In a recent chat with Audacy Check In, MÖTLEY CRÜE’s guitarist Mick Mars opened up about why it took him over four decades to launch his first solo project. He explained that MÖTLEY CRÜE always came first, and now that he’s stepped back, he has the freedom to explore his own musical expressions. “I’m on my own now, focusing on my music, which reflects my personal style and thoughts, something different from MÖTLEY CRÜE,” Mars said. He also mentioned he’d be open to collaborating with MÖTLEY CRÜE again if asked.
While Nikki Sixx, the band’s bassist, wrote much of MÖTLEY CRÜE’s music, Mars contributed to some of their hit songs, like “Same Ol’ Situation (S.O.S.)”, “Girls, Girls, Girls”, and “Dr. Feelgood”. His only contribution to the band’s early albums was the instrumental track “God Bless The Children Of The Beast” from their 1983 album “Shout At The Devil”.
Mars recently released his debut solo album, “The Other Side Of Mars”, through his own company, 1313, LLC, collaborating with MRI. He worked closely with Jacob Bunton, a seasoned musician from Birmingham, Alabama, on this album. Bunton, known for his previous work with prominent artists and bands, sings lead on most of the album’s tracks.
The album features guest appearances from notable musicians like Paul Taylor from WINGER/ALICE COOPER, KORN’s drummer Ray Luzier, and Brion Gamboa, who lends his vocals to two tracks. Before this solo venture, Bunton had been part of Alabama-based bands MARS ELECTRIC and LYNAM.
After Mars announced he was stepping down from touring with MÖTLEY CRÜE in October 2022 due to health issues, he clarified that he would still be part of the band. However, a twist came when he filed a lawsuit against the band members in Los Angeles, accusing them of attempting to cut him out as a significant shareholder following his tour exit announcement.
Mars, born Robert Alan Deal, has been the lead guitarist for MÖTLEY CRÜE since its formation in 1981, marking a long and influential career in rock music.
