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John Corabi is Suspicious of Mick Mars’s Tour Retirement from Motley Crue

Motley Crue made headlines recently with the announcement of guitarist Mick Mars retiring from touring. This was followed up with John 5 being named the band’s touring guitarist. It’s news…

John Corabi and Mick Mars of Motley Crue
Ethan Miller (2)/Getty Images

Motley Crue made headlines recently with the announcement of guitarist Mick Mars retiring from touring. This was followed up with John 5 being named the band's touring guitarist. It's news that didn't sit well with former Crue singer John Corabi and makes him think there's more to the situation.

Corabi detailed his thoughts in a new appearance on Life in the StocksHe said (h/t Blabbermouth), "I know John [5] as well. He's a brilliant — and I cannot say 'brilliant' loud enough — he's a brilliant guitar player and a great dude. But the verdict for me is out until I hear a statement from Mick. The statement that we heard was put together by Motley and their people. And I'm not totally sure I believe what they're saying. So I'll just leave it at that."

He continued, "I don't totally believe Mick's reasons for leaving Motley. And I don't even know if he left Motley. I believe maybe he was shown the door. Because as long as I can remember… F---, when we were doing the 'Generation Swine' record, they were complaining about his guitar playing then. And if you really look at all of the records they've done since then… The majority of the guitars on the 'Swine' record, which is one of the reasons why I sued the guys, are mine. They were complaining about Mick the whole fucking time. And I don't know if he played on 'New Tattoo' — I'm not sure — but I know on 'Red, White & Crüe', it was D.J. Ashba; on 'Saints Of Los Angeles', it was D.J. Ashba; and on 'The Dirt' [soundtrack], it was John 5."

Corabi does admit that he could be "totally wrong" about the situation, but he's adamant on wanting to hear a statement from Mars and not something written by management. When it was announced Mars was retiring from touring, the following statement was released:

"Mick Mars, co-founder and lead guitarist of the heavy metal band Mötley Crüe for the past 41 years, has announced today that due to his ongoing painful struggle with Ankylosing Spondylitis (A.S.), he will no longer be able to tour with the band.  Mick will continue as a member of the band, but can no longer handle the rigors of the road.  A.S. is an extremely painful and crippling degenerative disease, which affects the spine."

The day after the statement above, John 5 was named the Crue's touring guitarist. Vince Neil, Tommy Lee and Nikki Sixx shared the following statement on the guitar shake-up:

"While change is never easy, we accept Mick's decision to retire from the band due to the challenges with his health.

We have watched Mick manage his Ankylosing Spondylitis for decades and he has always managed it with utmost courage and grace.

To say 'enough is enough' is the ultimate act of courage. Mick's sound helped define Motley Crue from the minute he plugged in his guitar at our very first rehearsal together. The rest, as they say, is history. We'll continue to honor his musical legacy.

We will carry out Mick's wish and continue to tour the world as planned in 2023. No doubt will it take an absolutely outstanding musician to fill Mick's shoes so we are grateful that our good friend, John 5, has agreed to come on board and join us moving forward. We'll see all you Crueheads out on the road!"

Motley Crue, through all of the obstacles (and there have been plenty), has managed to survive for four decades. It's an overwhelming thought when you think about it.

Just reading or watching The Dirt gave fans an idea of the absolutely insane things the band has gone through. From drugs to horrific tragedies and everywhere in between, The Crue has seemingly seen or done it all.

The latest chapter in the band involves the exit of Mick Mars. The guitarist retiring from touring with Mötley Crüe in October 2022 seemed to come out of nowhere. Apparently, the band thought the same.

Nikki Sixx told Guitar World, "We never saw it coming that Mick wasn’t going to be able to tour and was going to have to quit the band."

At the time, Mötley Crüe was about to hit the road again with Def Leppard following the success of The Stadium Tour. Sixx expressed that after Mars' retirement, the band didn't want to let fans, Def Leppard or tour promoter Live Nation down. This then led them to bring in guitarist John 5 to fill in for Mars. Sixx referred to the substitution as "a no-brainer in a horrible situation -- something we did not ask for or want.

Of course, a lot has played out in the press in the aftermath of Mars' retirement. To begin with, Mars filed a lawsuit against Mötley Crüe alleging his percentage of band profits was cut from 25 percent to 5 percent.

He claimed in his lawsuit the band held a meeting to "unilaterally" remove him from Mötley Crüe. He was also allegedly removed from many of the band's various corporations and LLCs. Additionally, Mars claims bassist Nikki Sixx repeatedly "gaslighted" the guitarist. Sixx told Mars he consistently forgot chords and fans were complaining about his playing. (Mars claimed in the lawsuit Sixx "did not play a single note on bass during the entire U.S. tour" and accused him of using backing tracks and pantomiming.)

