Mick Mars - Forged in Fire

The Mick Mars Story. This week, we're doing a deep dive into the life, trials, and tribulations of beloved Motley Crue guitarist Mick Mars, and exploring the depths his bandmates and producers went to shut him out. Kindly like and subscribe - it really helps this channel a lot. I do appreciate it!
#mickmars #behindthemusic #truestory #guitarist #guitar #motleycrue #tommylee #vinceneil #genius #musician #lespaul #fenderstratocaster #fender

[@buckbreaker5185]

Mick was always the talent in Motley Crue, hate that band but have always respected Mick's songwriting and technique.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Exactly! Mick really was the life of that band. When he finally spoke up - it was great to see the outpouring of support for him. He's a real humble dude - always respectful in interviews. In researching this - I realize that guy had been to hell and back multiple times. Glad he's getting his due!

[@SJ-ty5rw]

Same here ! could never stand Sixx .. i am glad Mick is not involved with them any longer . If they truly respected how important he was to the band , they would not have carried on after the End tour . Mick was the only likeable member of that band as well .

[@harveyblevins74]

Well Nikki writing the lyrics and songs was talent also. But I agree he was def the most talent in the band

[@mrt5201]

Nikki was the song writer 😂

[@yyxy.oncesaid]

You HATE them.Thats abit sad kid

[@DEPjr0113]

Mick is way underrated! He's one of my favorite guitarists!

[@StacieWooddavis-bl6dl]

Love you Mick Mars you we're the cool one in the band and very talented don't stop playing music 💯💯👍

[@dannyh773]

Great video. I met Motley Crue on their first tour at a signing event. Saw them in concert that night. Mars guitar playing was what caught my attention to the Crue. It just sounded so good. Thanks Mars.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Thank you so much for sharing that and for your kind words. That must have been really cool to catch them at that period - They were young, hungry, and completely on top of their game. I was a kid and their commercial came on TV - these crazy looking dudes with makeup, it was the looks that kill video. I was like who the hell are these guys? Been a fan ever since. I'm glad Mars is getting his due now, he was always a bit of an unsung hero. Thank you so much for stopping by - I really appreciate it!

[@CelebznbodysuitNeckMaskz]

no u meet there doubles whon do all the signings

[@yyxy.oncesaid]

​@@CelebznbodysuitNeckMaskzincorrect

[@adamvigil8320]

Mick is one of my reasons I play guitar. Dude kills it. Sometimes I swear I can hear some E.L.O. in Mick's style.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Oh yeah I could see the resemblance - some cool hidden twists in '80s music created by Mick ELO and a few others. Great stuff!

[@twolak1972]

Mick always was the HEART of MC. Vince, Nikki and Tommy were 3 little boys who never grew up. Mick was always the level headed one and with the new BACKING TRACK SCANDAL IT JUST PROVES WITHOUT MICKS AWESOME GUITAR RIFFS THEY,D BE NOWHERE.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Absolutely spot on assessment! Mick finally just got sick of the whole thing and I don't blame him one bit. Decades after decades of putting up with their crap. He was always the quiet one but boy when he spoke up everybody listened!

[@evryhndlestakn]

Agreed. He actually plays his instrument😊

[@by1485]

Nikki lifts his picking hand from his bass to tap Mick on the shoulder and you can still hear the bass playing?! What an amazing musician this guy is! Before that he lifts his fretting hand off the fretboard to high five Vince and the note doesn't change either! Nikki Sixx is a musical magician!

[@guitarmeetsscience]

I'm with you there - I mean it just boggles my mind. I really think that Nikki could literally just THINK about the bass and that thing will start playing itself!

[@fivestring65ify]

​@@guitarmeetsscience😂😂😂😂😂😂😂❤❤

[@fivestring65ify]

😂😂😂😂

[@LaurieValdez-zk3dy]

Love and Prayers ❤ Philadelphia USA 🇺🇸

[@martin6969can]

Awesome MICK!!! more more more!!!!😎

[@guitarmeetsscience]

🤘😎🤘

[@donnie4191]

This was brilliant thanks for doing it.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Thank you kindly! I really appreciate it and I'm glad that you enjoyed it! 🙏

[@evryhndlestakn]

Shout at the Devil is my favourite Motley album but its always been Mick's playing that has always carried these guys. I dont listen for Vinces singing, I dont listen for Tommys drums, I dont listen for Nikkis bass. I listen for Mick's Guitar!

