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Mick Mars

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"Robert Deal" redirects here. For the 18th-century pirate, see Robert Deal (pirate).

Mick Mars
Mick Mars in 2012
Mick Mars in 2012
Background information
Birth nameRobert Alan Deal
Born (1951-05-04) May 4, 1951 (age 73)
Terre Haute, Indiana, U.S.
Genres
OccupationGuitarist
Years active1974–present
Formerly ofMötley Crüe

Robert Alan Deal[1] (born May 4, 1951),[1][2][3][4] known professionally as Mick Mars, is an American musician best known as the former lead guitarist and co-founder of the heavy metal band Mötley Crüe. He is known for his aggressive, melodic solos and bluesy riffs.[5]

Early life

Mars was born Robert Alan Deal, in Terre Haute, Indiana,[1] in 1951. Soon after, his family moved to Huntington, Indiana.[6] Before he was nine years old, his family relocated again, this time to Garden Grove, California.[6] He was inspired to play guitar, after seeing his first concert in Indiana.

Early career

At age fourteen, he played in his first group, a Beatles cover group called The Jades, with Mars on bass guitar, switching to guitarist shortly after.[7][8] He dropped out of high school and began playing guitar in a series of unsuccessful blues-based rock bands throughout the 1970s, sometimes using the name Zorky Charlemagne,[citation needed] and occasionally taking on menial day jobs.

Mötley Crüe

Main article: Mötley Crüe

After nearly a decade of frustration with the California music scene, he reinvented himself, changing his name from Robert Deal to Mick Mars and dyeing his hair jet black, hoping for a fresh start. In April 1980 he put a want ad in the Los Angeles newspaper The Recycler, describing himself as "a loud, rude and aggressive guitar player". Nikki Sixx and Tommy Lee, who were putting together a new band which would soon become Mötley Crüe, contacted him, and hired him after hearing him play.

The name Mötley Crüe came about after Mars remembered someone referring to an old band he was in as a "motley looking crew".

One of the most influential heavy metal groups of the 1980s, Mötley Crüe has sold over 100 million albums worldwide.[9][10] They have also achieved seven platinum certifications, nine Top 10 albums on the Billboard 200 chart, twenty-two Top 40 mainstream rock hits, and six Top 20 pop singles.[11][12]

During the recording of their Dr. Feelgood album in 1989, reportedly, Mars used so many amplifiers on his guitar, that sounds of his guitar could be heard on the recordings of Aerosmith's album Pump, which was being recorded in the same studio at the time:[13]

Steven Tyler was doing vocals with producer Bruce Fairbairn next door, and I remember them yelling at me, 'You've gotta turn your stuff down, Mick! It's leaking into our vocals.' I didn't turn down, though. I just told them, 'Hey, that's the way I play – loud, so yeah, I'm all over the record they were doing. Somewhere in the mix, you'll hear me.

Mars performing in 2005

In 2015, he played with the band on what was reported at the time to be its final tour.

Mötley Crüe reunited in 2018[14] and started touring again in 2022.[15]

Retirement

On October 26, 2022, Mars announced his retirement from touring with Mötley Crüe.[16] The next day, the band confirmed that John 5 had taken his place.[17] That same week, they announced Mars' complete retirement from the band,[18] supporting his decision, with John 5 taking his place starting with the 2023's The World Tour with Def Leppard.

On April 6, 2023, Mars sued the band, alleging that the group were trying to "unilaterally" get Mars removed from the line-up of the band.[19][20][21] Later that day, the band released a statement stating that, whilst Mars hadn't been fired, he isn't touring with the group.[22] Mars would state:[21]

Those guys have been hammering on me since '87, trying to replace me, they haven't been able to do that, because I'm the guitar player. I helped form this band. It's my name I came up with, my ideas, my money that I had from a backer to start this band. It wouldn't have gone anywhere.

Mars signed a severance agreement that would divest him of those and other future interests, in return for a five per cent stake in the group's 2023 tour, which is going on without him.[21]

Hear 'n Aid

Main article: Hear 'n Aid

In 1986, Mars contributed to the compilation album Hear 'n Aid. Featuring 40 heavy metal musicians, the project album was organized by Ronnie James Dio, Jimmy Bain, and Vivian Campbell, all from the band Dio. Proceeds from the album were used to raise money for famine relief in Africa. Hear 'n Aid took large inspiration from the pop and rock Charity supergroup, Band Aid, which took place a year earlier.

Solo

In February 2023, amidst the controversies surrounding the band lawsuit, Mars began works on a solo album again, titled Another Side of Mars,[23] produced by Cory Marks in Los Angeles.[24] Mars has described the album, saying:[24]

The rock world is in for something weird, special, great and loud.

