Around this time last year, Mötley Crüe guitarist Mick Mars announced his retirement from touring due to the progression of his degenerative illness, Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS). The legal drama that followed has been a major part of this year's news cycle, with Mars suing his former bandmates for their decision to "unilaterally" remove him from the lineup.
The band's longtime manager accused the guitarist's lawyers of elder abuse, and bassist Nikki Sixx claimed that Mars was "confused"; meanwhile, Mars alleged that his bandmates iced him out during his final tour with the Crüe. Despite it all, Mars has announced his debut solo record, previewed today by lead single "Loyal to the Lie."
The Other Side of Mars arrives February 23 via his own 1313 LLC label, marking the first new recording featuring the guitarist since 2019's "The Dirt (Est. 1981)" for the Netflix Mötley Crüe biopic, The Dirt.
"I've been wanting to do this solo thing for a very long time," Mars told Guitar World in his first interview about his new solo music. "First thing's first, there are always priorities, I had to do stuff with Mötley… now it's my time!"
He recruited Korn drummer Ray Luzier, Winger and former Alice Cooper keyboardist Paul Taylor, vocalists Jacob Bunton and Brion Gamboa, and bassist Brion Gamboa to play on the album, which was produced by Michael Wagener — the man behind the boards on Mötley Crüe's 1981 debut, Too Fast for Love.
Of the lead single, Mars explained with a laugh, "I wanted to do something that was just big and mean." Apt for a Halloween release, the spooky "Loyal to the Lie" is an ominously heavy buttrocker. Give it a listen below, where you'll also find the album tracklist.
The Other Side of Mars:
1. Loyal to the Lie
2. Broken on the Inside
3. Alone
4. Killing Breed
5. Memories
6. Right Side of Wrong
7. Ready to Roll
8. Undone
9. Ain't Going Back
10. LA Noir
Pre-order The Other Side of Mars.
The band's longtime manager accused the guitarist's lawyers of elder abuse, and bassist Nikki Sixx claimed that Mars was "confused"; meanwhile, Mars alleged that his bandmates iced him out during his final tour with the Crüe. Despite it all, Mars has announced his debut solo record, previewed today by lead single "Loyal to the Lie."
The Other Side of Mars arrives February 23 via his own 1313 LLC label, marking the first new recording featuring the guitarist since 2019's "The Dirt (Est. 1981)" for the Netflix Mötley Crüe biopic, The Dirt.
"I've been wanting to do this solo thing for a very long time," Mars told Guitar World in his first interview about his new solo music. "First thing's first, there are always priorities, I had to do stuff with Mötley… now it's my time!"
He recruited Korn drummer Ray Luzier, Winger and former Alice Cooper keyboardist Paul Taylor, vocalists Jacob Bunton and Brion Gamboa, and bassist Brion Gamboa to play on the album, which was produced by Michael Wagener — the man behind the boards on Mötley Crüe's 1981 debut, Too Fast for Love.
Of the lead single, Mars explained with a laugh, "I wanted to do something that was just big and mean." Apt for a Halloween release, the spooky "Loyal to the Lie" is an ominously heavy buttrocker. Give it a listen below, where you'll also find the album tracklist.
The Other Side of Mars:
1. Loyal to the Lie
2. Broken on the Inside
3. Alone
4. Killing Breed
5. Memories
6. Right Side of Wrong
7. Ready to Roll
8. Undone
9. Ain't Going Back
10. LA Noir
Pre-order The Other Side of Mars.
