Mick Mars is working on second solo album

Mick Mars who was Mötley Crüe‘s guitarist for four decades, has been battling a silent enemy, a condition called ankylosing spondylitis. It is a degenerative spine disease which causes inflammation in the spine joints and ligaments and can lead to stiffness over time.

In a recent interview with Chris Akin Presents, the guitarist has addressed his health issues. In Mars‘ words:

When I see myself, especially in the past couple of years, like the farewell tour in 2015 and The Stadium Tour that just happened, and I see myself on film, I absolutely am not digging it at all. I don’t like the way I look. I don’t like the way I can’t move. I was like, I can look down on my guitar, but I can’t bend my head to see, so I have to look down. And when I walk on stage, it looks like a praying mantis with a guitar or something. It’s kind of messed up. It’s hard for me to look at myself that way ’cause I don’t feel that way. But I see it.

Mars added:

My brain’s as sharp as ever. These new ideas — this is a weird way to explain it. My brain, my mind, and my ideas are expanding beyond what I figured, but it’s still my idea, my creativity. The stuff is growing as a solo artist. And I’m not in this shell confined to one type of sound. This stuff, if it was any different, wouldn’t sound right. I can do anything I want, take it where I want. And if people are digging it, I’m loving it. And if they’re not, it’s okay too, because that’s what’s in my mind.

Mars also spoke to Katie Daryl of AXS TV, telling her that he is already going ahead with his second album. He speaks of the new music as “more cinematic,” a departure from the raw energy of “Undone” – one of the tracks from his debut solo record.

In Mars‘ words:

I’ve already got four pretty solid ideas that are a little more — it’s not advanced. It’s like more in a direction of ‘Undone’ or something more cinematic, but it’s still pretty thick.

You can watch the latter interview in its entirety below: