Mick Mars is an American guitarist and co-founder of the legendary rock band Mötley Crüe. Known for his gritty, bluesy solos, he helped shape the band’s sound for over four decades before retiring from touring in 2022.
Who is Mick Mars?
Mick Mars is an American guitarist best known as a co-founder and longtime lead guitarist of Mötley Crüe. He co-wrote many of the band’s biggest hits, including “Dr. Feelgood,” “Girls, Girls, Girls,” and “Same Ol’ Situation.”
He formed the band in 1981 after placing a classified ad in a Los Angeles newspaper describing himself as a “loud, rude and aggressive guitar player.” That ad caught the attention of Nikki Sixx and Tommy Lee, and Mötley Crüe was born.
How Old is Mick Mars?
Mick Mars was born Robert Alan Deal on May 4, 1951, in Terre Haute, Indiana. As of 2026, he is 75 years old.
Mick Mars’s Bio
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Robert Alan Deal |
| Nickname | Mick Mars |
| Profession | Guitarist, Songwriter, Musician |
| Date of Birth | May 4, 1951 |
| Age | 75 (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace | Terre Haute, Indiana, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Zodiac Sign | Taurus |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Known For | Co-founder and lead guitarist of Mötley Crüe |
Mick Mars was the oldest founding member of Mötley Crüe, roughly a decade older than his bandmates. His bluesy, aggressive guitar style became a defining part of the band’s sound.
Mick Mars’s Height, Weight and Physical Appearance
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Height | Not publicly known |
| Weight | Not publicly known |
| Eye Color | Not publicly known |
| Hair Color | Black (dyed) |
| Body Type | Slim |
Mick Mars has lived with ankylosing spondylitis, a disease that causes the spine to fuse, since his late teens. Because of this condition, he says he is now several inches shorter than he was in high school, and his posture and mobility have both been affected over time.
Background and Early Life
Mick Mars was born in Terre Haute, Indiana, and his family later moved to Huntington, Indiana, then Garden Grove, California. He got his first guitar at age 12 and was drawn to music from a young age.
He was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis in his late teens, a condition that would affect him for the rest of his life. He dropped out of high school to focus on playing guitar and spent the 1970s in a series of blues-based rock bands before adopting the stage name Mick Mars.
Is He Married? Who is Mick Mars’s Wife?
Mick Mars has been married multiple times over the years. He has had relationships with Sharon and Marcia Lea Martell, and was later married to Emi Canyn.
He has also been married to former model Seraina Schönenberger. Details about his current marital status are not consistently confirmed across sources.
Family Background
Mick Mars has three known children: Les Paul and Stormy, from his relationship with Sharon, and Erik, from his relationship with Marcia Lea Martell. Not much else is publicly known about his family beyond this.
Mick Mars’s Net Worth 2026
| Year | Estimated Net Worth |
|---|---|
| 2022 | $50 million – $60 million |
| 2023 | $50 million – $70 million |
| 2024 | $50 million – $70 million |
| 2025 | $50 million – $70 million |
| 2026 | $50 million – $70 million |
Mick Mars built his fortune mainly through his decades with Mötley Crüe, including album sales, songwriting royalties, and touring income. The band has sold over 75 million albums worldwide.
His wealth has also been affected by a legal dispute with his former bandmates after his 2022 retirement from touring, which involved a fight over his share of the band’s touring and merchandise profits.
Career
Mick Mars co-founded Mötley Crüe in 1981 alongside Nikki Sixx, Tommy Lee, and Vince Neil. The band went on to release nine studio albums and sell tens of millions of records worldwide, becoming one of the defining acts of 1980s rock.
He played his final show with the band on September 9, 2022, before announcing his retirement from touring due to his worsening ankylosing spondylitis. He later filed a lawsuit against his former bandmates, alleging they tried to push him out of the band and cut his share of the profits after his retirement announcement.
Beyond Mötley Crüe, Mars has contributed songwriting and guitar work to other artists, including Papa Roach, Hinder, and Escape the Fate.
Lesser-Known Facts About Mick Mars
| Fact |
|---|
| Born Robert Alan Deal, not Mick Mars |
| Got his stage name after reinventing himself in the late 1970s |
| Found the rest of Mötley Crüe through a classified newspaper ad |
| Lives with ankylosing spondylitis, which has made him several inches shorter over time |
| Continued to write and record music even after retiring from touring |
Despite health struggles that would have sidelined many musicians, Mick Mars kept performing with Mötley Crüe for over four decades before stepping back from touring in 2022.
Mick Mars Social Media
Mick Mars maintains some public presence, mostly tied to his music career and legal updates involving Mötley Crüe.
- Instagram: Occasional updates related to his music and public statements.
His public visibility in recent years has come largely through news coverage of his health and his legal dispute with the band, rather than frequent personal social media activity.
FAQs
1. How old is Mick Mars?
He was born on May 4, 1951, making Mick Mars age 75 years old as of 2026.
2. What is Mick Mars’s net worth?
His estimated net worth in 2026 is between $50 million and $70 million.
3. Why did Mick Mars leave Mötley Crüe?
He retired from touring in 2022 due to his ongoing battle with ankylosing spondylitis.
4. What is Mick Mars’s real name?
He was born Robert Alan Deal.
5. What songs did Mick Mars help write?
He co-wrote hits like “Dr. Feelgood,” “Girls, Girls, Girls,” and “Same Ol’ Situation.”