Mick Mars, the legendary guitarist of Mötley Crüe, is an icon whose name is synonymous with raw, aggressive, and unforgettable guitar riffs. For over four decades, his distinct sound has been the backbone of some of the most anthemic rock songs ever created. Even as he navigates serious health challenges and a contentious split from his bandmates, the focus remains sharp on his enduring musical contribution: the unmistakable power of the Mick Mars Guitar.
From the Sunset Strip to global stadiums, Mars’ guitar has roared, wailed, and defined the sound of a generation. His journey, marked by both incredible highs and personal battles, underscores a relentless dedication to his craft. This is the story of Mick Mars and his guitar – a tale of grit, innovation, and a sound that continues to inspire guitarists worldwide.
From a young age, the allure of the guitar captivated Robert Alan Deal, the man who would become Mick Mars. His earliest musical memory was witnessing country singer Skeeter Bond at a 4-H fair. “He was wearing a bright-orange outfit with rhinestones all over the place, and a big white Stetson hat,” Mars recalled, “I went, ‘I’m doing that. That’s what I want to do.’” This initial spark ignited a lifelong passion.
His formative years were steeped in the sounds of blues-rock pioneers. Bands like Ten Years After and Bad Company resonated deeply with Mars, shaping his early guitar aspirations. Unlike his future bandmates who gravitated towards the glam of Kiss and the New York Dolls, Mars found his muse in the raw, unpolished energy of 70s rock guitarists. “There was a lot of really good stuff in the Seventies,” Mars noted, reflecting on his musical roots. This foundation in blues-rock would become a crucial element in his unique guitar style later on.
In his early days honing his craft, Mars played in bands like Wahtoshi and White Horse, grinding it out in the Los Angeles club scene. Harry Clay, bassist for White Horse, remembered Mars’s exceptional musicality even then. “He had very good intonation,” Clay stated, “And a very good ear and timing. He could copy parts note for note. You give him [Deep Purple’s] ‘Highway Star,’ and he could nail Ritchie Blackmore’s riffs.” During this period, Mars was also playing alongside another rising guitar star in the LA scene: Eddie Van Halen of Mammoth. As White Horse drummer Jack Valentine recalled, “Mick Mars and Eddie Van Halen were the two hottest guitar players in L.A. There probably weren’t two better guitar players on the planet.” This early competition and shared scene helped sharpen Mars’ skills and ambition.
It wasn’t until he was 29, facing financial hardship and the need to provide for his young family, that Mars placed an ad that would change his life and the landscape of rock music. The ad, famously billing himself as a “loud, rude, and aggressive guitar player,” resonated with Nikki Sixx and Tommy Lee, who were seeking a guitarist with a similar raw edge. This marked the genesis of Mötley Crüe.
The chemistry was immediate. Mars’ guitar was the missing ingredient in their explosive formula. Looking back on those early days, Mars recalled, “That’s when I was the happiest. It’s like climbing up the old ladder instead of stagnating in a stinkin’ club. You could feel it and see it. Everything was new. Everyone was like, ‘I haven’t heard stuff like this before.’” The raw energy and innovative sound of their early tracks, like “Live Wire” and “Too Fast for Love,” were driven by Mars’ distinctive guitar work.
What set Mick Mars apart from many of his contemporaries was his approach to guitar playing. In an era dominated by shred guitarists focused on technical virtuosity, Mars prioritized tone and impact. He wasn’t interested in flashy displays of speed; his focus was on crafting riffs that were heavy, memorable, and delivered with a powerful punch. John Corabi, who fronted Mötley Crüe in the 90s, noted, “He had such a great tone. He was into guys with amazing tones like [Mountain’s] Leslie West and Jeff Beck. To Mick, it was about kicking you in the chest and having this ungodly sound. He was a scientist when it came to sound.” This dedication to tone became Mars’ signature.
Over his illustrious career, Mick Mars’ guitar gear has been as crucial to his sound as his playing style. While specific details of his early equipment are less documented, his iconic gear from Mötley Crüe’s heyday is well-known among guitar enthusiasts. His most famous guitar is undoubtedly his white Fender Stratocaster, affectionately nicknamed “Isabella.” This guitar, heavily modified and road-worn, became synonymous with Mars’ stage presence and sound. Its paint peeling and burn marks from stage pyrotechnics tell a story of decades of rock and roll battles.
Mars has been a long-time devotee of Marshall amplifiers. Towering stacks of Marshall cabinets became a visual and sonic trademark of Mötley Crüe’s live shows. These high-powered amps provided the volume and crunch that defined his guitar tone. While specific models may have varied over the years, the core of his amplifier setup remained rooted in the classic Marshall sound.
Beyond guitars and amps, Mars experimented with various effects pedals to sculpt his unique tone. While not known for elaborate pedalboards, he strategically used effects like distortion, wah, and delay to add depth and texture to his guitar sound. His approach was always about enhancing the raw power of his guitar and amp, rather than masking it with excessive effects.
