John 5 to replace Mick Mars as Mötley Crüe’s touring guitarist

After weeks of rumor and speculation, John 5 will officially replace Mick Mars as Mötley Crüe’s touring guitarist moving forward

Mars announced his retirement earlier this week.

Mötley Crüe members Nikki Sixx, Tommy Lee and Vince Neil released the following statement:

“While change is never easy, we accept Mick’s decision to retire from the band due to the challenges with his health.

“We have watched Mick manage his Ankylosing Spondylitis for decades and he has always managed it with utmost courage and grace.

“To say ‘enough is enough’ is the ultimate act of courage. Mick’s sound helped define Mötley Crüe from the minute he plugged in his guitar at our very first rehearsal together. The rest, as they say, is history. We’ll continue to honor his musical legacy.

“We will carry out Mick’s wish and continue to tour the world as planned in 2023. No doubt will it take an absolutely outstanding musician to fill Mick’s shoes so we are grateful that our good friend, John 5, has agreed to come on board and join us moving forward.

“We’ll see all you Crüeheads out on the road!”

John 5, who seemingly has ended a 17-year stint as Rob Zombie’s guitarist, said, “I’m honored to carry on Mick’s legacy and am looking forward to playing these songs.”

Earlier this week, Mars, 71, released the following statement announcing his retirement:

“Mick Mars, co-founder and lead guitarist of the heavy metal band Mötley Crüe for the past 41 years, has announced today that due to his ongoing painful struggle with Ankylosing Spondylitis (A.S.), he will no longer be able to tour with the band.  Mick will continue as a member of the band, but can no longer handle the rigors of the road.  A.S. is an extremely painful and crippling degenerative disease, which affects the spine.”

Mötley Crüe returned to the road in summer 2022 after supposedly playing its final show on Dec. 31, 2015. The band co-headlined “The Stadium Tour” with Def Leppard, and the two acts plan to take the show around the world in 2023.

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