[@benbatchelor4392]

Mic is the man..I approve of this video.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

🤘😎🤘

[@yyxy.oncesaid]

No one cares if you do or not chum

[@benbatchelor4392]

@@yyxy.oncesaid obviously you do. Lol

[@MG-mk8ot]

Another wonderful video, Jim!! I'm impressed with the amount of research you have devoted to each subject. Keep it up my friend!!!!

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Thank you Marc!

[@joserdiazalmodovar1898]

Mick Mars is my Hero ¡ A Real Original Guitar Player, Tones Man Tones one of the Best Hard Rock and Metal for me. Great Licks what can i say ¡ One of the Greatest ¡ ❤🤟🎸✌

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Mick had his own thing going on - as far as I'm concerned he actually plays his own genre of music. Mick rocks

[@infinidominion]

Wonder what he thought of certain riffs or how long he had them before making the Crue songs. I always enjoyed guitar music but didnt think about playing or wanting to play until I noticed the descending power chord riff of Looks That Kill. Now years later, come full circle inadvertently because Dstandard is one of my favorite tunings to play. I noticed that riff because its used in Maple Black Cat skateboarding video from '98

[@guitarmeetsscience]

How cool is that - looks that kill is one of their top tracks as far as I'm concerned. And it's actually more complex than it sounds too, especially the descending power cord riff you were talking about. D standard is a lot of fun! Similarly though also their first album too fast for Love had some fairly complex arrangements that just sounded so simple, yet I found we're really tricky to pick up by ear because they were unconventional. Believe it or not the only other songwriter that I've heard be able to mask something complex and give it such a simple facade was Neil diamond. Is the song in the key of e or is the song in the key of a? Lol things like that

[@JoseJoseC626]

There's an interview where he said he would listen to vinyls at slow speed to learn how to play songs. That's beyond cool as hell to me

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Oh yeah! Especially since he would have to try to transcribe afterwards. It's not easy learning from records that way for sure.

[@michaelsiemasko7597]

Bs. Nikki never played an instrument in his life. Songwriter my ass

[@guitarmeetsscience]

At this point I can believe that

[@randycomerford2038]

We love you Mick, rock on!

[@guitarmeetsscience]

🤘😎🤘

[@donkeyadaml.]

Very good performance and video 👍👍👍 Have a great day 😊Greetings 😎

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Stay cool donkey 🤘🤘

[@Leon..]

WOW !!!!!!

[@richardsabinii6309]

Being a Crue fan from day 1, i think its a shame that all the turmoil led them to fall apart. I wish Vince would have taken his health more serious never the less, to me Motley will ALWAYS be Vince, Mick, Nikki and Tommy Lee.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

I'm with you 100%! Motley Crue was shockingly cool when they really hit the scene hard with their shout at the devil album. I was a kid then, and we weren't allowed to listen to them so you know what that meant haha.... Learned how to copy cassettes at that very point. Granted they didn't quite go the journey route, things still got very messy. But I think Mick would be still willing to work with them. Sounds like there's a bit of water under the bridge. We'll have to see. Thanks for your comment!

[@MetalHeadHippie]

Well Done Jimmy.

[@SonicGrace]

Cool !!!

[@DirtyMikeTM]

great video, thank you

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Thank you Mike!

[@Xylus.]

Literally the only person in Motley Crue with talent or a likable personality. What a class act.

[@dannyf9218]

Yeah!....... except the part about not paying child support.

