Nikki Sixx claims Mick Mars is 'confused' and 'being misled' over Mötley Crüe lawsuit

He spoke to Planet Rock's Wyatt

Mötley Crüe's Nikki Sixx and Mick Mars
Author: Scott ColothanPublished 20th Apr 2023
Last updated 24th Apr 2023

A month before Mötley Crüe kick off their European stadium tour with Def Leppard in Sheffield, bassist Nikki Sixx joined Wyatt on Planet Rock this morning (20th April) for a chat.

During the interview, Nikki Sixx spoke about new Mötley Crüe touring guitarist John 5, why they recruited him and what he brings to the band’s dynamic.

“I’ve been friends with John forever and I would make jokes ‘as long as you’re a 5, I feel good being a Sixx.’ Y’know, stupid best buddy jokes,” Nikki enthused to Wyatt.

“Me and that guy have been either hanging out at each other’s houses, writing songs… he plays (guitar) all day long. So, he comes over here and he grabs one of my guitars or brings his own and we just sit around and play and talk about the 70s and how great Lynyrd Skynyrd and Scooby Doo was.”

He continued: “My wife just said that when Mick (Mars) told us he was leaving the band and I told her I’d talked to Tommy and Vince, and everybody feels that John would be a great fit, and I hadn’t called John yet because you had to be sure we were doing everything correctly. My wife said ‘well, that’s great.’ I said ‘what do you mean by that?’ She goes ‘well, you’ll be going on stage and you’ll be on the phone to John.’ And they’re like ‘you gotta go on stage!’, and he’ll be like ‘ok, call me back in an hour and a half.’

“So we’re always chatting and jamming and the friendship is so wonderful. Him and Tommy are really close, Vince loves him. He’s just a great guy and a great musician and he gives us a great opportunity as a three-piece so to speak to really lock in. He’s just such a great guitar player.”

Motley Crue's Nikki Sixx and John 5

Referencing Mick Mars, Nikki added: “It’s nothing against any other musician that you play with, just that when you play with new musicians you play differently. We’re still playing the same songs that people wanna hear but it kind of like re-inspires you. And I’m sure the same thing would happen if they got a new bass player. They’re like ‘oh wow, he’s attacking it differently.’ So it’s never about how bad anybody was.

“It’s a nice time (for Mötley Crüe) and it’s kind of inspired us to write a little bit. We love our history, we’re very proud of everything we’ve done. We’ve always been really supportive of Mick no matter what Mick was going through. We’re just happy with where we’re at right now.

Referencing Mick Mars’ lawsuit against the band, Nikki finished: “If a member of a band tells you that they can’t tour because of health reasons, you have two choices. You can quit as a band (after) 42 years of work. Or we could look at each other and go ‘are we done yet?!’ We’re really peaking and we understand (Mick’s) health issues.

“We wish him the best and we know that he’s a little bit confused and being misled by representatives right now. But we still have to stay focused on why we’re here.”

Mötley Crüe on stage in 2022

Earlier this week, Mötley Crüe’s Tommy Lee, Nikki Sixx and John 5 all shared photos from the recording studio with esteemed producer Bob Rock.

Earlier this month, Mick Mars launched legal proceedings against his Mötley Crüe band mates alleging they had forced him out and had withheld information about the various businesses that he has a share in.

Mötley Crüe later issued their own response to Variety denouncing Mars’ claims. They included signed declarations from seven crew members about Mick Mars’ playing.

Def Leppard and Mötley Crüe are bringing their co-headline stadium tour to the UK in May and July. Tickets are on sale from Planet Rock Tickets now.

Performing before Def Leppard and Mötley Crüe at London’s Wembley Stadium, Dublin Marlay Park and Glasgow Green will be Wolfgang Van Halen’s band Mammoth WVH.

The bands are yet to reveal the support act for their opening Sheffield Bramall Lane date in May, however Sheffield indie-rockers VIVAS will perform with them at Lytham Festival.

Def Leppard and Mötley Crüe’s UK Stadium Tour dates:

MAY 2023

Sheffield Bramall Lane – Mon 22nd (support TBA)

JULY 2023

London Wembley Stadium – Sat 1st (support: Mammoth WVH)

Lytham Festival – Sun 2nd (support: VIVAS)

Dublin Marlay Park - Tue 4th (support: Mammoth WVH)

Glasgow Green – Thu 6th (support: Mammoth WVH)

Buy Def Leppard and Mötley Crüe tickets

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