A recent video has sparked conversation among Mötley Crüe fans, as it suggests that the band’s bassist, Nikki Sixx, has been miming to pre-recorded tracks during live performances.
A Reddit users fuelled the controversy, stating that a video clip of Sixx‘s actual live bass playing, sounding off-key.
The fans alleged that Sixx hasn’t been genuinely playing the bass during recent tours, and his lack of effort to mime properly was apparent even to non-musicians.
The video below is what some fans consider to be one of the last times Nikki actually played bass without help of backing tracks, and it shot in 2005 during Crüe‘s performance at Rock am Ring festival.
This controversy is unfolding amidst guitarist Mick Mars‘s legal battle with the band. Mars has accused the band of reducing his share of earnings from 25% to a mere 5% after he announced his decision to retire from touring. Mars‘s lawsuit claims that the band’s lawyers made him feel like he should be grateful for the minimal portion, even though they had no obligation to provide him with anything.
Additionally, Mars alleges that a secret meeting was held by the band, where they decided to exclude him from Mötley Crüe. Mars has accused Sixx of undermining his guitar skills, even though he claims that Sixx had not played a single note live on their recent tour. Mars also insists that Sixx‘s parts were pre-recorded.