JOURNEY’s Neal Schon has expressed his support for guitarist Mick Mars in his current legal dispute with MÖTLEY CRÜE
Mick announced his retirement from touring with MÖTLEY CRÜE last October due to his ongoing struggles with ankylosing spondylitis, an arthritic condition which affects the spine and sacroiliac joint. That being said, Mars maintained that he would remain a member of the band, with John 5 strictly taking his place on the road. In Mick’s lawsuit, which was filed last Thursday (April 6), Mars said that, after his announcement, the rest of MÖTLEY CRÜE attempted to remove his significant holdings in the band’s business.
As for Neal Schon, who founded JOURNEY in 1972 and remains the band’s only consistent member, he weighed in on Mick Mars‘ dispute with MÖTLEY CRÜE via his social media on Saturday (April 8) while responding to a Twitter poll asking “Are you on #TeamMick [or] #TeamMotleyCrue”. Schon wrote “Mick” and added: “Given his health issues, and the obvious swagger, he gives to the band through his guitar playing. He didn’t deserve this.”
After Mars filed his lawsuit last week, MÖTLEY CRÜE bassist Nikki Sixx posted to his Twitter: “Sad day for us and we don’t deserve this considering how many years we’ve been propping him up. We still wish him the best and hope he find’s [sic] lawyers and managers who aren’t damaging him. We love you Mick.”
Mick’s lawsuit also claims that he was the only band member to actually play his instrument on their most recent “The Stadium Tour“, claiming Nikki Sixx “did not play a single note on bass during the entire U.S. tour.”
According to Variety, Mars’s attorney said he was informed by representatives for MÖTLEY CRÜE that “if your client rejects the severance package that was graciously offered to him by the band, he will get next to nothing. I suggest you think about the repercussions of this decision… There is undisputed legal cause here for Mick’s removal. Mick is unable to perform as a full-fledged band member. Among other things, as demonstrated during the last tour, he repeatedly forgets his chords, does not play the right song, plays chords of a different song while on stage, and so on.”
Mick is suing MÖTLEY CRÜE for access to the band’s financial books so he can determine if he’s getting his fair share in the group’s profits.
Given his health issues, and he obvious swagger, he gives to the band through his guitar playing. He didn’t deserve this.
— NEAL SCHON MUSIC (@NealSchonMusic) April 8, 2023
Mick
— NEAL SCHON MUSIC (@NealSchonMusic) April 8, 2023
