized papers add that any errors made by Mars on that tour had been right down to “malfunctioning” in-ear displays.
The lawsuit additionally claims that Crue wished to chop Mars’ share in earnings from the band’s earnings from 25% to five%.
Hours after Mars filed the authorized papers, Motley Crue launched a prolonged assertion in response. It denies the claims about utilizing backing tracks and as a substitute says Mars was unable to carry out his guitar elements correctly on stage.
It reads: “Mick’s lawsuit is unlucky and utterly off-base. In 2008, Mick voted for and signed an settlement by which he and each different band member agreed that ‘in no occasion shall any resigning shareholder be entitled to obtain any monies attributable to reside performances (i.e., excursions).’
“After the final tour, Mick publicly resigned from Motley Crue. Although the band didn’t owe Mick something — and with Mick owing the band hundreds of thousands in advances that he didn’t pay again — the band supplied Mick a beneficiant compensation bundle to honor his profession with the band.
“Manipulated by his supervisor and lawyer, Mick refused and selected to file this ugly public lawsuit. Equally unlucky are his claims in regards to the band’s reside performances. Motley Crue at all times performs its songs reside however over the past tour Mick struggled to recollect chords, performed the fallacious songs and made fixed errors which led to his departure from the band.
“There are a number of declarations from the band’s crew testifying to his decline. The band did every little thing to guard him, tried to maintain these issues non-public to honor Mick’s legacy and take the excessive highway.
“Sadly, Mick selected to file this lawsuit to badmouth the band. The band feels empathy for Mick, needs him effectively and hopes that he can get higher steerage from his advisors who’re pushed by greed.”
Motley Crue nonetheless have a string of dates lined up for this yr, with John 5 persevering with as their touring guitarist.
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