Mars stated that plans surrounding a solo album, had previously been discussed since 2014.[24][25]

Other works

Mars has contributed songwriting to John LeCompt, a former member of Evanescence and the other band members of Machina,[26] and to the Swedish band Crashdïet. Their second album, The Unattractive Revolution, was released on October 3, 2007, and featured two songs co-written by Mars.[27]

Mars played guitar on the title track of Hinder's 2008 album Take It to the Limit, and contributed a guitar solo to the song "Into the Light" by Papa Roach, on their 2009 album Metamorphosis. Mars also contributed a guitar solo to the song "The Question" on Rock Star: Supernova runner-up Dilana's U.S. debut album Inside Out.[28] In 2010 he co-wrote a song with Escape the Fate for the band's self-titled album, which was instead withheld from the album and reserved for a later release.[citation needed] Mars co-wrote and appears in the music video of the song "Boss's Daughter" by Pop Evil on their 2011 album War of Angels.[29]

In November 2019, Mars released a new song, "The Way I'm Wired", with Black Smoke Trigger.[30] Mars was also featured on the hit single "Outlaws & Outsiders" by Cory Marks.[31]

Equipment

Mars in his early career used guitars that were popular at the time: Kramer, and other Superstrats; on occasion he used a black Gibson Les Paul, and sometimes a B.C. Rich. However, according to an interview published in September 2009, Mars' main stage guitars for that tour were Fender Stratocasters with an "HSH" (humbucker, single coil, humbucker) configuration. He frequently used a Stratocaster modified from components of 1963, 1964, and 1965 models with J.M. Rolph pickups and a licensed Floyd Rose bridge system turning it into a Superstrat.[32]

Personal life

Mars currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee.[33] He was married to Emi Canyn (1954–2017[34]) from 1990 to 1994. Since 2013, he has been married to former "Miss Zürich" model Seraina Schönenberger, who is a little over thirty-three years his junior.[35] He has three children: Les Paul, Stormy (born to his first girlfriend, Sharon) and Erik.[23] Andy Greene's 2023 Rolling Stone profile states: "Mars is in touch with Les Paul today, but estranged from his two other kids."[23]

Health

For most of his professional career, Mars has openly struggled with ankylosing spondylitis,[36] a chronic, inflammatory form of arthritis that mainly affects the spine and pelvis. It was initially diagnosed when he was 17 years old and has increasingly impaired his movement and has caused him pain. This led to hip-replacement surgery at the end of 2004.[37]

Over the years, the illness has caused his lower spine to seize up and freeze completely solid, "... causing scoliosis in [his] back and squashing [him] further down and forward until [he] was a full three inches (7.6 cm) shorter than [he] was in high school."[38] Mars reported in 2013 that his neck is so stiff he could not even turn his head, preventing him from driving a car.[39] He also said in the band's 2001 autobiography, The Dirt:[25]

My hips started hurting so bad every time I turned my body that it felt like someone was igniting fireworks in my bones. I didn't have enough money to see a doctor, so I just kept hoping that I could do what I usually do: will it away, through the power of my mind. But it kept getting worse.

Influences

Mainly influenced by the Blues rock music of the 1960s, he has pointed out the likes of Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix as influences:[13]

When I started out on the guitar, I was influenced by people like Michael Bloomfield, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix. Those guys sort of taught me how to play 'real' guitar. But again, with riffs, you have to look into your soul and see what comes out.

Mars also claims that the albums: Axis: Bold as Love (1967), Truth (1968), Having a Rave Up with the Yardbirds (1965), Disraeli Gears (1967), Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs (1970), Bad Company (1974), Band of Gypsys (1970), Led Zeppelin II (1969), and various songs by Mike Bloomfield helped "change his life".[40]