While this issue is still ongoing, let us not forget they've provided rock fans with quite the catalog of songs, with a number of those tunes now considered rock/metal classics.

From the classics to the deeper cuts, here are the 40 best songs of Motley Crue, ranked.

40. “Angela” - 'Decade of Decadence’ (1991)

crue_decade_Elektra.jpgElektra

39. “Fight For Your Rights” - ‘Theatre of Pain’ (1985)

Crue_theatre-of-pain_Elektra.jpgElektra

38. “Bitter Pill” - ‘Greatest Hits’ (1998)

Crue_Greatest_Motley-Records-Eleven-Seven.jpgMotley Records/Eleven Seven

37. “Sick Love Song” - ‘Red, White & Crue’ (2005)

crue_red-white_Motley-Records-Eleven-Seven.jpgMotley Records/Eleven Seven

36. “Loveshine” - ‘Motley Crue’ (1994)

Crue_self-titled_Elektra.jpgElektra

35. “Rattlesnake Shake” - ‘Dr. Feelgood’ (1989)

crue_feelgood_Elektra.jpgElektra

34. “Keep Your Eye On The Money” - ‘Theatre of Pain’ (1985)

Crue_theatre-of-pain_Elektra-1.jpgElektra

33. “Time For Change” - ‘Dr. Feelgood’ (1989)

crue_feelgood_Elektra-1.jpgElektra

32. “Power to the Music” - ‘Motley Crue’ (1994)

Crue_self-titled_Elektra-1.jpgElektra

31. “Raise Your Hands To Rock” - ‘Theatre of Pain’ (1985)

Crue_theatre-of-pain_Elektra-2.jpgElektra

30. “Toast of the Town” - B-Side/’Too Fast For Love’ (2003 Motley Records CD Reissue)

crue_too-fast_Elektra.jpgMotley Records

29. “The Dirt (Est. 1981)” - ‘The Dirt Soundtrack’ (2019)

Crue_dirt-soundtrack_Motley-Records-Eleven-Seven.jpgMotley Records/Eleven Seven

28. “Misunderstood” - ‘Motley Crue’ (1994)

Crue_self-titled_Elektra-2.jpgElektra

27. “Afraid” - ‘Generation Swine’ (1997)

Crue_swine_Elektra.jpgElektra

26. “Come On and Dance” - ‘Too Fast For Love’ (1981)

crue_too-fast_Elektra-1.jpgElektra

25. “Hooligan’s Holiday” - ‘Motley Crue’ (1994)

Crue_self-titled_Elektra-3.jpgElektra

24. “If I Die Tomorrow” - ‘Red, White & Crue’ (2005)

crue_red-white_Motley-Records-Eleven-Seven-1.jpgMotley Records/Eleven Seven

23. “Saints of Los Angeles” - ‘Saints of Los Angeles’ (2008)

Crue_Saints_Motley-Records-Eleven-Seven.jpgMotley Records/Eleven Seven

22. “Starry Eyes” - ‘Too Fast For Love’ (1981)

crue_too-fast_Elektra-2.jpgElektra

21. “Dancing On Glass” - ‘Girls, Girls, Girls’ (1987)

Cure_girls_Elektra.jpgElektra

20. “Without You” - ‘Dr. Feelgood’ (1989)

crue_feelgood_Elektra-2.jpgElektra

19. “Smokin’ In The Boys Room” - ‘Theatre of Pain’ (1985)

Crue_theatre-of-pain_Elektra-3.jpgElektra

18. “Piece of Your Action” - ‘Too Fast For Love’ (1981)

crue_too-fast_Elektra-3.jpgElektra

17. “Tonight (We Need A Lover)” - ‘Theatre of Pain’ (1985)

Crue_theatre-of-pain_Elektra-4.jpgElektra

16. “On With The Show” - ‘Too Fast For Love’ (1981)

crue_too-fast_Elektra-4.jpgElektra

15. “Ten Seconds to Love” - ‘Shout At The Devil’ (1983)

crue_shout_Elektra.jpgElektra

14. “Girls, Girls, Girls” - ‘Girls, Girls, Girls’ (1987)

