For years it’s been a tough challenge for Mötley Crüe guitarist Mick Mars to get up on stage for 2 hours every night and perform. That’s because he’s been living with Ankylosing spondylitis since being diagnosed at the age of 17. Well flip those numbers over and he’s now 71 and has announced his retirement from touring.

Mick still plans to be an ongoing part of Mötley Crüe, but we won’t see him on stage anymore. as his conditioned worsened over the years, the band had even started adding in intermissions and opportunities to get Mick sitting down and resting during shows, but the strain has obviously become too much.

In an official statement issued by his team to Variety, they say:

“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.”

Mötley Crüe have announced an extension to their co-headlining tour with Def Leppard that will take them through Mexico, South America, the UK, and Europe in 2023. The tour was a massive success through North America in the summer of 2022 grossing $173.5 million in ticket sales.

UPDATE: John 5 (Marilyn Manson Band) has been named the replacement for Mick Mars.

What is Ankylosing spondylitis?

Ankylosing spondylitis is an inflammatory disease that, over time, can cause some of the bones in the spine (vertebrae) to fuse. This fusing makes the spine less flexible and can result in a hunched posture. If ribs are affected, it can be difficult to breathe deeply.

Filed under: Motley Crue