Motley Crue have come out on top in their legal wranglings with former and founding guitarist Mick Mars.
Arbitrator Patrick Walsh ruled in the band's favor today (Wednesday), confirming that Mars forfeited any right to touring revenue when he chose to stop touring in 2022 — a rule Mars himself demanded and wrote into the band’s governing agreement in 2008. That amendment explicitly provides that any member who stops touring does not share in touring income.
Despite that agreement, Mars demanded to continue receiving 25% of touring revenue in perpetuity while no longer performing. The arbitrator flatly rejected that position and upheld the band’s decision to terminate Mars as an officer and director for legal cause and ordered him to repay more than $750,000 in unrecouped tour advances.
Commenting on the case, the band's lawyer Sasha Frid says, “This dispute was about protecting the integrity and legacy of one of the most successful bands in rock history. With the arbitrator rejecting every claim and enforcing the parties’ agreements as written, the band has been fully vindicated—legally, financially, and factually.”
Mars, who was replaced by John 5, has not commented on the decision.
Motley start The Return of Carnival of Sins tour on July 17th in the Pittsburgh suburb of Burgettstown, Pennsylvania.