Mick Mars
Mick Mars (born
Robert (Bob) Alan Deal,
May 4,
1951 in
Terre Haute, Indiana) is the guitar player for heavy metal band
Mötley Crüe.
Mars played in several unsuccessful
blues based rock bands throughout the seventies such as "White Horse" and "Spiders and Cowboys". In April of 1981 he composed a want-ad in the Los Angeles "Recycler" newspaper that read, "Loud, rude, and aggressive guitar player available".
Nikki Sixx and
Tommy Lee contacted him and the three decided to form a band together. They were joined later that month by local singer/frontman
Vince Neil. It was Mars' suggestion that the band's name be
Mötley Crüe.
Unlike many of the hard rock/heavy metal guitarists of his era, Mars' guitar style is steeped in the
blues tradition. He employs frequent use of a metal slide in his soloing and takes on both the rhythm and lead guitar duties of the band. Mars is often cited as one of the more accomplished and talented guitarists of the often simplistic and basic heavy metal scene.
Many fans see Mars as a sort-of mysterious figure. Though he very likely took part in just as much debauchery as his bandmates in their time, Mars does not seem to have the all around wild lifestyle of Lee, Sixx, or Neil. Part of the reason that Mars is seen as so aloof is his tendency to stand still on stage, partly to focus on his guitar and partly due to his painful joint condition. Mars has stated many times that he is often jealous of the way his bandmembers can cavort onstage, although he has been much more mobile and active during the band's on-going recent tour.
Mars has also admitted a large drinking problem during most of the tours between
1984 and
1988, when the band cleaned up for their hugely successful "Dr. Feelgood" album. He has also talked of a drunken attempt to kill himself by wading out to sea at night after their first successful tour. He is currently sober.
In what interviews he has conducted, Mars often comes off as a very reserved and somewhat quiet individual, though not shy by any means, as his "coming out on stage with my
ballbag hanging out" comment on
VH1 indicates. Even Neil has admitted that "I don't really know much about Mick, man, I don't really think anyone does."
After Motley Crue's eventual split, Mars went into retreat with his then girlfriend as his health worsened. After she left, he dealt with massive depression and financial bancruptcy, stating that he lived in one room of his large house, with only an inflatable bed for company. He also gave up guitar at this time, and later stated that "I was going to die. Why should I play guitar?". Mars was rescued from the brink of death by the reformation of Motley Crue and the desire to play again, and underwent a hip replacement and large amounts of physical therapy. Due to fears that he would not be strong enough to complete the tour by management and fans alike, he wore a mask for the first few shows in order to trick the audience into thinking he had been replaced. Mars is now currently touring with Motley Crue without a mask, and is said to be "more energetic on stage than he has ever been".
For most of his professional career, Mars has struggled with a degenerative bone condition called
Ankylosing Spondylitis. It was initially diagnosed when he was 17 and has increasingly impaired his movement and has caused him a great deal of pain and suffering. Mars has since stated that he was and still is constantly in pain even when on high dosages of pain killers that led him to hallucinate. Due to the fragility of his condition, he is kept on large amounts of pain killers, although has recently stated that his newest medication is better at subduing his joint pain. Mars quotes that he is three inches shorter than he was in high school. This led to hip-replacement surgery at the end of 2004 [
1]. When Motley Crue was recently re-formed in 2004, Mick was said to weigh 95 pounds and was "depressed beyond depressed". After his hip replacement surgery, Mars became healthier and became strong enough to tour, picking up the guitar again after discarding it during his depressive phase. He has since famously stated such memorable quotes as "You want to see what I can do? Just watch me", and in response to an interviewers question about his health "I'm gonna kick your ass". Mars has just finished touring with the reunited Motley Crue in April and his health is gradually improving.
Amps
*Marshall JCM-800 Head
*Rivera Bonehead 100Watt Head
*Soldano SLO-100 Super Lead Overdrive Head
Cabinets
*Rivera Straight Cabinet / 4x12
Guitars
*Fender Stratocaster American Electric Guitar
*Gibson Chet Atkins Country Gentleman Electric Guitar
*Paul Reed Smith Custom 22 Electric Guitar
Pedals
*Dunlop Crybaby Wah Foot Controller(rackmount)
*Rocktron All Access Midi Foot Controller
Gadgets
*Heil Sound Talk Box
Rack
*Alesis Quadraverb Multi-FX
*Crest 7001 Power Amplifier
*Custom Audio Electronics 3+ SE 3 Channel Tube Preamp
*Dunlop Rackmount Crybaby Wah
*Dynachord CRS-222 Leslie Simulator
*Eventide H3000/3500 Harmonizer
*Rocktron Hush Super-C
*Rocktron Patchmate Switcher / Router
*Rocktron Replifex Multi-FX
*VHT 20-100 Power Amplifier
*Yamaha SPX-1000 Multi-FX
* Mars is the second of five children of Tina and Frank Deal.
* Two children, Les Paul (1971) and
Stormy (1973), with first wife Sharon.
* One child (estranged), Erik (1976), with former girlfriend Marcia.
* Married to Emi Canyn (1990-1994)
* Attended grade school with
Steve Martin.
* In early performances would spit blood like
Gene Simmons.
* Refers to himself as the 'old fuck' in
Mötley Crüe.
* Has tattooed on his knuckles 'MARS' on one hand and '1313'("M" being the 13th letter of the alphabet, and having two 13's to signify his initials) on the other.
* At the
Crüe Year's Eve show a female fan pulled Mars off the stage and he had to be rushed to the hospital. He sustained no serious injuries.
*
Official Motley Crüe Site*
Motley Crue Hitsquad fanpage
