Mötley Crüe Guitarist Is Sober, "Still an A#%hole"

The members of Mötley Crüe are almost as famous for their wild antics as they are for their music—but even "the World's Most Notorious Rock Band" may be sobering up these days. Mick Mars, the group's 61-year-old guitar player, says he, like bassist Nikki Sixx before him, gave up partying so he can continue playing. "I don't smoke. I don't drink. I don't have many vices, except playing my guitar too much," he says. "I guess I'm kind of a boring guy these days. But that's how I'm gonna keep going with Mötley Crüe as long as I can." The heavy metal band, hailing from Los Angeles, has sold more than 80 million album copies worldwide, including 25 million in the US. But various of its members have struggled with alcoholism and addictions to drugs such as cocaine and heroin, and Mars says he battled a prescription drug addiction in addition to a bad booze habit. But now, "there's one thing that's really different for me...being sober," he says. Fans may wonder how the Crüe will change with a sober guitarist in their midst, but Mars says things will only improve. "It's really helped. The playing is better. The songs are better," he says. "There are some people who drink their whole lives. But thankfully, I was just like, 'Ah, I'm over this shit. Over the drug thing. Over the booze thing. Over this other thing.' It's great to be clear-headed, instead of just sitting around going, 'Huh?' like a dummy." One thing, at least, has not changed: "I'm still no gentleman," he says. "I'm still as big an asshole as ever. Lewd and aggressive."