According to an exclusive report from Variety, Mötley Crüe guitarist and founding member Mick Mars has retired from touring. Shortly after the announcement of the group’s 2023 World Tour with Def Leppard, a representative for the artist issued the following statement:

“Mick Mars, co-founder and lead guitarist of the heavy metal band Mötley Crüe for the past 41 years, has announced today that due to his ongoing painful struggle with Ankylosing Spondylitis (A.S.), he will no longer be able to tour with the band.  Mick will continue as a member of the band, but can no longer handle the rigors of the road.  A.S. is an extremely painful and crippling degenerative disease, which affects the spine.”

While this may be no surprise for die-hard Crüe fans seeing the struggle Mars has lived with this disease, it’s still shocking nonetheless. A replacement is yet-to-be-determined. However, just like everything with social media, rumors have spread suggesting former Marilyn Manson/Rob Zombie guitarist John 5, who reportedly has recently stopped touring with Zombie, will fill in for the icon.