[@AdamBurseMusic]

Great work Jimmy, that was awesome man 😀🤘🎵🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Thanks Adam! 🤘🤘

[@TheDeedeeFiles]

Awesome

[@guitarmeetsscience]

🙏 thanks man

[@PaulLue]

Excellent

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Thanks Paul! 🤘🤘

[@rebelrocker7494]

Even Though I have a Soft Spot for Vince,(he dated my Niece years ago)Mick was The Music I Think and His New One Without The Rest of Them ,I Loved It,Think I Shared It,Such a Nice Guy,And its True, It broke my Heart Watching Nikki Sixx Fake the Bass and if i didnt See it with my Own Eyes id Probably Feel Different, Dam Jimmy i Had my Hair Done like His😂Dam Root Perms,All Joking Aside Love Mick and I Love These Stories, Ok,Question i bought a Peavy😂,Guitar and 2 Amps 60 bucks,Was that a Deal,Thats what i was gonna tape but figured id ask a Pro,Now i dont play,But i did learn The 1st Minute to Smoke on the Water,😂,Most Respect for your Playing my Friend, Well i wrote another Book but What the Heck,Thanks Jimmy, I guess its a step after Beginners, So im Told,Not a Scratch, Thanks for your input,Always Appreciate, You Rock 🎸🎸

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Hey Rebel!!! Wow that is pretty cool. He dated your niece, talk about a small world huh! The only running I had with Vince was when he drunkenly stepped on my arm as my arms were up on the stage and I sat in the front when he was playing solo and Long Island. His drummer Randy Castillo RIP actually offered me the sticks lol But I turned it down. One of my biggest regrets - but I can't play so I wouldn't have done him proud anyhow.Yes, being a neophyte fan of motley Crue myself when I was a kid especially, it was a real shame seeing that he was faking the bass. But motley Crue is still motley Crue - and Mick is a total legend. As for the deal - Peavey guitar and two amps for 60 bucks? Hell yeah that's a deal - a freaking awesome deal especially considering how much the price of everything is so high right now. Glad to hear you are putting your Uber talented self to work and getting a start on the ax. Congratulations on that awesome purchase - you really cannot beat it. Writing books too - that is pretty damn cool! Always great to hear from you Rebel - sounds like you're doing pretty awesome and I am glad to hear that! Keep on rocking and I can't wait to see the goods!!! 🤘😎🤘🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@joefox9765]

John 5 is a great replacement. Love both their abilities.. you didn't mention his run with Marilyn Manson which made him most famous. Great video. Well informative 👍

[@guitarmeetsscience]

John 5 definitely rocks - If anything he had to tamper down his playing a bit to fit the groove of motley Crue and he did it perfectly. You're right I didn't actually and probably should have because that's really where he became well known. Thank you for pointing that out and also thanks for the kind words - I'm really glad you enjoyed it! 🤘🤘

[@rwright3395]

Mr. Mick , is a DAMN good musician. That's the bottom line people

[@brianmelendy1194]

Mick Mars is the only Crue member without public controversy

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Yep he's always been all about the music!!

[@jemrock1441]

🎸🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Thanks JEM! 🤘🤘

[@skrachamaniacs3878]

In an interview with Ernie Ball on string theory Mars stated and I quote “I posted an ad in the paper wanting a band and was contacted by Vince Neil so I went to the audition but the band didn’t know that it was me who was auditioning them” He’s basically saying that he didn’t try out for Mötley Crüe. They tried out for him and I totally believe it.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

And with that in mind..... It really was such an ironic turn of events how they cast him out. In a weird way it kind of reminds me of when jobs got kicked out of Apple. Thanks for sharing that story!

[@fivestring65ify]

MC debut album is their best. It was raw, energetic, and kicked ass.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

I agree - and it was intricate as well. The song sounds simple but they really are not.

[@fivestring65ify]

@@guitarmeetsscience I've sat down and played with the entire album several times. What a blast. MM had to be the one who arranged the songs. They are just too good.

[@randycomerford2038]

Mick Mars IS Motley Crue!!!!

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Damn right!

[@jimreed7366]

Mick Mars 🎸👍🏻

[@russlora]

I knew on shout at the devil he was a legendary guitarist

[@17nussbaumroad]

Team Mick !!!

[@guitarmeetsscience]

🤘😎🤘

[@michaelsmyth3935]

The Corabi Lp. Maybe they should have renamed. Best complete project.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Exactly - that was when for just a short time the band got serious and showed what they really could do... Given the fact that they actually grew as musicians since their start. John brought that out in them.

