Dozens of people and media coverage around the globe have witnessed the members of Motley Crue signed a document at a press conference in Jan. 24, 2014 that prevents them from touring again after their farewell road trip, according to them.
The contract is called, “Cessation of Touring Agreement” and came into effect at the exact end of 2015, and if the members of the band attempted to break the deal — it would be subject to a lawsuit. Nikki Sixx, Vince Neil, Tommy Lee, and Mick Mars – we won’t be able to see them all together again.
“After more than three decades together, iconic rock ‘n’ roll band Motley Crue announced today the Final Tour and the band’s ultimate retirement,” they said in a statement. “The announcement was solidified when the band signed a formal Cessation of Touring Agreement, effective at the end of 2015, in front of global media in Los Angeles today.”
“We always had a vision of going out with a big fucking bang and not playing county fairs and clubs with one or two original band members,” drummer Lee said. “Our job here is done.”
Guitarist Mars added that their history had included “more drama than General Hospital.” “It keeps ’em watchin’, and they keep comin’ back,” he added.
Doug Mark of Mark Music & Media Law, the band’s attorney was also present when the band signed the agreement, “Other bands have split up over rancor or the inability of people to get along,” Mark said. “But this is mutual among all four original members and a peaceful decision to move on to other endeavors and to confirm it with a binding agreement.”
The details of the agreement never went public, and one thing is clear, Sixx, Neil, Lee, and Mars are not allowed to use the name “Motley Crue” for touring after 2015 — and if they tried, they could be sued.
Crue’s manager, Chris Nilsson is also uncertain on details of the agreement, he was asked if it also prevents the band from reuniting for standalone events.
“I’m not really sure,” he told Pollstar at the time. “One thing I will say is that I think it’s really important to them that they do what they agreed to do. They agreed that this will be the final tour. … I can’t really speak on the specifics of the agreement, but this is the final tour.”
LawDepot, on the other hand, notes that a contract becomes “voidable,” according to law, and if “a party breaches the terms of the contract” and that the “party affected by the particular circumstance may choose to either set aside the contract or continue with it.”
Mark confirmed “everyone had their own counsel” – and if the rest of them want to set it aside, it’s legally voidable.
Sixx response at the signing to the suggestion that they could break the deal, “You guys in the press, you keep looking for the loophole. We’re gonna stick to our word.” “It would take all of us to agree to do something,” Neil observed. “But I don’t see us going back on our word and saying, ‘Aw, forget it, forget it you guys – we were just kidding,’ you know? No, we won’t be doing any more concerts.”
Mark noted that the deal has anything to do with preventing actual performances. “It’s an agreement that binds the four of them to not utilize this trademark for touring in the future,” he said, to which Sixx added, “Pretty simple.”
A recent public petition to bring them back in the road again suggested that the band will tour in 2020. Here’s what Motley Crue has to say, “This is interesting … ”
Watch the Press Conference of Motley Crue’s ‘The End’ below: