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Motley Crue<\/a> drummer Tommy Lee<\/a> discussed the band\u2019s fallout with longtime guitarist Mick Mars<\/a> on a new episode of The Magnificent Others With Billy Corgan<\/a><\/em> podcast, which you can watch below.<\/p>\n Following his retirement from touring<\/a> in 2022, Mars was embroiled in a years-long legal battle with the rest of Motley Crue. The guitarist claimed his former bandmates were ripping him off financially<\/a> and colluded to remove him from the group. (He also accused the rockers of faking their live performances.) In response, Motley Crue claimed Mars demanded 25% of the band\u2019s touring revenue despite no longer performing with them, which they said contradicted a previous agreement signed by all members.<\/p>\n An independent arbitrator ruled in favor of Motley Crue<\/a> in early 2026, ordering Mars to pay more than $750,000 in unrecouped tour advances. Mars\u2019 attorney called the decision<\/a> \u201cawful\u201d and claimed \u201cthe band has never been fair to Mick.\u201d<\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/strong> Top 10 Mick Mars Motley Crue Songs<\/a><\/p>\n With the lawsuit now in the rearview, Lee reflected on the difficulties Motley Crue encountered near the end of Mars\u2019 tenure with the band while still expressing love and admiration for his former bandmate.<\/p>\n “For me, that whole thing was awkward and really hurtful, to the point where people were saying untrue things,\u201d Lee told Corgan. \u201cI was like, ‘God this sucks.’\u00a0I’m not into that kind of stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n The drummer also praised Mars\u2019 musicianship. \u201cThere is only one Mick and he’s an insane player,\u201d he said. \u201cIt saddens me, just on a personal level for him, that this insane spine disease [ankylosing spondylitis<\/a>] slowly started dementing his shape.\u201d<\/p>\n Lee said he felt for Mars when the guitarist no longer wanted to tour with Motley Crue. “I always try to put myself in Mick’s shoes and I got nothing but love for that guy,\u201d he said. \u201cI just wish it didn’t get so shitty. And unfortunately that’s just the way things go when people are threatened or hurt. They fight back. But it\u2019s all good.\u201d<\/p>\n Additionally, Lee praised John 5<\/a> for stepping into Mars\u2019 role and credited the\u00a0guitarist for revitalizing the band \u2014\u00a0which apparently became increasingly necessary as Mars\u2019 condition worsened.<\/p>\n \u201cI have to give props to John 5 because him coming in was the exact shot of adrenaline and life and energy and fire that we were missing,\u201d Lee enthused. \u201cBecause it was really becoming a struggle. I\u2019d be counting off \u2018Live Wire\u2019 and Mick would start \u2018Wild Side.\u2019 He started to not know where he was. I\u2019ve had to stop songs, like, \u2018Dude, we\u2019ve got to restart this because he\u2019s playing the wrong song and he doesn\u2019t know it.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Lee continued: \u201cJohn, like yourself, has been a fan for a long time. He knows all the music inside and out. Loves Mick. \u2026 I don\u2019t give a shit how talented you are. If you\u2019re an asshole, I don\u2019t have much respect for that. If you\u2019re talented and<\/em> you\u2019re a sweetheart, you\u2019re my favorite person.\u201d<\/p>\n Motley Crue\u00a0launched<\/a>\u00a0their Return of the Carnival of Sins tour earlier this month. The trek continues on Friday in Holmdel, New Jersey, and runs through late September.<\/p>\n We look back at everything from\u00a0Too Fast for Love<\/em>\u00a0to\u00a0Saints of Los Angeles<\/em>\u00a0to see which albums hold up best all these years later.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Gallery Credit: Ultimate Classic Rock Staff<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nTommy Lee: ‘There Is Only One Mick and He’s an Insane Player’<\/h3>\n
Tommy Lee Says John 5 Gave Motley Crue a ‘Shot of Adrenaline’<\/h3>\n
Watch Tommy Lee’s Interview on ‘The Magnificent Others With Billy Corgan’<\/h3>\n
Motley Crue Albums Ranked <\/h2>\n