[@MetalHeadHippie]

RightOn Jimmy. Mick Roc's doesn't get enough credit. Good looking out.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Thank you Jeff! Keep on rocking bro 🤘😎🤘

[@thomasjefferson1883]

Hooligan holiday is MC best album

[@cpate212]

Anyone else notice Nikki's Milli Vanilli moment at :10 when he points at something with his picking hand, and the bass part keeps going?....

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Absolutely that was a full-on Milli vanilli moment, basically interrupting Mick during his solo while acting like he's playing the bass with the other hand. Haha good catch!

[@gregmiller9238]

whoever thos channel is , without mick there would never bea motley crue , nikki vince tommy would be no news no social media nothing without mick

[@doormasterjohn]

Yup, same here, always hated Motley Crue.But Mick always had a great sound and his riffs were awesome.Driving force behind the band without him.There would have been no Motley crew cause Vince.Neil definitely sounds like a flat metal bird

[@guitarmeetsscience]

A flat metal bird haha yep!

[@nikital7541]

Mick Mars was one of my biggest inspirations as a guitarist. Rest of the band, especially Nikki are wayyyy out of touch. I wouldn’t grab a drink with Nikki even if he was buying. I’d buy Mick a brew any day of the week.

[@dakistle]

Tommy would break out a piano and play Brandon live. Glad I missed those shows.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Lol the worst part is that there weren't even keys on the piano according to eyewitnesses. He was literally just playing wood 😆

[@minvike37]

Funny, I always thought "Theater of pain" was a hit record for them. Every stoner at my high school had the tape. I loved it and played it so much, that I broke the tape.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Oh theater of pain definitely was a huge hit record for them. That album grew on me - but I was one of the die-hards who really loved their first two albums and I was really unhappy with the sudden change of direction. Especially hearing piano - I was like wtf? But over time, the album now bodes well with my ears lol

[@minvike37]

@@guitarmeetsscience agreed... They did seem to go more pop for a lack of a better word. Ladies loved the new style, which in turn made me happy!

[@guitarmeetsscience]

@minvike37 hey - The ladies like it, everything else just kind of falls in place!

[@LEDZEP769]

Terrible album, from the raw and edgy SATD to a bunch of rushed shit songs. Only 2 songs saved that album.

[@eksit101]

Methods of Meyheim was dope.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Agreed 100%!

[@robherman7298]

Mick is one of the greatest! He is motley crue. the other 3 are egotisical jokes.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Absolutely right!

[@blueberrypie8691]

Mick is Motley, withouth him that band never achieves squat. Jake E. Lee who is one of my faves never ever would have worked for Motley.

[@russe19642]

Thank god there was ACDC around this time

[@mwhitelaw8569]

What's sad They almost got laughed off the stage at the US festival. Nobody knew who they were

[@guitarmeetsscience]

That's interesting - and I noticed off the footage There was a smattering of people in the audience that really got what they were doing. Makes sense now. Thanks for that!

[@Masterpresident]

Mick Mars guitar playing made that band popular and Vince voice bass players and drummers are replaceable with out fans even noticing

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Bass players I'll agree with to a certain extent but drummers - they make all the difference in the world. I've put up with some real jerks in my time because they played so darn well. They make such a difference in the overall sound of the band.

[@voncheddar4319]

I really like Tommy' Lee's song Brandon. It's about the kid, not the ex wife

[@wethepeople420]

Is he also bucket head?

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Haha no I don't think so!

[@samright4661]

Jake E Lee blows Mick Mars away no doubt. But it wouldn’t have been Motley without Mick! Mick wasn’t the most technical player he’s OK

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Agreed - on a technical level definitely. Mick has that certain something.... Listening to the weird way those early motley Crue tunes were written, he actually put together things that were very complex and yet sounded very simple. A lot of genius in that songwriting!

[@starkillerclub3755]

Dude let's put those dots over the "o" and the "u" why? because it's cool! alright, I guess, hey man, wanna smoke another joint?

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Hahahaha exactly!