Cure_girls_Elektra-1.jpgElektra

13. “Same Ol’ Situation (S.O.S.)” - ‘Dr. Feelgood’ (1989)

crue_feelgood_Elektra-3.jpgElektra

12. “Too Young to Fall in Love” - ‘Shout At The Devil’ (1983)

crue_shout_Elektra-1.jpgElektra

11. “Too Fast For Love” - ‘Too Fast For Love’ (1981)

crue_too-fast_Elektra-5.jpgElektra

10. “Public Enemy #1” - ‘Too Fast For Love’ (1981)

crue_too-fast_Elektra-6.jpgElektra

9. “Live Wire” - ‘Too Fast For Love’ (1981)

crue_too-fast_Elektra-7.jpgElektra

8. “Primal Scream” - 'Decade of Decadence’ (1991)

crue_decade_Elektra-1.jpgElektra

7. “Dr. Feelgood” - ‘Dr. Feelgood’ (1989)

crue_feelgood_Elektra-4.jpgElektra

6. “Shout At The Devil” - ‘Shout At The Devil’ (1983)

crue_shout_Elektra-2.jpgElektra

5. “Don’t Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)” - ‘Dr. Feelgood’ (1989)

crue_feelgood_Elektra-5.jpgElektra

4. “Looks That Kill” - ‘Shout At The Devil’ (1983)

crue_shout_Elektra-3.jpgElektra

3. “Wild Side” - ‘Girls, Girls, Girls’ (1987)

Cure_girls_Elektra-2.jpgElektra

2. “Home Sweet Home” - ‘Theatre of Pain’ (1985)

Crue_theatre-of-pain_Elektra-5.jpgElektra

1. “Kickstart My Heart” - ‘Dr. Feelgood’ (1989)

crue_feelgood_Elektra-6.jpgElektra

Motley Crue: Their 40 Best Songs, Ranked

Motley Crue, through all of the obstacles (and there have been plenty), has managed to survive for four decades. It's an overwhelming thought when you think about it.

Just reading or watching The Dirt gave fans an idea of the absolutely insane things the band has gone through. From drugs to horrific tragedies and everywhere in between, The Crue has seemingly seen or done it all.

The latest chapter in the band involves the exit of Mick Mars. The guitarist retiring from touring with Mötley Crüe in October 2022 seemed to come out of nowhere. Apparently, the band thought the same.

Nikki Sixx told Guitar World, "We never saw it coming that Mick wasn’t going to be able to tour and was going to have to quit the band."

At the time, Mötley Crüe was about to hit the road again with Def Leppard following the success of The Stadium Tour. Sixx expressed that after Mars' retirement, the band didn't want to let fans, Def Leppard or tour promoter Live Nation down. This then led them to bring in guitarist John 5 to fill in for Mars. Sixx referred to the substitution as "a no-brainer in a horrible situation -- something we did not ask for or want.

Of course, a lot has played out in the press in the aftermath of Mars' retirement. To begin with, Mars filed a lawsuit against Mötley Crüe alleging his percentage of band profits was cut from 25 percent to 5 percent.

He claimed in his lawsuit the band held a meeting to "unilaterally" remove him from Mötley Crüe. He was also allegedly removed from many of the band's various corporations and LLCs. Additionally, Mars claims bassist Nikki Sixx repeatedly "gaslighted" the guitarist. Sixx told Mars he consistently forgot chords and fans were complaining about his playing. (Mars claimed in the lawsuit Sixx "did not play a single note on bass during the entire U.S. tour" and accused him of using backing tracks and pantomiming.)

While this issue is still ongoing, let us not forget they've provided rock fans with quite the catalog of songs, with a number of those tunes now considered rock/metal classics.

From the classics to the deeper cuts, here are the 40 best songs of Motley Crue, ranked.

40. “Angela” - 'Decade of Decadence’ (1991)

crue_decade_Elektra.jpgElektra

39. “Fight For Your Rights” - ‘Theatre of Pain’ (1985)

Crue_theatre-of-pain_Elektra.jpgElektra

38. “Bitter Pill” - ‘Greatest Hits’ (1998)

Crue_Greatest_Motley-Records-Eleven-Seven.jpgMotley Records/Eleven Seven

37. “Sick Love Song” - ‘Red, White & Crue’ (2005)

crue_red-white_Motley-Records-Eleven-Seven.jpgMotley Records/Eleven Seven

36. “Loveshine” - ‘Motley Crue’ (1994)

Crue_self-titled_Elektra.jpgElektra

35. “Rattlesnake Shake” - ‘Dr. Feelgood’ (1989)

crue_feelgood_Elektra.jpgElektra

34. “Keep Your Eye On The Money” - ‘Theatre of Pain’ (1985)

Crue_theatre-of-pain_Elektra-1.jpgElektra

33. “Time For Change” - ‘Dr. Feelgood’ (1989)

crue_feelgood_Elektra-1.jpgElektra

32. “Power to the Music” - ‘Motley Crue’ (1994)

Crue_self-titled_Elektra-1.jpgElektra

31. “Raise Your Hands To Rock” - ‘Theatre of Pain’ (1985)

