Mötley Crüe formed in 1981 in Los Angeles and became one of the most popular of the so-called hair-metal bands. Mixing glam-rock theatrics, heavy metal riffs and radio-friendly pop hooks, they were regulars on MTV in the 1980s and by the end of that decade topped the Billboard 200 chart with their 1989 album, “Dr. Feel good.” The band’s telling memoir, “The Dirt,” which chronicled their rise to fame and rocky history, was adapted into a Netflix biopic in 2019.
Mars, 71, whose real name is Robert Alan Deal, joined Mötley Crüe shortly after its formation and, according to the lawsuit, came up with the band’s name. He was diagnosed at age 27 with ankylosing spondylitis, an inflammatory disease that can cause the vertebrae to fuse over time. The disease has caused his spine to “lock up and freeze completely,” the suit says, adding that he has chronic pain and can’t move his head in any direction.
Last fall, Mars told his bandmates that, because of his “debilitating” ankylosing spondylitis, he couldn’t physically “handle the rigors of the road” and would no longer be touring with the band, the suit says. Mars, who last performed with Mötley Crüe in Las Vegas on September 9, 2022, said he would still record and perform with the band in a “residence situation.”
After Mars publicly announced the change on October 26, the band issued a separate statement saying that he had “retired” and that a guitarist named John 5 would be replacing him.
The other band members — Nikki Sixx, Vince Neil and Tommy Lee — called the emergency shareholders’ meeting, where they attempted to fire Mars from seven of the band’s affiliates and limited liability companies, the lawsuit said. Those entities — Mötley Crüe Inc.; Motley Crue Touring Inc.; Red, White and Crue Inc.; Masters 2000 Inc.; Cruefest LLC; Motley Records LLC; and Masters 2008 LLC – are listed as defendants in the lawsuit, which demands Mars be allowed to view the band’s business records. He also claims reimbursement of his lawyer’s fees.
