The legendary heavy metal band, Mötley Crüe co-founder and lead guitarist, Mick Mars has been suffering from a very painful disease that has no cure since he was 17 years old. Even though he had to stand unbearable pain in his spine and partly immobility, Mars never gave up playing the guitar which was the greatest passion of his life.
Mick Mars was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis when he was seventeen years old. Ankylosing spondylitis is a very rare and painful disease that leads to long-term damage to the spine and the pelvis, which causes pain and eventually immobility. Unfortunately, there is no cure for the disease except some medicines, physical therapies, and surgeries to ease the patient’s pain.
‘The Dirt: Confessions of the World’s Most Notorious Rock Band’ is a biographical book that tells the story of Mötley Crüe and its members’ lives. It was released in 2001 and was co-written by Mick Mars, Vince Neil, Nikki Sixx, Tommy Lee. In the book, Mars not only shared his musical journey but also his life under the shadow of ankylosing spondylitis.
When Did Mick’s Health Problems Arise?
The problems arose when he was 19 years old but he didn’t have money to see a doctor. At first, he felt a terrible pain in his hips and later in his back. And he became three inches shorter than he was before. His suffering continued during the period of Mötley Crüe’s great success and popularity. After the problems and departures from the band, the bassist Nikki Sixx wanted to reunite with the original band members. Sixx was shocked when he first saw the condition of Mick Mars and told his experience in his book.
Here’s what Sixx wrote:
“What I saw haunts me to this day. A frail man of 80, maybe 90 pounds, shaved head, gray skin, with a beard to his chest. He was dying, addicted to painkillers, brought on by a disease called ankylosing spondylitis.”
Mick’s Treatment, Surgery, And Recovery Process
After a hip replacement, Mick became better and better. However, Mars described his healing process as very hard and painful. He stopped playing guitar for two years and started to take physical therapy. With the help of a neuropsychiatrist, he relearned how to hold and play the guitar and returned to the stage. Unfortunately, in time, the disease spread through his brain and he lost his ability to move his head in different directions. But nothing could stop Mick Mars.
Here’s what Mars said:
“It still grinds now and then, but as I said, music is my whole passion. It’s what I do. It’s what I live for. I guess it keeps me alive. I’m just happy to be here, to be able to make people happy, to make people smile, and give them what I feel inside from my music. I hope you like this, and if you don’t, oh well.”
As it can be understood from his statement, Mick Mars’ desire to play guitar never stopped and he didn’t let his disease take away his greatest passion. He lived for music and will continue to be with his guitar until his last breath. Apparently, there isn’t any disease that can prevent him from continuing his remarkable musical career.
