Carmine Appice recently opened up about his earlier comments on the rift between Mick Mars and Mötley Crüe during a chat on Artist On Record Starring Adika Live.
After a legal battle between Mars and his former band started in early 2023, Appice’s relationship with the Crüe members got tense, as some even rumored a fistfight between him and Vince Neil. Touching on his relationship with them, the drummer said:
“What actually happened is I’ve been friends with Nikki and Tommy and everybody. But as of late, Nikki and Tommy [Lee], I text them I never hear from them. But I text Mick Mars, and he text me back. So, we became pretty good friends.”
He Was Telling The Truth
Nikki Sixx backlashed at Appice after he told the press that Mars left the band because he was ‘sick of’ them using backing tracks during live shows. So, explaining those comments, the drummer went on:
“Mick told me that he was sick of the band, and ever since I said that, the press went f**king nuts. I mean, I got so much PR with that. And then Nikki’s putting me down. But it was already out there on that metal show two years before that.”
Referring to the show in question, Appice explained:
“Mick was on it, and he already told him. And then there were videos popping up in terms of clicking and other things. They had other videos where – what’s his name? – Vince wasn’t singing. I mean, it’s just a joke. They weren’t like that when they were touring with us. They were kicka**.”
Backing Track Allegations Followed Appice’s Comments
Originally, Appice spoke about Mars and Mötley Crüe after the guitarist announced he was retiring from touring in 2022 by mentioning that his friend was ‘sick of being in a tour bus.’
Mars himself cited health and age as reasons for his retirement. But, before the lawsuit between the two parties began, the drummer revealed that the guitarist’s decision to leave was also influenced by the band’s use of backing tracks. He told Ultimate Guitar:
“Well, I tell you what, I’ve been talking to Mick, and he told me, ‘When I was on the Stadium Tour, I was not happy.’ Basically, everything was on tape; it was all planned out and ultimately a lot of crap. And Mick is a pretty good player, and so, to now let him loose and play the way he wants, that was never going to work for him.”
Further controversy arose when leaked recordings from Mick Mars’ in-ear monitor fueled the allegations. Carmine Appice even claimed that Nikki Sixx’s bass parts in Mötley Crüe albums belonged to another musician.
