Metal, Hardcore, Indie, Rock
Ed McPherson, the attorney for Mick Mars, has reacted to the recent arbitration decision made by Mars’ former bandmates in Mötley Crüe against his client, as per theprp. Mars launched a lawsuit against the band back in 2023, claiming that they had unfairly tried to kick him out because he wanted to avoid long-term touring. According to a governing agreement they had all signed back in 2008, the band claimed that by quitting touring, he forfeited his right to a quarter of the band’s touring earnings. However, Mars denied that he had left the group, insisting that he was still a studio member and that he would be willing to do a few shows, such one-offs and residencies.
The band then offered Mars a sort of “severance package,” granting him up to 7.5% of a 2023 tour that he would not be participating in in exchange for giving up his touring stake. That offer was turned down by Mars. Both arbitration and an unpleasant verbal battle between the two sides followed. During their recent reunion tour, Mars claimed that a few of his comrades had been lip-syncing and miming their parts onstage while performing live to backing tracks. In response, his then-estranged bandmates said that Mars’ playing skills had declined to the point where sound engineers were spontaneously adding portions of backing tracks to make up for his diminishing talents.
Mars wanted to leave the band because his quality of life was being negatively impacted by his persistent struggles with ankylosing spondylitis. As was disclosed earlier this week, Mötley Crüe prevailed in that court case through arbitration, and Mars withdrew his previously reported accusations against his former bandmates. Additionally, the judge decided that the band had a right to fire him because he had missed about 69 live performances. In addition to having to sell his ownership part in the band to the other members for a total of $505,737, Mars was ordered to reimburse the band $750,030 from a tour advance. The band receives a net payout of $244.293 as a result of that decision.
The decision is awful. It’s not fair. This band has never been fair to Mick. When Mick said I can’t tour anymore because of a hideous disease, but I can still write, perform one-offs or residencies, and record, they said, ‘Sorry Mick. It’s been 43 years, but you’re out. Goodbye, and we don’t want to pay you anymore.’ This arbitrator said it’s fine. We need to figure out if we’re going to challenge [the decision]. It’s ridiculous. It’s just a question of whether he wants to keep pursuing this. Basically, he’s over Mötley Crüe. – Ed McPherson
