Motley Crue guitarist Mick Mars says his health issues are not a factor in the band’s retirement plans.
"Any rumors regarding a farewell tour due to 'my poor health' are BS," tweeted Mars. "I am doing fine, my AS has never kept me from touring and never will."
Throughout his career, Mars has struggled with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), a chronic, inflammatory form of arthritis that mainly affects the spine and pelvis. It was initially diagnosed when he was 17 years old, and has increasingly impaired his movement and has caused him a great deal of pain, which led to hip-replacement surgery at the end of 2004.
Mars’ comments come on the heels of remarks made by singer Vince Neil, who told the Oakland Press, “It’s just time. Mick’s health is not that good, and touring is tough on him. I’m sure in five, 10 years’ time we’ll probably do something together again, but it’s not gonna be like a KISS farewell to the farewell to the farewell tour. We’re not gonna be like that.”
“It’s definitely for real,” added Neil. “We want to go out on top. We don’t want to be one of those bands that people are like, ‘Oh, they’re playing a ... little club now. We still sell out arenas and do stadium shows and stuff like that, and that’s how we want to be remembered.”
Next month, Motley Crue will perform their second residency in Sin City. Billed as an “Evening In Hell,” the band returns to The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino for an exclusive 12-show run from September 18 through October 6.
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