The ongoing tensions within the rock band Mötley Crüe have taken another turn as guitarist Mick Mars reiterated his claims that bassist Nikki Sixx did not perform on the band’s Stadium Tour in 2022. Mars, who recently filed a lawsuit against his bandmates over financial matters, has accused Sixx of gaslighting him and miming his bass parts during the tour. These allegations have intensified the rift within the band, shedding light on the challenges they faced both on and off the stage.
Mick Mars’ Allegations and Lawsuit
Mick Mars has remained steadfast in his claims that Nikki Sixx did not play bass during Mötley Crüe’s Stadium Tour in 2022. In his lawsuit, Mars accused Sixx of gaslighting him and undermining his guitar-playing abilities. Mars firmly believed that Sixx “did not play a single note on bass” throughout the entire tour. These allegations, along with the financial disputes, have fueled the escalating tensions between the band members.
Mötley Crüe’s Response and Counter-Claims
In response to Mick Mars’ allegations, Mötley Crüe issued a statement denouncing his claims as part of an “ugly lawsuit.” They even provided signed declarations from seven crew members attesting to Mars’ playing. Nikki Sixx later suggested that Mars may have been misled by representatives involved in the lawsuit. The conflicting accounts have deepened the divide within the band, further complicating their already strained relationship.
Mick Mars Reiterates His Claims
In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Mick Mars stood by his previous statements, asserting that Nikki Sixx mimed his bass parts during the tour. Mars cited fan videos capturing Sixx’s actions while bass lines played, suggesting that Sixx’s gestures did not align with live performance.
“I’ve been with him a long time, and I got fan-based film of him thrusting his arms in the air and stuff when there’s a bass line playing,” Mars said.
“I’m absolutely positive (he wasn’t playing live bass). I think he did that because he felt too much competition from the other bands on the tour, like Def Leppard. I think they made him feel inadequate about his bass playing.”
Emotional Toll and Communication Breakdown
Mick Mars also expressed his emotional distress during the tour, revealing a breakdown in communication among the band members. He disclosed that the last substantial conversation he had with Tommy Lee, Vince Neil, and Nikki Sixx was at the premiere of The Dirt movie in 2019.
“Nobody spoke to me in 2022,” Mars said. “A lot of the time felt like I was just playing by myself. You know how you can be in a crowd of people and still feel alone?
“That’s how I felt that whole tour. I felt used, sad, and inferior. When we played the last show (in Las Vegas on 9th September 2022) I felt relieved. A lot of the pressure was gone. But I was very emotionally wounded. They weren’t just shallow wounds. They were deep ones; the kind you can’t get over.”