Mick Mars is convinced that his former Mötley Crüe bandmates are trying to get rid of his legacy.
The guitarist and founding member of the heavy metal band, 72, claims his exit from Mötley Crüe last year was involuntary.
“When they wanted to get high and f— everything up, I covered for them,” Mars told Rolling Stone.
“Now they’re trying to take my legacy away, my part of Mötley Crüe, my ownership of the name, the brand.”
“How can you fire Mr. Heinz from Heinz ketchup? He owns it. Frank Sinatra’s or Jimi Hendrix’s legacy goes on forever, and their heirs continue to profit from it. They’re trying to take that away from me. I’m not going to let them,” the rocker added.
Mars has been embroiled in a strained legal battle with ex-bandmates Vince Neil, Nikki Sixx, and Tommy Lee since April after he filed a lawsuit against the band for trying to remove him from the group.
He wants to continue owning a share in the band, despite stepping away from touring last fall due to his worsening health.
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Announcing his decision to step away from live performances in October 2022, a rep for Mars said, “Mick Mars, co-founder and lead guitarist of the heavy metal band Mötley Crüe for the past 41 years, has announced today that due to his ongoing painful struggle with Ankylosing Spondylitis (A.S.), he will no longer be able to tour with the band.”
“Mick will continue as a member of the band, but can no longer handle the rigors of the road. A.S. is an extremely painful and crippling degenerative disease, which affects the spine,” the statement concluded.
Ankylosing spondylitis is a type of arthritis that causes inflammation in the spine joints and ligaments and can lead to stiffness over time, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.
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At the time, the band announced that guitarist John 5, who toured with Marilyn Manson, was set to replace Mars on the road.
The group assured fans that Mars will “continue as a member of the band,” even though he had no plans to tour.
The band hasn’t released new music since 2008.