Crue_theatre-of-pain_Elektra-2.jpgElektra

30. “Toast of the Town” - B-Side/’Too Fast For Love’ (2003 Motley Records CD Reissue)

crue_too-fast_Elektra.jpgMotley Records

29. “The Dirt (Est. 1981)” - ‘The Dirt Soundtrack’ (2019)

Crue_dirt-soundtrack_Motley-Records-Eleven-Seven.jpgMotley Records/Eleven Seven

28. “Misunderstood” - ‘Motley Crue’ (1994)

Crue_self-titled_Elektra-2.jpgElektra

27. “Afraid” - ‘Generation Swine’ (1997)

Crue_swine_Elektra.jpgElektra

26. “Come On and Dance” - ‘Too Fast For Love’ (1981)

crue_too-fast_Elektra-1.jpgElektra

25. “Hooligan’s Holiday” - ‘Motley Crue’ (1994)

Crue_self-titled_Elektra-3.jpgElektra

24. “If I Die Tomorrow” - ‘Red, White & Crue’ (2005)

crue_red-white_Motley-Records-Eleven-Seven-1.jpgMotley Records/Eleven Seven

23. “Saints of Los Angeles” - ‘Saints of Los Angeles’ (2008)

Crue_Saints_Motley-Records-Eleven-Seven.jpgMotley Records/Eleven Seven

22. “Starry Eyes” - ‘Too Fast For Love’ (1981)

crue_too-fast_Elektra-2.jpgElektra

21. “Dancing On Glass” - ‘Girls, Girls, Girls’ (1987)

Cure_girls_Elektra.jpgElektra

20. “Without You” - ‘Dr. Feelgood’ (1989)

crue_feelgood_Elektra-2.jpgElektra

19. “Smokin’ In The Boys Room” - ‘Theatre of Pain’ (1985)

Crue_theatre-of-pain_Elektra-3.jpgElektra

18. “Piece of Your Action” - ‘Too Fast For Love’ (1981)

crue_too-fast_Elektra-3.jpgElektra

17. “Tonight (We Need A Lover)” - ‘Theatre of Pain’ (1985)

Crue_theatre-of-pain_Elektra-4.jpgElektra

16. “On With The Show” - ‘Too Fast For Love’ (1981)

crue_too-fast_Elektra-4.jpgElektra

15. “Ten Seconds to Love” - ‘Shout At The Devil’ (1983)

crue_shout_Elektra.jpgElektra

14. “Girls, Girls, Girls” - ‘Girls, Girls, Girls’ (1987)

Cure_girls_Elektra-1.jpgElektra

13. “Same Ol’ Situation (S.O.S.)” - ‘Dr. Feelgood’ (1989)

crue_feelgood_Elektra-3.jpgElektra

12. “Too Young to Fall in Love” - ‘Shout At The Devil’ (1983)

crue_shout_Elektra-1.jpgElektra

11. “Too Fast For Love” - ‘Too Fast For Love’ (1981)

crue_too-fast_Elektra-5.jpgElektra

10. “Public Enemy #1” - ‘Too Fast For Love’ (1981)

crue_too-fast_Elektra-6.jpgElektra

9. “Live Wire” - ‘Too Fast For Love’ (1981)

crue_too-fast_Elektra-7.jpgElektra

8. “Primal Scream” - 'Decade of Decadence’ (1991)

crue_decade_Elektra-1.jpgElektra

7. “Dr. Feelgood” - ‘Dr. Feelgood’ (1989)

crue_feelgood_Elektra-4.jpgElektra

6. “Shout At The Devil” - ‘Shout At The Devil’ (1983)

crue_shout_Elektra-2.jpgElektra

5. “Don’t Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)” - ‘Dr. Feelgood’ (1989)

crue_feelgood_Elektra-5.jpgElektra

4. “Looks That Kill” - ‘Shout At The Devil’ (1983)

crue_shout_Elektra-3.jpgElektra

3. “Wild Side” - ‘Girls, Girls, Girls’ (1987)

Cure_girls_Elektra-2.jpgElektra

2. “Home Sweet Home” - ‘Theatre of Pain’ (1985)

Crue_theatre-of-pain_Elektra-5.jpgElektra

1. “Kickstart My Heart” - ‘Dr. Feelgood’ (1989)

crue_feelgood_Elektra-6.jpgElektra
Erica Banas is a news blogger who's been covering the rock/classic rock world since 2014. The coolest event she's ever covered in person was the 2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. (Sir Paul McCartney inducting Foo Fighters? C'mon now!) She's also well-versed in etiquette and extraordinarily nice. #TransRightsAreHumanRights