Mötley Crüe Secures Victory in Arbitration Battle with Former Guitarist Mick Mars
In a major blow to former Mötley Crüe guitarist Mick Mars, a retired judge has ruled in favor of the band, declaring that they were within their rights to remove him from his position as an officer and director after he stepped down from a grueling US tour due to chronic illness.
The decision comes after years of litigation between Mars and the remaining members of the iconic metal band - Nikki Sixx, Tommy Lee, and Vince Neil. Mars had claimed that the band had unfairly fired him and cut off payments following his withdrawal from the 2022 world tour due to ankylosing spondylitis, a painful bone disease.
However, the arbitrator upheld the band's firing decision, ordering Mars to repay $750,030 from an advance payment he made to the band before missing 69 live shows. The judge also ruled that Mars must sell his ownership stake in the band for $505,737, resulting in Mötley Crüe receiving a net payment of $244,293.
The band's lead lawyer, Sasha Frid, stated that the arbitrator had "fully vindicated" the band, emphasizing that their actions were taken to protect the integrity and legacy of one of the most successful rock bands in history. In contrast, Mars' lawyer Ed McPherson blasted the decision as "awful" and "not fair," arguing that Mars was unfairly targeted by the band after announcing his chronic illness.
The dispute began when Mars filed a public lawsuit against the band in 2023, claiming that they had abandoned him despite remaining shareholders during his absence. The band denied these claims, stating that they had offered Mars a generous compensation package to honor his career with the band.
In previous statements, Mars accused his former bandmates of mimicking their live performances by using prerecorded tracks on their 2022 reunion tour. However, this claim has been refuted by the remaining members, who denied these allegations and emphasized their support for Mars during his withdrawal from touring.
The final verdict has left fans and observers alike stunned, with some expressing sympathy for Mars' plight while others applauding the band's decision to stand firm on their rights. As Mötley Crüe continues to perform and tour without Mars, it remains to be seen how this arbitration battle will affect the iconic metal band's legacy and future endeavors.
In a major blow to former Mötley Crüe guitarist Mick Mars, a retired judge has ruled in favor of the band, declaring that they were within their rights to remove him from his position as an officer and director after he stepped down from a grueling US tour due to chronic illness.
The decision comes after years of litigation between Mars and the remaining members of the iconic metal band - Nikki Sixx, Tommy Lee, and Vince Neil. Mars had claimed that the band had unfairly fired him and cut off payments following his withdrawal from the 2022 world tour due to ankylosing spondylitis, a painful bone disease.
However, the arbitrator upheld the band's firing decision, ordering Mars to repay $750,030 from an advance payment he made to the band before missing 69 live shows. The judge also ruled that Mars must sell his ownership stake in the band for $505,737, resulting in Mötley Crüe receiving a net payment of $244,293.
The band's lead lawyer, Sasha Frid, stated that the arbitrator had "fully vindicated" the band, emphasizing that their actions were taken to protect the integrity and legacy of one of the most successful rock bands in history. In contrast, Mars' lawyer Ed McPherson blasted the decision as "awful" and "not fair," arguing that Mars was unfairly targeted by the band after announcing his chronic illness.
The dispute began when Mars filed a public lawsuit against the band in 2023, claiming that they had abandoned him despite remaining shareholders during his absence. The band denied these claims, stating that they had offered Mars a generous compensation package to honor his career with the band.
In previous statements, Mars accused his former bandmates of mimicking their live performances by using prerecorded tracks on their 2022 reunion tour. However, this claim has been refuted by the remaining members, who denied these allegations and emphasized their support for Mars during his withdrawal from touring.
The final verdict has left fans and observers alike stunned, with some expressing sympathy for Mars' plight while others applauding the band's decision to stand firm on their rights. As Mötley Crüe continues to perform and tour without Mars, it remains to be seen how this arbitration battle will affect the iconic metal band's legacy and future endeavors.