MÖTLEY CRÜE announced that they have secured a decisive arbitration victory over ex-guitarist Mick Mars, with the arbitrator rejecting all of Mars's claims and ordering him to reimburse the band for damages. The ruling upheld the band's contractual agreements and disproved Mars's disparaging public statements.
Mick Mars retired from touring with the band in late 2022 due to health problems but wanted to remain a member financially. When the other members moved to adjust his role and financial rights, Mars sued, alleging wrongful removal as a significant stakeholder. However, the arbitrator confirmed Mars forfeited touring revenue rights after ceasing to tour, in accordance with a contractual clause Mars had helped establish.
The ruling also found that Mars’s public accusations claiming the band did not perform live were false. Substantial live performance evidence and expert testimony contradicted Mars's claims, leading him to retract his statements under oath. This aspect of the case helped protect the band's professional reputation.
MÖTLEY CRÜE's longtime manager characterized Mars's media campaign as damaging and misleading, noting that Mars's health condition, Ankylosing Spondylitis, had been accommodated by the band. The manager expressed regret that Mars’s representatives exploited his illness for leverage in the dispute.
Mars was a founding member and contributed to several of the band's notable songs over four decades. Though he stepped down from touring, the band has maintained that the remaining members continued to perform live authentically during recent tours.