Nikki Sixx Says John 5 ‘Checks All the Boxes’ for Motley Crue

Motley Crue’s Nikki Sixx praised the band’s new touring guitarist John 5 on Twitter, saying he “checks all the boxes” to fill the footwear of Mick Mars, who not too long ago introduced his retirement from the street.

The bassist responded to a number of followers’ questions throughout his #AskSixx Twitter phase on Friday. One person requested why the band selected 5, who has performed with dozens of traditional rock musicians and has served as Rob Zombie’s guitarist since 2005.

“He checks all the boxes,” Sixx wrote. “He’s [an] insane player. Has respect for our music, is funny as fuck and has history with us and we’ve written some pretty big hits together.”

Sixx and 5 co-wrote three authentic Motley Crue songs — “The Dirt (Est. 1981),” “Ride With the Devil” and “Crash and Burn” — that appeared on the soundtrack to Netflix’s 2019 adaptation of The Dirt. The duo additionally collaborated with Desmond Child on Meat Loaf’s “The Monster Is Loose,” off 2006’s Bat Out of Hell III: The Monster Is Loose. Last 12 months, Sixx and 5 debuted the L.A. Rats supergroup, which additionally options Zombie and Ozzy Osbourne drummer Tommy Clufetos.

5’s enlistment marks the first time in Motley Crue’s 40-plus-year historical past that Mars will not be dealing with six-string duties. The guitarist has struggled for a long time with ankylosing spondylitis, a sort of arthritis that causes irritation in the joints and ligaments of the backbone and leads to ache and stiffness. Motley Crue introduced Mars’ retirement from touring earlier this week, clarifying that he “will continue as a member of the band, but can no longer handle the rigors of the road.” In his personal assertion, 5 added, “I’m honored to carry on Mick’s legacy and am looking forward to playing these songs.”

Responding to a different fan, Sixx praised Mars and mentioned Motley Crue was honoring his needs by persevering with to tour. “He’s been a soldier along with us for 4 decades. We will continue to [carry] our legacy to generations of fans and honor Mick’s request for us to keep touring as Motley Crue,” he wrote.

Motley Crue not too long ago introduced a 2023 world tour with Def Leppard, an extension of this 12 months’s wildly profitable Stadium Tour. According to Sixx, there might be many extra excursions to return. “We have no plans of stopping now,” he (*5*). “We’re having too grand of a time and in a short eight years we will celebrate 50 years together as a band.”