Mick Mars has been dropping hints about work on a debut solo album since at least 2015, and the record is finally about to arrive.
Of course, the Mötley Crüe guitarist and cofounder has had plenty else to focus on since Mötley Crüe's 'Final Tour' — among other projects, there was the band's hit Netflix biopic, The Dirt, in 2019, the COVID pandemic in 2020 and then the band's twice postponed 'Stadium Tour' reunion in 2022.
Since retiring from Mötley Crüe last year and (mostly) ruling out future live shows due to his ankylosing spondylitis (AS), Mars has completed his solo album and even dropped the lead single, "Loyal to the Lie," earlier this month.
Mars tells Q104.3 New York's Out of the Box with Jonathan Clarke that the new single was inspired by a look at the cult mindset, and the compulsion so many people have to be led.
"It's about how the masses, the people, listen to, like, one guy ... Charlie Manson ... Jim Jones ... Heaven's Gate," Mars explains. "They take everything and everybody listens to this one person — you don't have an opinion, you don't have a this, you don't have a that. ... It's like bowing down and being fooled by this one idiot. It makes me crazy."
The vocalist on the song is Jacob Bunton, and Mars says the lyrics were a collaboration between all the parties involved on the track. He concedes that the lyrical concept can be connected to more mainstream political movements of today, but that wasn't his intension when he started writing.
"At the time I just was thinking about, how masses and masses of people [feel] they need to be led; I don't feel that way," he says. "I feel like everybody has their own thing. Don't just listen to this one guy over here preaching to you and fall into that crap. So that's what it's about."
Despite his longstanding health challenges, Mars would not fully rule out live performances in support of the album — some one-off shows or a residency are conceivable, but touring is not an option anymore.
"I'm fine," he says of his current health. "My AS is what it is; there's nothing I can do about that. The rigors, the hard stuff, you know, flying here, doing this, that crap, is a little difficult for me to do nowadays because [my spine] is like almost [one] solid bone. It got a little rough, but that doesn't mean I'm not going to do a lot of music, you know. As long as my brain and my hands and legs work, I'm never stopping."
Mars noted that, even with a finished album, he's already back to work on new music.
"I've just got to keep going," he concludes.
Watch the full conversation via the player above!
The Other Side of Mars is due for release on February 23, 2024. Go here for more details!
1 of 2 2 of 2 Photo: Seraina Mars
Check out the official music video for "Loyal to the Lie" below: