Mick Mars thinks Vince Neil fit Mötley Crüe well because he was ‘sexy.’
In a new interview with Classic Rock, the former Mötley Crüe guitarist was asked about the rumor that he wanted to get rid of their original singer, O’Dean Peterson. He was also asked if he called him a ‘f*cking hippie’ and why he hated hippies. Mars answered:
“With O’Dean it was just that I didn’t feel he was right. Not that he sang horribly, he just had a more Roger Daltrey-type voice. I told Tommy and Nikki that I wasn’t sold on O’Dean, and they were stumbling around going: ‘Well, whadda we do?’”
He then explained how they decided to choose Neil as their new singer:
“And I go: ‘That skinny kid that I saw on stage last night in Rock Candy? Did you see those girls? They were going nuts over him. Sex sells.’ And they went: ‘Oh yeah…’ So that’s how we got Vince [Neil]. He fit well.”
Neil Is Struggling As A Singer
Neil faced backlash from fans and online critics about his weight and singing abilities. The criticism peaked after a solo show in 2021 when he had to stop singing mid-song due to voice issues. As a result, Neil had to take a break from performing, but he later announced his comeback with new tour dates.
In 2021, fans voiced their worries online after a performance at the Acura Grand Prix Of Long Beach. Some felt Neil should step back from live shows, and others suggested John Corabi should take the lead as Mötley Crüe’s frontman for the upcoming tour.
Mars commented about these incidents and Neil’s struggles as a singer. He said:
“Well, it is what it is. The road takes a toll on everybody, really. And, it’s kind of like family — people fall out and people come back. And it’s just the way it works. It’s just the way it works.”
You can read the interview here.