MOTLEY CRUE GUITARIST MICK MARS SAYS HE FEELS LIKE “THE MOST UNPOPULAR PERSON ON THE PLANET”
Martin Kielty of Classic Rock reports:
Motley Crue guitarist Mick Mars says he feels like “the most unpopular person on the planet” – but he aims to change that with his solo career.
He insists he has a lot to prove once the veterans bow out with their final show on New Year’s Eve. And his first releases are likely to be an album and a book that focuses on his own take on his career, following 2001 Crue bestseller The Dirt.
Mars tells Classic Rock’s Dave Ling, “It’ll be a hard rock record, but it’s tough to categorize. It’s not metal. It’ll make your hair fly back in the breeze.”
He says of the book, “It won’t be anything like The Dirt. After 30 years of being suppressed, I’m going to be bringing out a lot of shit.”
The guitarist doesn’t think any of his family read the first title. Asked why not, he replied, “When I was sick, everyone but my parents abandoned me. I’m talking about my siblings – I was begging for help and basically they told me to go f–k myself. I haven’t seen any of my family in 11 or 12 years, except for my son.”
He still has a point to prove musically too. “I feel like I’m the most unpopular person on the planet. Everyone says I can’t play the guitar – I’d like them to know that I can. Nobody can play like Jeff Beck. Nobody can play like Jimi Hendrix, though a lot of people try. And nobody can play like me.”
He has to focus on music because his ankylosing spondylitis makes his other interests, like driving and golf, too difficult to follow. “I can’t drive my car any more, or hop on my bike,” he says. “I can’t go out for a putt. So the answer is nothing. Music is all I do.”
But Mars insists he can persevere to prove his points. “I was driven to make it in the music world. And to this day I will not give up on anything.”
The full interview appears in the current edition of Classic Rock, on sale now in print, digital and via TeamRock+.
source: classicrock.teamrock.com
Are u kidding Shannon ,Angus ,Keith,same thing .That’s what makes a good guitarest.His unique style of gear put together with his god given talent makes every guitar player there own.
I wasn’t slagging Mick Mars, where’s Marky Ramone when I need him?
Mick is a very talented, unique, and solid guitarist. Listening to Crue in the day when they were huge in the 80’s, Mick was the man and Crue was huge. The bend and his playing abilities have stood the test of time. Hope Mick’s solo work is as solid as his work in the Crue.
Motley are complete hacks except for Mick Mars. His sound and his leads, which are songs unto themselves, are the only reasons why Motley have had ANY good songs. I am not saying that Motley should be “great players” in the musician’s type world, but come on…Vince really does blow big time. Nikki can barely get through a song without sounding like he just picked up the bass, and Tommy is and always will be a one trick pony. Mick completely deviates from all of that. The other 3 Motley guys should be on their effing knees every day, thanking Mick for being in the band. Seriously.
That is well said…very true and I really feel bad for Mick because ironically, he’s the least popular of the four but he is the band musically live
Mick’s alright. I’m a guitar player, I’ve learned a few Crue songs, and there are parts I’ve had to work to get through but I don’t know that I’d call him “great”. And that’s no disrespect to him, he’s a solid player but he’s not in the same league with contemporaries like EVH, George Lynch, Kirk Hammett, Warren DiMartini, Satriani, Adrian Smith, Dave Murray, Glenn Tipton, KK Downing, etc. And there’s nothing wrong with that. Maybe that’s why there’s a perception that he can’t play (which is wrong), because the era of his best known work was loaded with extraordinarily good players. The riffs and songs are more important than virtuoso playing anyway, and Mick does well where it counts most. I certainly have more respect for him musically than any of the other guys in Motley Crue.
MetalMania,
I agree with you and would add John Sykes, Randy Rhoads, Michael Schenker, Nuno Bettencourt, Paul Gilbert, Eric Johnson and Stevie Ray Vaughn to that list.
Cheers 🙂
Dana
How many albums as Motley sold? Mick Mars has nothing to prove to anyone. He is part of a very elite group of musicians, think what you want about his playing.