MTLEY CRE's MICK MARS: Music 'Keeps Me Alive'

Rich Howells of TimesLeader.com recently conducted an interview with MTLEY CRE guitarist Mick Mars. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

On how his primary concern was always the music despite the fact that MTLEY CRE's lives of sex, drugs, and rock 'n' rock may have thrust them into the spotlight:

Mick: "I really do focus on music. When I was 3 years old and I decided that I was going to be a musician, a guitar player that's the same way I think today. I don't care what kind of consequences might come or get in my wayThis is what I chose to do and I'm not going to let anybody or anyone or anything mess it up for me. I just love music. That's all I want to do. . . I have to admit that some of the guys like that media attention. I don't. I'm about the music. I skip the (expletive)."

On how he thought at least one member of the band "would be dead by now":

Mick: "I think I would say that we're probably a bit more educated after a couple of overdoses. You know what I mean? It's like, 'Oh, I don't want to do that again.' I think everybody goes through that, really."

On how MTLEY CRE has gained respect and its own place in the music industry:

Mick: "Our fans grew up and took over It's pretty funny, you have to admit. I think that any new band that comes out gets rejected unless you're very, very poppy and commercial. Anything new and different or whatever you want to call it has to get respect. You have to earn it, I guess, paying your dues, he explained.

"Notice every time a new band comes out it's 'the devil's music.' Imagine if there was no change and we were still playing 'Hound Dog' by BIG MAMA THORNTON or Elvis. I guess that people are accustomed to gradual change, but radical change? No."

On his battle with ankylosing spondylitis, a chronic form of arthritis that causes inflammation of his spine and pelvis:

Mick: "It still hurts. It still grinds now and then, but like I said, music is my whole passion. It's what I do. It's what I live for. I guess it keeps me alive.

"I'm just happy to be here, to be able to make people happy, to make people smile and give them what I feel inside from my music I hope you like this, and if you don't, oh well."

On his musical aspirations:

Mick: "I think MTLEY was a giant stepping stone for me. I'm far from being over. I am going to do a solo album, but I am also going to make sure that it's the right people that I want to play with. A lot of people will look at this record that I want to do and go, 'I didn't know Mick could do that.' If it doesn't come off that way, I won't do it."

On MTLEY CRE's current tour:

Mick: "This is probably one of the biggest and best shows we've done since quite a long time. Even with 'Red, White, & Cre' and 'Carnival of Sins', this is even better than that."

Read the entire interview from TimesLeader.com.