The ugly legal battle between Mötley Crüe and their former guitarist Mick Mars has come to an end in the glam metal band’s favor. Mars filed suit against the group back in the spring of 2023. At the heart of that dispute was Mars‘ intention to step down from long-term touring with the band due to his advancing issues with Ankylosing Spondylitis — a progressive arthritic condition affecting his spine.
The band argued that in Mars stepping down from touring with the band, he was no longer entitled to his 25% stake in their profits generated from touring, a stipulation he reportedly requested himself was placed in a governing agreement the group signed back in 2008. Mars however, contended that in stepping down from touring, he didn’t actually quit the band, insisting his stake should remain in place.
The band presented Mars with a ‘severance package’ of sorts that entitled him to as much as 7.5% of the 2023 touring revenue — a run he did not play — if he agreed to divest himself of his previous stake in the band’s touring activities afterwards. Mars refused, leading to arbitration and various ugly allegations being leveled by both parties.
Mars alleged that members of the band had taken to lip syncing and miming along to tracks on tour during their reunion touring in recent years. The band meanwhile fired back that Mars‘ live playing abilities had severely deteriorated, leading to audio staff having to correct his parts on the fly.
Mars‘ allegations against the band were disproven in these newest proceedings, with various evidence proving Mars‘ claims false. As such, Mars was forced to admit under oath that his statements on the matter were not factual, as proven by the audio expert he retained on the matter. As such, Mars formally recanted his claims regarding his ex-bandmates’ live performances during sworn testimony.
As it now stands, the arbitrator on the case, the Honorable Patrick Walsh (Ret.), ruled entirely in favor of the band, confirming that Mars had forfeited his right to the group’s touring revenue in stepping down from their live duties.
Furthermore, the band’s decision to terminate Mars as an officer and director for legal cause was upheld, with Mars being ordered to repay over $750,000 in unrecouped tour advances. Accounting for the value of Mars‘ shares, the final award resulted in a net judgment in favor of Mötley Crüe.
The band’s lead council on the matter, Sasha Frid of Miller Barondess, LLP commented:
“This dispute was about protecting the integrity and legacy of one of the most successful bands in rock history. With the arbitrator rejecting every claim and enforcing the parties’ agreements as written, the band has been fully vindicated—legally, financially, and factually.”
Mötley Crüe have since filed a petition to confirm the final arbitration award in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
