by Mick Mars, the Motley Crue guitarist of 41 years, has filed legal documents exposing deep divisions between him and the other three band members.
The lawsuit only demands that the group turn over relevant documents regarding their activities prior to arbitration. But the wealth of detail in Mars’ file offers insight into the apparent tension between him and the others, in what he says was a pattern of “gaslighting” in an attempt to drive him out of the group.
The papers were filed Thursday in Los Angeles County Superior Court through Mars attorney Edwin F. McPherson and claim the group deliberately withheld information about the various Motley Crue businesses it owned. holds a 25% stake. demanded that he sign a severance agreement that would strip him of these and other future interests, in exchange for a 5% stake in the band’s 2023 tour, which is proceeding without him.
The lawsuit provides insight into what Mars says was going on behind the scenes when he and other members of the group released conflicting statements last October.
At the time, Mars released a statement saying he was stepping down from touring duties due to worsening health issues, but would otherwise remain a member of the band. The following day, the other members released their own statement, saying that Mars had “retired” from the group completely, without reservation.
Mars’ lawsuit alleges that the group – specifically Nikki Sixx, a business leader of the group – used to put him down for years, telling him he had cognitive issues and insulting him about alleged bad acting on tour, including leaving the stadium he finished with the band in 2022. In return, Mars alleges that the other band members engaged in partial or full mime while on this tour, claiming that he was the only one to perform completely live from top to bottom of every show.
Motley Crue has responded to Mars’ lawsuit, with lawyers for the group claiming that Mars is already East out – having effectively quit, they say, when he announced he was quitting touring for good.
“After the last tour, Mick publicly resigned from Mötley Crüe,” said Sasha Frid, the band’s attorney. “Despite the fact that the band owed Mick nothing – and with Mick owing the band millions in advances which he failed to repay – the band offered Mick generous compensation to honor his career with the band. Manipulated by his manager and attorney, Mick refused and opted to file this nasty public lawsuit.
Motley Crue lawyers also provided Variety with signed statements from seven touring crew members who were with the band when they last toured with Mars on 36 stadium dates in 2022, alleging that their performances at the shows were sub-par and created. problems for the whole group.
Variety asked about the discrepancy between the company’s statement Thursday afternoon that Mars “has publicly resigned” and its own press release from last October which read “Mick will continue as a member of the band, but will no longer be able to withstand the rigors of the road.” Camp Crue replied that dropping out as a touring member was legally equivalent to leaving the band altogether.
“It’s okay. Retired from touring East resign from the band,” Frid said. “The main function of the group is to tour and give concerts. And as you saw in the amendment, if a shareholder quits, they can’t get any tour compensation – that’s what Mick is trying to get. It is clear that Mick is no longer entitled to more money.
Frid also responded to Mars’ allegation that band members engaged in partial or full mime while on tour.
“Equally unfortunate are his claims about the band’s live performances. Mötley Crüe always performs their songs live, but on the last tour Mick struggled to remember chords, played the wrong songs and made constant mistakes which led to his departure from the band,” said Frid: “There are several statements from the group team. attesting to its decline.
“The band did everything to protect him (and) tried to keep these matters private to honor Mick’s legacy and hit the high road,” Frid said. “Unfortunately, Mick has chosen to file this lawsuit to disparage the band. The band feels empathy for Mick, wishes him luck and hopes he can be better guided by his advisors who are driven by greed.
In response to the band’s apparent stance in their warning letters that he was being fired for cause, Mars’ attorney recounted a history of felony convictions from other members – such as the homicide conviction. involuntarily guilty of Vince Neil – and of alleged drug and alcohol use. , claiming that the guitarist has the fewest reasons of any band member to be fired based on their decades-old deal that gave everyone a 25% share.
Mars’ action comes in the form of a “verified request for a writ of warrant to compel the inspection and copying of books, records and documents” held by half a dozen companies that fall under the umbrella. by Motley Crue. He further says that the documents the group asked him to sign asked him to divest from associated businesses he didn’t even know existed until now.
When he announced his retirement from the road last fall, shortly after completing a 36-date stadium tour, Mars, 71, cited the crippling pain from the debilitating disease he has had since the age 27, ankylosing spondylitis, described as “a chronic, inflammatory form of arthritis that primarily affects the spine and pelvis.
Mars says in his suit that he is no longer able to move his head from side to side due to illness. “Over the years, this disease has caused Mars’ lower spine to seize and freeze, causing scoliosis in his back and also compressing his spine downwards, so that he is now at least three inches smaller than he was in high school, his spine is now completely seized from pelvis to skull, a condition known as “bamboo spine”.
Still, despite these issues, Mars says he can still run his games perfectly and is ready and able to take part in anything that doesn’t subject him to the rigors of the road.
Along with asking the court for a writ of peremptory warrant to obtain records, McPherson is also seeking reimbursement of attorney’s fees and other costs associated with the lawsuit. It does not imply any claim for damages or judgment on matters that would theoretically be settled in arbitration.
Other class members are not individually named as respondents in the lawsuit, which is directed at Motley Crue Touring Inc., Motley Crue Inc., Red, White & Crue Inc., Masters 2000 Inc., Cruefest LLC, Motley Records LLC, Masters 2008 LLC and unnamed.
