Nikki Sixx has spoken out against Carmine Appice’s claim that guitarist Mick Mars had fallen out with his bandmates in the lead-up to his retirement from Motley Crue.
Mars’ departure was announced following the conclusion of their 2022 Stadium Tour, with John 5 named as his replacement soon after. The official reason was that Mars’ long-term illness had finally caught up with him – but in a recent interview, former Ozzy Osbourne and Vanilla Fudge drummer Appice suggested otherwise.
“(Mars) told me, ‘When I was on the Stadium Tour, I wasn’t happy,'” Appice recounted Ultimate guitar. “Basically everything was on tape; it was all planned and in the end a lot of crap. … The truth is, everything has been weird for a while with Motley Crue… Mick told me that people who came to see it could tell that it was all pre-recorded and everything was on tape .”
Appice added that Mars “would travel by himself on a bus while the other guys were flying everywhere,” and continued, “He said, ‘Man, those guys are pissing away their money flying to every concert.’ They were all busy still being rock stars and Mick just wanted to play the music. … (T)here were many disagreements. I just think he was done.” When Mars was told about the Crue’s World Tour with Def Leppard, Appice claimed, the guitarist told his colleagues, “You guys can do it. I’m not dating you for this.”
Earlier this week, Sixx appeared to refer indirectly to Appice’s comments, tweeting: “Love how people talk FOR us without talking TO us. This is why the media has lost credibility. By printing BS they obviously make money from advertising, and we’re not into that clickbait game. When the truth comes out, it will be FROM us.”
But he was more direct during a Twitter Q&A session last night. “A washed-up drummer trying to speak for us? And bottom-feeder media running with it to make money off lies? Welcome to the sad new world of LOOK AT ME LOOK AT ME,” the bassist wrote.
He repeated more or less the same answer when asked, “Is it true what Carmine Appice said?” Sixx responded: “A washed-up drummer speaking for our band without any of the facts is as ridiculous as bottom-feeder media running stories without fact-checking. When you hear the truth, it will be from us.” He later commented, “It’s a fun money game.”
The Crue will continue on the road throughout most of the year. Asked if 5’s status in the group was secure, Sixx stated: “Of course. He is our guitarist. We have big plans.”
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