Mick Mars’ lawyer slams ruling in Mötley Crüe lawsuit: “It’s not fair”
A lawyer representing Mick Mars has criticised the judge’s decision to rule in favour of Mötley Crüe in a lawsuit filed by the guitarist.
Mars, who retired from touring with the rock group in 2022 due to health issues, launched the legal filing against his former bandmates in 2024, which finally came to a resolution this week.
The lawsuit claimed Mötley Crüe had conspired to oust him from the band’s business dealings after he had stopped touring. In his defence, Mars claimed that he had wished to continue writing and recording with the band.
An independent arbitrator has now ruled in favour of Mötley Crüe, and also confirmed that Mars must also pay back more than $750,000 that he was paid as an advance for tour dates that he didn’t participate in due to his health problems.
In response to the ruling, Mars’ lawyer Ed McPherson told Rolling Stone, “The decision is awful. It’s not fair. This band has never been fair to Mick.”
The legal representative continued, “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.'”
McPherson then stated that he’s unsure whether they will appeal the verdict, stating, “This arbitrator said it’s fine. We need to figure out if we’re going to challenge [the decision].”
However, McPherson is confident in saying that Mars’ chapter with the band has run its course, stating, “It’s ridiculous. It’s just a question of whether he wants to keep pursuing this. Basically, he’s over Mötley Crüe.”
Meanwhile, Mötley Crüe labelled their legal victory as “decisive” and stated, “The arbitrator’s ruling not only vindicates the band contractually and financially but also dismantles the public narrative Mars promoted in interviews with major outlets.”
Mars had previously alleged that Nikki Sixx didn’t play his bass live during their 2022 tour, which Sixx strongly denied.
However, following the ruling, Mötley Crüe claimed, “Mars was forced to admit under oath that his statements were false. His expert confirmed that the band performed live, and Mars formally recanted his prior claims during sworn testimony.”
They also stated that Mars, who had a 25 per cent stake in Mötley Crüe Ink, “forfeited any right to touring revenue when he chose to stop touring—a rule Mars himself demanded and wrote into the band’s governing agreement in 2008″.
Furthermore, their lead counsel, Sasha Frid, also said the legal ruling means Mötley Crüe have now “been fully vindicated—legally, financially, and factually”.
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