Throughout his career, Mars’ guitar rig evolved, but his core sonic principles remained consistent: a powerful, raw, and aggressive tone rooted in blues-rock sensibilities, delivered with maximum impact. His gear choices were always in service of this sonic vision.
At the age of 27, just as Mötley Crüe was beginning to take off, Mick Mars received a life-altering diagnosis: ankylosing spondylitis (AS). This degenerative bone disease, which causes inflammation and fusion of the vertebrae, has profoundly impacted Mars’ life and physicality. “I thought, ‘Cool, I know how I’m going to die now,’” he said upon receiving the diagnosis. However, his immediate concern was its impact on his ability to play guitar. “It rarely goes into your hands or feet. That meant I could play guitar, and that’s what mattered most.”
Even as AS progressed over the decades, causing increasing pain and physical limitations, Mars’ dedication to his guitar never wavered. The disease contorted his spine, leading to his hunched posture, and caused immense discomfort. Yet, onstage, guitar in hand, he transformed. His physical struggles became secondary to the raw power and emotion he channeled through his instrument.
While AS undoubtedly presented immense challenges, in some ways, it also became intertwined with his stage persona. His stoic, almost menacing stage presence, partly a result of his physical discomfort, added to the mystique and intensity of his guitar playing. He played through the pain, embodying a true rock and roll warrior spirit. The image of Mick Mars, guitar slung low, seemingly defying physical limitations to unleash thunderous riffs, became iconic.
Mick Mars’ guitar was not just an instrument in Mötley Crüe; it was an integral character in the band’s narrative and success. His riffs powered their biggest hits, from the raucous energy of “Girls, Girls, Girls” to the stadium-sized anthem “Dr. Feelgood.” His guitar sound was as crucial to their identity as their flamboyant image and rebellious attitude.
However, as Mötley Crüe’s career progressed, internal tensions and creative differences began to surface. Mars, with his blues-rock roots and focus on raw guitar tone, sometimes found himself at odds with the evolving musical directions of the band. During the “Generation Swine” era, he felt creatively stifled. “I don’t think there’s one note that I played,” he lamented about the album. “They didn’t want my guitar to sound like a guitar, basically. They wanted it to sound like a synthesizer. I felt so useless. I’d do a part, they’d erase it, and somebody else would come in and play.” This period marked a low point in his relationship with the band and his role in their music.
The tensions continued into later albums. On “New Tattoo,” Mars felt largely excluded from the songwriting process. For “Saints of Los Angeles,” his declining health led to D.J. Ashba contributing significantly to the guitar parts, although uncredited. Nikki Sixx explained, “Mick was struggling to play his parts. So there’s [a] mixture of D.J. and Mick, and we would always make Mick the center focus unless, of course, he couldn’t play his parts or remember his parts.” These instances highlight the growing challenges Mars faced within the band, particularly concerning his creative input and guitar playing.
In 2022, Mick Mars made the difficult decision to retire from touring due to his worsening health condition. This decision triggered a bitter legal battle with Mötley Crüe. Mars alleges that the band used his retirement as a pretext to oust him from the group and cut him off from future profits. He also accused his bandmates of using pre-recorded tracks during their 2022 tour, while they, in turn, suggested Mars was struggling to perform live.
At the heart of this dispute is Mars’ legacy and his contribution to Mötley Crüe’s success, inextricably linked to his guitar. He views the legal actions as an attempt to diminish his role and ownership of the band’s brand. “When they wanted to get high and fuck everything up, I covered for them,” Mars stated, “Now they’re trying to take my legacy away, my part of Mötley Crüe, my ownership of the name, the brand. How can you fire Mr. Heinz from Heinz ketchup? He owns it.” For Mars, the fight is not just about money; it’s about protecting his musical heritage and the recognition of his vital role in creating the Mötley Crüe sound.
Despite the turmoil, Mick Mars remains focused on his music. He is preparing to release his debut solo album, “Another Side of Mars.” The album promises to showcase a darker, more aggressive side of his guitar playing, distinct from his Mötley Crüe work. Song titles like “Killing Breed,” “Decay,” and “Fear” hint at the raw emotion and intensity driving his new music.
While Mars acknowledges the bitterness surrounding his departure from Mötley Crüe, he also expresses a sense of pride in his accomplishments with the band. His home is filled with gold records and memorabilia, testaments to their global success. Ultimately, Mick Mars’ legacy is secure. He is the guitarist who defined the sound of Mötley Crüe, a sound that continues to resonate with generations of rock fans and inspire countless guitarists. His unique style, his dedication to tone, and his unwavering commitment to his craft, even in the face of immense adversity, solidify his place as a true rock icon. The Mick Mars guitar sound will forever be etched in the history of rock music.