Discography

With Mötley Crüe

Main article: Mötley Crüe discography

With Hear 'n Aid

References

  1. ^ a b c Rosen, Steven (September 6, 2008). "Motley Crue's Mick Mars: 'I've Always Been About Melody And Tone'". Ultimate Guitar Archive. Archived from the original on December 11, 2015. Retrieved June 11, 2011. Mick Mars came into this world as Robert Alan Deal. He was born in Terre Haute, Indiana, on May 4, 1951
  2. ^ Mars, Mick [@mrmickmars] (May 4, 2019). "Thank all of my fans,friends, and family for all the Happy Birthday tweets, messages, instagrams. I appreciate everyone of them. Thank you remembering Peace to you all 👽🛸" (Tweet). Archived from the original on August 8, 2021. Retrieved September 8, 2021 – via Twitter.
  3. ^ "Motley Crue Shares Epic Photo for Mick Mars' 70th Birthday | 103.7 FM 80s+". Martha Quinn. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  4. ^ K, Enes (May 6, 2019). "Nikki Sixx Celebrates Mötley Crüe Star's Birthday With An Exciting News". Metalhead Zone. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  5. ^ June 2011, Neil Zlozower 07 (June 7, 2011). "Dear Guitar Hero: Mick Mars". guitarworld. Retrieved July 7, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ a b Friedman, David (February 25, 2005). "Mick Mars, Motley Crue's 'quietest' member, ready to make some noise". The News-Times. Danbury, Connecticut. Retrieved November 9, 2014.
  7. ^ "Mick Mars Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
  8. ^ "Mick Mars - The Incredible Story Of The Founding Member Of Mötley Crüe. | Revised 2023". July 22, 2022. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
  9. ^ "10 Things You Might Not Know About Mötley Crüe | KSHE 95". August 3, 2017. Archived from the original on August 3, 2017. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  10. ^ Hill, John. "Kids Have Mixed Reactions Reflecting on the Music of Motley Crue". Loudwire. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  11. ^ "Mötley Crüe". Billboard. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  12. ^ "About Mötley Crüe". Mötley Crüe. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  13. ^ a b Joe Bosso (October 27, 2022). "Mick Mars on his favorite Mötley Crüe solo, how he (unintentionally) ended up on Aerosmith's Pump, and the Dr. Feelgood Garnet amp". guitarworld. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  14. ^ Redrup, Zach (September 13, 2018). "News: Mötley Crüe still recording new music following break up!". Dead Press!. Archived from the original on September 14, 2018. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  15. ^ "Def Leppard, Mötley Crüe, Poison and Joan Jett & the Blackhearts: 'The Stadium Tour' Details Revealed". Blabbermouth.net. December 4, 2019. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
  16. ^ Aswad, Jem; Halperin, Shirley (October 26, 2022). "Motley Crue Guitarist Mick Mars to Retire From Touring". Variety. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
  17. ^ Kielty, Martin; Wilkening, Matthew (October 27, 2022). "It's Official: John 5 Joins Mötley Crüe". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
  18. ^ Trepany, Charles (October 28, 2022). "Mötley Crüe guitarist Mick Mars retires due to health issues: 'The ultimate act of courage'". USA Today. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
  19. ^ Schaffner, Lauryn (April 6, 2023). "Mick Mars Sues Mötley Crüe, Says He Was Unilaterally Removed From Band + Gaslighted". Loudwire. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  20. ^ Jones, Damian (April 7, 2023). "Mick Mars sues Mötley Crüe, band call lawsuit "completely off base"". NME. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  21. ^ a b c Qureshi, Arusa (April 9, 2023). "Mick Mars on Mötley Crüe lawsuit: "I carried these bastards for years"". NME. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
  22. ^ Willman, Chris (April 6, 2023). "Motley Crue Responds to Mick Mars' Lawsuit, Contending He Quit After 'Struggling to Remember Chords, Playing the Wrong Songs'; Nikki Sixx Says 'Sad Day for Us'". Variety. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  23. ^ a b c Greene, Andy (June 24, 2023). "Mick Mars Goes to War With Mötley Crüe". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
  24. ^ a b c Matt Owen (February 7, 2023). "Mick Mars is in the studio working on his long-awaited debut solo album". guitarworld. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  25. ^ a b "Mötley Crüe guitarist Mick Mars working on solo album". Guitar.com | All Things Guitar. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  26. ^ Machina Collaboration with Mick Mars on YouTube
  27. ^ "The Official Web Site". Crash Diet. Retrieved July 4, 2012.
  28. ^ Dilana: The Reality Rocks Interview Part 2, which was also released in 2009.
  29. ^ "Pop Evil's 'Boss's Daughter' Video Features Mötley Crüe Guitarist, Playboy Playmate". Noisecreep. May 25, 2012. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
  30. ^ Blabbermouth (November 23, 2019). "MÖTLEY CRÜE's MICK MARS Guests On BLACK SMOKE TRIGGER EP (Audio)". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  31. ^ Brooks, Dave (December 20, 2019). "Cory Marks 'Outlaws and Outsiders' Is the 2019 Hit That Couldn't Be Confined". Billboard.
  32. ^ Sharken, Lisa. "Mick Mars Shows Off a Piece of His Action". Vintage Guiter. Retrieved October 14, 2018.
  33. ^ Carr, Courtney. "LOOK: These Classic Rockers All Live in Nashville". The Boot. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  34. ^ "Emi Canyn's Unidentified Facts and the Cause of her Death - Whatsmagazine". October 12, 2022. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  35. ^ Ozden, Elif (October 16, 2022). "Seraina Schonenberger: What We Know About Mick Mars' Wife". Rock Celebrities. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  36. ^ Lee, Tommy; Strauss, Neil; Neil, Vince; Mars, Mick; Sixx, Nikki (2002) [2001]. The Dirt (The Anniversary Edition): Confessions of the World's Most Notorious Rock Band (reprint, illustrated ed.). HarperCollins. ISBN 0-06-098915-7. OCLC 212381899.
  37. ^ Rashbaum, A (October 6, 2004). "Motley Crue Guitarist Undergoes Surgery". MTV.com. Retrieved August 7, 2008.
  38. ^ Lee, et al., The Dirt, p. 187
  39. ^ Whitaker, Sterling (May 5, 2013). "Motley Crue's Mick Mars Knocked Over by 'Idiot' Fan During Concert". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  40. ^ Pratopublished, Greg (October 28, 2022). "Motley Crue's Mick Mars: 10 albums that changed my life". louder. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
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