Motley Crue Releasing First New Song Since Mick Mars Split
Motley Crue is releasing their first new song since their split with guitarist Mick Mars.
The band announced the news via social media, writing, “Motley Crue return marking the start of a brand new chapter with our new song ‘Dogs of War’ available now for pre-order! Hitting all platforms 4/26.”
“Dogs of War” is available for pre-order/pre-save here.
“Dogs of War” being described as “the start of a brand new chapter” for Crue is certainly interesting, considering everything that has played out since Mars retired from touring in October 2022. Days after the Mars announcement, John 5 was unveiled as the Crue's new touring guitarist.
What Happened After Mick Mars Retired From Touring With Motley Crue?
Things in the Crue camp and with Mars have been a bit wild since the guitarist retired from touring in October 2022. Mars filed a lawsuit in April 2023 against Mötley Crüe alleging his percentage of band profits was cut from 25 percent to 5 percent.
Mars claimed in his lawsuit the band held a meeting to “unilaterally” remove him from Mötley Crüe. He was also allegedly removed from many of the band’s various corporations and LLCs.
Additionally, Mars claims bassist Nikki Sixx repeatedly “gaslighted” the guitarist. Sixx told Mars he consistently forgot chords and fans were complaining about his playing. (Mars claimed in the lawsuit Sixx “did not play a single note on bass during the entire U.S. tour” and accused him of using backing tracks and pantomiming.
(L-R) Nikki Sixx, Vince Neil, Mick Mars and Tommy Lee of Motley Crue arrive at the premiere of Netflix’s “The Dirt” at ArcLight Hollywood on March 18, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Motley Crue Responds to Mick Mars’ Lawsuit
This led to Motley Crue issuing a statement in response to Mars’ lawsuit calling it “unfortunate and completely off-base.” The band said, in part, “In 2008, Mick voted for and signed an agreement in which he and every other band member agreed that ‘in no event shall any resigning shareholder be entitled to receive any monies attributable to live performances (i.e., tours).’ After the last tour, Mick publicly resigned from Motley Crue. Despite the fact that the band did not owe Mick anything — and with Mick owing the band millions in advances that he did not pay back — the band offered Mick a generous compensation package to honor his career with the band.”
Furthermore, Motley Crue insisted they always perform live without backing tracks and stood by the claim Mars’ playing was declining. Mars then told Variety in an interview following news of the lawsuit, “Those guys have been hammering on me since ’87, trying to replace me. He added, ” … It’s just frustrating for me. I’m pretty upset that they’re even pulling this crap, when I carried these bastards for years.”
This led to Crue manager Allen Kovac to speak at length to Variety. Kovac referred to Mars’ entire legal strategy as “a smear campaign … misrepresenting the facts to the fans.” He further noted, “What’s upsetting to me is not Mick, but his representatives, who have guided Mick to say and do harmful things to the brand he cares about so much, Mötley Crüe. He has a degenerative disease and people are taking advantage of him. It’s called elder abuse.”
Variety reached out to Mars’ attorney Edwin F. McPherson for comment on Kovac’s numerous statements. McPherson said of the lawsuit, “This is all Mick. He is tired of being bullied. This is nobody driving the train here but Mick.”
Nikki Sixx and John 5 of Mötley Crüe perform live for the “The World Tour” at Sheffield Bramall Lane on May 22, 2023 in Sheffield, England. (Photo by Anthony Devlin/Getty Images for Live Nation UK)
A Legal Victory For Mick Marks, But There’s a Twist
In January, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James C. Chalfant ruled that the Crue should have disclosed the corporate documents Mars requested, which was at the center of his lawsuit. Additionally, Judge Chalfant ruled that the Crue needs to cover Mars’ legal fees from this ordeal.
However, now that the corporate documents requested have been handed over, Judge Chalfant ruled Mars’ lawsuit as “moot,” which Motley Crue’s legal team is viewing as a victory. Meanwhile, Mars’ legal rep said the matter of whether the guitarist was illegally squeezed from the band will still be determined during private arbitration later in 2024.
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