Mick Mars, guitarist and founding member of the mega-successful Mötley Crüe, has announced he's quitting the band's touring after battling a painful spinal condition for years.
Mick - real name Robert Alan Deal - has suffered with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) since he was 17 years old, and over the years the condition has significantly impaired his movement and caused him agonising pain.
Mick has made the difficult decision to step back from the limelight due to his AS.
So what is the spinal condition Mick suffers from and are there any early warnings to spot?
What is ankylosing spondylitis?
AS is a long-term condition affecting a person’s spine and other areas of the body, which become inflamed.
It is a type of arthritis mainly affecting the back, but can also be present in the rib cage and neck, causing stiffness and pain.
“AS tends to first develop in teenagers and young adults,” explains the NHS.
“It's also around two times more common in men than in women.
“In some people the condition gets better with time, but for others it can get slowly worse.”
Symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis
- Lower back pain and stiffness
- Hip pain
- Joint pain
- Neck pain
- Difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite and unexplained weight loss
- Abdominal pain and diarrhoea
- Skin rash
- Vision problems.
According to health experts, AS warning signs develop slowly, over several months or even years.
These early symptoms often come and go, with the condition occasionally improving on its own over time.
Hence, many people often miss these early indications and are unaware they are even suffering with AS.
The early symptoms usually develop between the ages of 20 and 30 years.
Earlier this week, the musician issued a statement confirming his sad decision.
“Mick Mars, co-founder and lead guitarist of the heavy metal band Mötley Crüe for the past 41 years, has announced today that due to his ongoing painful struggle with AS, he will no longer be able to tour with the band.
“Mick will continue as a member of the band, but can no longer handle the rigors of the road.
“AS is an extremely painful and crippling degenerative disease, which affects the spine.”
"While change is never easy, we accept Mick's decision to retire from the band due to the challenges with his health,” read the official statement for Mick’s retirement by the band.
It added: “We have watched Mick manage his Ankylosing Spondylitis for decades and he has always managed it with utmost courage and grace.
“To say ‘enough is enough’ is the ultimate act of courage.”
His colleagues paid tribute to Mick's talent, saying he was instrumental to the band and helped “define Mötley Crüe from the minute he plugged in his guitar at our very first rehearsal together".
“We will carry out Mick's wish and continue to tour the world as planned in 2023," they added.
“No doubt will it take an absolutely outstanding musician to fill Mick's shoes so we are grateful that our good friend, John 5 has agreed to come on board and join us moving forward.”
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