[@tonyponchopeters]

Are you trying to tell me if Mick Mars created a band and he had members like Y&T or Autograph that he would create a Legacy Band? I don't think so at all.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Honestly - I don't follow. What do you mean exactly?

[@tonyponchopeters]

@@guitarmeetsscience I mean that a band fronted by Mick Mars would Never make it in the 80's. He was a grifter in the 70's and I Love Mick Mars I get angry when they attribute Motley's success due to Mick. If anything I think Tommy's personality & showmanship is what ignited that group.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

@tonyponchopeters you have a good point. And if they had any other guitar player who even might have been more brash wild and crazy like they were They may have still done all right. The way I see it Mick was an anchoring force. Kind of like John Paul Jones was in Zeppelin. But I definitely do see your point. I guess they were just the right combination all around. Thanks for sharing that!

[@MrJuggalo909]

Is Vince Niel so bad he's good now?

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Yeah lol he might have just hit that point!

[@Gordon-hx8cp]

Why is everyone over-rating mick all of a sudden, he was little more than a glorified rhythm guitarist

[@guitarmeetsscience]

He did some great stuff - like the solo for "piece of your action" That's a good example of his lead work. Was he Guthrie Govan? No - but he really fit the bill of somebody who could come up with solos that you can hum, and really fit the song well. Like mini songs within the song. I think it's playing on the pre-theater of pain material showed more of his complexity.

[@duanechapman-ft6ty]

MIcks not a guitarist, hes a musician and a damn good one. Lots of guitarist can play a mind blowing solo, but very few could do a whole album like he can. He's always been underrated in my opinion.

[@user-mm1se7gy7e]

It's the "glorified" part that makes him great !

[@On_Dust]

Mick Mars is Motley crue

[@guitarmeetsscience]

You got that right!

[@1mrford]

Without Mick they would have been motley clowns. Just like the clowns they turned out to be!

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Motley clowns -yep!

[@MichaelRector-qf7xp]

Don't discount Tommy Lee's drumming

[@guitarmeetsscience]

I'm definitely not - as a matter of fact if you listen to the section where I'm describing how his playing is on the 1994 album and how the production unmasked what he was doing, It was like on that album we really got to hear him in the raw for the first time. He is a great player it's just often he let the showbiz part take over a little bit more sometimes.

[@michaelcontreras148]

Sad, these old fools should be playing better music by now

[@fivestring65ify]

Mick and Tommy. The other two suck.

[@Larry-rz4ed]

Motley Crue is garbage without Mick 🙄

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Absolutely - Mick was the soul of that band. Even when they were crumbling around him, Vince couldn't sing the way he used to, Nikki Sixx had to resort to tracks, Mick Mars just kept on playing his heart out.

[@Larry-rz4ed]

@@guitarmeetsscience Dude I seen a concert in 2016, Sixx a.m. opened up for five finger Death Punch, Nikki sixx doesn't even play the bass man, I was front row at the stage that dude wasn't even playing what a joke , I swear he doesn't even play live 💯💯💯🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 he just stands there and dances around with the bass 🤣🤣🤣

[@Larry-rz4ed]

@@guitarmeetsscience How f****** hard is it to play the bass ?🙄🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣I won't even get started on Vince, I still do like Tommy though...

[@Larry-rz4ed]

@@guitarmeetsscience for that matter the whole band wasn't even playing they brought some little girl up on stage, they all sat down with her and took pictures and the music was playing in the background as they were taking the pictures🙄🙄🙄🤣🤣🤣🤣🤔🤔💯💯💯

[@BrianLTanner]

This dude took 25 years to get famous because he just wasn’t good. He wasn’t unique and didn’t have any skill that all the other garage band guitar players didn’t have. Truth is…mick mars and Motley Crue sucked balls.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Interesting take Brian

[@mikerivera7509]

Mick was the only talent in that band. Motely crue would never have made it with out him. The band is shit.

[@michaelwills1926]

This band never had any business reaching the top tier of the pop rock panty raid scene, but even they only scraped the underside it was due to Mick Mars; the rest of these clowns are creation by committee

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Right on! I really dig your take on this one, had me cracking up lol