Mick Mars facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mick Mars
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Mick Mars in 2012
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Robert Alan Deal |
| Born | May 4, 1951 Terre Haute, Indiana, U.S. |
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| Instruments | Guitar |
| Years active | 1974–present |
Robert Alan Deal (born May 4, 1951), known as Mick Mars, is an American musician. He is famous as the former lead guitarist and co-founder of the heavy metal band Mötley Crüe. He is known for his strong, melodic guitar solos and blues-style riffs.
Contents
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Mick Mars was born Robert Alan Deal in Terre Haute, Indiana, in 1951. His family moved several times, first to Huntington, Indiana, and then to Garden Grove, California. He was inspired to play guitar after seeing his first concert when he was young.
His parents bought him his first guitar at age 12. He practiced a lot, dreaming of becoming a successful musician. At 14, he played bass in a Beatles cover band called The Jades. Later, he switched to lead guitar. He left high school to play guitar in various blues-based rock bands during the 1970s.
In his early 20s, he worked in a laundry business while playing with his band Wahtoshi. After a hand injury, he decided to focus on music full-time. In 1973, he joined a cover band called White Horse. People soon recognized him as a talented guitarist. An ex-bandmate said he could perfectly copy guitar parts from famous songs.
During the 1970s, Mars used different names to avoid personal difficulties. White Horse had a bright future, and Mars was compared to another young guitarist, Eddie Van Halen. Mars eventually left White Horse when the band decided to play disco music. He then joined a pop group called Video Nu-R and released his first recorded songs in 1978 and 1979.
Career with Mötley Crüe
After many years of playing in clubs, Mick Mars decided to change his look and name. He changed his legal name from Bob Deal to Mick Mars and dyed his hair black. In April 1980, he placed an ad in a newspaper looking for a band. Nikki Sixx and Tommy Lee contacted him. They were forming a new band that would become Mötley Crüe. They hired him after hearing him play.
The name Mötley Crüe was suggested by Mars. In his earlier band, White Horse, someone had called them a "motley looking crew." Sixx liked the idea and changed it to Mötley Crüe.
Mötley Crüe became one of the most important heavy metal bands of the 1980s. They have sold over 100 million albums worldwide. They also had many successful albums and hit songs on the music charts.
During the recording of their Dr. Feelgood album in 1989, Mars used so many amplifiers that his guitar sounds could be heard on Aerosmith's album Pump, which was being recorded nearby. Mars said he played loud and didn't turn down his volume.
Later, there were some changes in the band. Mars felt he had less involvement in some albums, like Generation Swine (1997) and New Tattoo (2000). For the 2008 album Saints of Los Angeles, another guitarist, DJ Ashba, played most of the guitar parts.
Mötley Crüe reunited in 2018 and started touring again in 2022. However, Mars decided he no longer wanted to tour. He told his bandmates he was open to recording new music but could not handle world tours due to his health. Mars has said he never had a very close relationship with his bandmates outside of music.
Retirement and Solo Music
On October 26, 2022, Mick Mars announced he was retiring from touring with Mötley Crüe. The band confirmed that John 5 would take his place. They supported Mars' decision for a full retirement from touring.
In April 2023, there was a disagreement between Mars and the band about his role and future earnings. Mars stated that he helped form the band and contributed many ideas. He did not sign an agreement that would have changed his future interests in the band.
In February 2023, amidst these discussions, Mars began working on his solo album. The album is called The Other Side of Mars and was released on February 23, 2024. The first song from the album, "Loyal to the Lie", was released in October 2023.
Personal Life
Family Life
Mick Mars has three children: Les Paul, Stormy, and Erik. He faced difficulties providing for his family at times. He was married to Emi Canyn from 1990 to 1994. Since 2013, he has been married to Seraina Schönenberger. Mars has mentioned facing financial challenges three times in his life.
He has a relationship with his son, Les Paul, but is not close with his other children. Mars currently lives in Nashville, Tennessee with his wife, Seraina.
Health Challenges
Throughout his career, Mars has lived with ankylosing spondylitis. This is a long-term type of arthritis that mainly affects the spine. He first felt pain at age 14 but was not properly diagnosed until he was 27. The condition has caused him a lot of pain and made it harder for him to move.
Mars is thankful that the condition rarely affects his hands and feet, which means he can still play guitar. He described the pain in Mötley Crüe's 2001 autobiography, The Dirt. He said his hips hurt so much it felt like fireworks in his bones.
Over the years, the illness has caused his lower spine to become stiff and curved. This has made him shorter and hunched forward. In 2013, he reported that his neck was so stiff he could not turn his head, which prevented him from driving. He had hip-replacement surgery in late 2004. Despite the pain, Mars prefers not to use a cane or wheelchair.
Musical Influences
Mick Mars was mainly influenced by blues rock from the 1960s. He has named guitarists like Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix as important influences. He said these musicians taught him how to play "real" guitar.
Mars also mentioned several albums that "changed his life." These include Axis: Bold as Love by Jimi Hendrix, Truth by Jeff Beck, and Disraeli Gears by Cream.
Other Musical Works
Mick Mars has also written songs for other artists. He contributed to songs for John LeCompt and the band Machina. He also co-wrote two songs for the Swedish band Crashdïet on their 2007 album, The Unattractive Revolution.
Mars played guitar on the song "Take It to the Limit" by Hinder in 2008. He also contributed a guitar solo to "Into the Light" by Papa Roach in 2009. In 2011, he co-wrote and appeared in the music video for "Boss's Daughter" by Pop Evil.
In recent years, Mars has continued to collaborate. In 2019, he released "The Way I'm Wired" with Black Smoke Trigger. He was also featured on the hit song "Outlaws & Outsiders" by Cory Marks and another song with Cory Marks in 2024.
Equipment
In his early career, Mars used popular guitars like Kramer and other Superstrats. He also sometimes used a black Gibson Les Paul and B.C. Rich guitars. Later, his main guitars for touring were Fender Stratocasters. He often used a special Stratocaster made from parts of older models, with specific pickups and a Floyd Rose bridge system.
Discography
Solo
- The Other Side of Mars (2024)
With Mötley Crüe
- Too Fast for Love (1981)
- Shout at the Devil (1983)
- Theatre of Pain (1985)
- Girls, Girls, Girls (1987)
- Dr. Feelgood (1989)
- Mötley Crüe (1994)
- Generation Swine (1997)
- New Tattoo (2000)
- Saints of Los Angeles (2008)
With Hear 'n Aid
- Hear 'n Aid (1986)
Images for kids
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Mars performing in 2005
See also
In Spanish: Mick Mars para niños
