Mick Mars was in the spotlight with his former band Mötley Crüe for four decades. And for mostly all of those years he battled a silent enemy, one that's not found in a rebellious guitar riff or a stage dive – ankylosing spondylitis, a degenerative spine disease that causes inflammation in the spine joints and ligaments and can lead to stiffness over time.
In a recent interview with Chris Akin Presents, Mars opened up about his health challenges, that force him to face the mirror differently: It's a stark contrast to the electrifying performances that cemented his reputation as a rock icon.
"When I see myself, especially in the past couple of years, like the farewell tour in 2015 and The Stadium Tour that just happened, and I see myself on film, I absolutely am not digging it at all. I don't like the way I look. I don't like the way I can't move. I was like, I can look down on my guitar, but I can't bend my head to see, so I have to look down. And when I walk on stage, it looks like a praying mantis with a guitar or something. It's kind of messed up. It's hard for me to look at myself that way 'cause I don't feel that way. But I see it."
But Mars is no stranger to defying expectations. While his body may be changing, his spirit remains fiercely unbroken. He describes his mind as overflowing with a newfound creative energy that transcends the confines of Mötley Crüe's sound.
"My brain's as sharp as ever. These new ideas — this is a weird way to explain it. My brain, my mind, and my ideas are expanding beyond what I figured, but it's still my idea, my creativity. The stuff is growing as a solo artist. And I'm not in this shell confined to one type of sound. This stuff, if it was any different, wouldn't sound right. I can do anything I want, take it where I want. And if people are digging it, I'm loving it. And if they're not, it's okay too, because that's what's in my mind."
And while his upcoming solo debut, The Other Side of Mars, might be a glimpse into this uncharted territory, Mars told Katie Daryl of AXS TV that he is already forging ahead with his second album. He describes the new material as "more cinematic," a departure from the raw energy of "Undone" – one of the songs in his debut record – yet still undeniably thick and powerful.
"I've already got four pretty solid ideas that are a little more — it's not advanced. It's like more in a direction of 'Undone' or something more cinematic, but it's still pretty thick."
So, the next time you hear Mars' name, don't just picture the leather pants and the pyrotechnics. Imagine a man defying the limitations of his body, channeling pain into art, and proving that even in the face of adversity, the human spirit can still shred its own solo.
