Hair metal legends win judgment against former bandmate
Guitarist Mick Mars is a founding member of Motley Crüe, but it wasn't enough to prevent him from being kicked out of the band.
That is the decision of an arbitrator, according to Variety . The ruling says the other members were within their rights to remove Mars as a band member and as an officer in the group's business affairs.
Mars, 74, was removed after he dropped out of a tour in 2022 because of health issues, People magazine reports .
"Mars argues that it is immoral for him to be cast aside after forming the backbone of this group for more than four decades merely because his age and AS symptoms precluded him from performing," the arbitrator, retired federal judge Patrick Walsh, says in his decision. "I am not unsympathetic to this argument but it is not for me in the context of this arbitration to weigh in on the morality of the band's decision."
Variety reports Walsh also ruled that Mars owed former bandmates Vince Neil, Nikki Sixx and Tommy Lee $750,030 in advance money because he missed several shows. However, the band owes Mars $500,000 for his quarter stake in the band, reducing the amount to $250,030.
Ed McPherson, the lawyer for Mars, said the arbitrator's decision was "awful," according to Rolling Stone .
"It's not fair. This band has never been fair to Mick," McPherson told Rolling Stone. "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.'"
Lawyers for the band released a statement saying the ruling was vindication for the group.
"This dispute was about protecting the integrity and legacy of one of the most successful bands in rock history," the statement said. "With the arbitrator rejecting every claim and enforcing the parties' agreements as written, the band has been fully vindicated — legally, financially, and factually."
Read the original article on cleveland.com .
