Nikki Sixx has provided additional exposition into Motley Crue’s choice to separate with founding guitarist Mick Mars.

It was October 2022 when the band introduced Mars was exiting the Crue. At the time, the choice was introduced as amicable — Mars can be concerned behind the scenes, however not tour attributable to his ongoing battle with ankylosing spondylitis. However, shortly after John 5 was introduced as his alternative, Mars took authorized motion, claiming that he was pressured out of the band.

According to Sixx, it wasn’t a person who pushed for Mars’ dismissal, however quite the circumstances that pressured Motley Crue into making the change.

READ MORE: Motley Crue Albums Ranked Worst to Best

“Listen, we were forced,” the bassist defined throughout a latest dialog with Guitar World. “Guy’s gotta choose: you want to break up? Do you want to fuck over [concert promoter] Live Nation? You want to screw [tourmates] Def Leppard? All those tickets, all that planning that we’d done because one of your band members is too ill to perform live?”

Though the choice wasn’t a straightforward one, Sixx insists his band made the proper name.

“We really had to think about it,” the rocker continued. “Like, do you think we wanted to take the grief we took, and end up in a lawsuit? But what were we supposed to do? Go home and fucking mow the lawn? It’s like your fucking football team; if one of your guys can’t play anymore, they bring in another guy.”

Motley Crue Has Been Busy Since John 5’s Arrival

Motley Crue has remained energetic since switching guitarists, embarking on a world tour and acting at lots of rock’s high festivals. The band additionally launched an EP titled Cancelled, their first materials with John 5 within the lineup, earlier this month.

“We’re still here, and we are still creative,” Sixx declared to Guitar World. “We’re able to tour – and not tour to the point in the old days where you break the spirit of the human beings. We get to go out, play some badass shows, reinvent the band here or there, and really enjoy this time.”