Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee calls Mick Mars' departure painful

Tommy Lee, the drummer of Mötley Crüe, said the band’s recent legal dispute over guitarist Mick Mars’ exit is “very painful.” In an interview on the podcast The Magnificent Others, hosted by Billy Corgan, Lee expressed empathy for Mars, noting the guitarist’s long‑standing battle with ankylosing spondylitis. Lee said the situation feels “strange and very painful,” and that he still has love for his former bandmate despite the ongoing litigation.

The comments come amid a public court fight between the band and Mars, who left the group after health issues and a disagreement over his role and compensation.