7 Things You Didn’t Know About Mick Mars’ Debut Album
The legendary guitarist Mick Mars, known for his work with Mötley Crüe, has ventured into a new chapter oh his career with the releasing of the debut solo album, “The Other Side of Mars.” Here are 7 interesting facts and things you probably didn’t know about this release!
1.Title and Inspiration
Mick Mars chose the title “The Other Side of Mars” for his first solo record, signifying a departure from his work with Mötley Crüe and showcasing a different side of his musical artistry.
2.Return of a Legendary Producer
The album marks a reunion with renowned producer Michael Wagner, known for his work with Mötley Crüe since their early days. Mars and Wagner’s collaboration brings a sense of continuity and expertise to the project, enhancing its sonic quality.
3.Instrumentation
The album represents a significant evolution in Mick Mars’ musical style, offering a diverse range of songs that highlight his versatility as an artist Mars experimented with new sounds on this album, including the use of a seven-string guitar for the first time, adding a fresh dimension to his music.
4.Collaborations
The album features two vocalists, Jacob Bunton (Neon Coven) and Brion Gamboa, who complement Mars’ guitar work with their distinctive voices, enhancing the overall sound of the record. Gamboa lent his voice to the songs “Undone” and “Killing Breed”, while Jacob Bunton sang on the resto of the album. Paul Taylor from Winger, who resides near Mick in Nashville, co-wrote and performed some songs on the album. Ray Luzier from Korn played drums on the record.
5.Influences From Film
One of the tracks on the album, “L.A. Noir,” was inspired by old ’30s and ’40s B-movies about detectives, showcasing Mars’ diverse influences and songwriting creativity. Mars came up with the main lick 30 years ago, and never really had a chance to do anything with it until now. The song features distorted jazz chords that are reminiscent of Jeff Beck’s style.
6.Long Avaited Solo Debut
Mars reveals that his latest album’s creation began around 2016, following Mötley Crüe’s final tour. He shares that some songs evolved over time, with delays in the process allowing for improvements, indicating a meticulous approach to his music.
7.The Ocult
Song “Loyal To The Lie” was inspired by his observations of cults throughout history, including notorious figures like Jim Jones, David Koresh, and Charles Manson. Mick expresses bewilderment at the followers’ blind devotion and willingness to surrender everything to a single authority figure. The song serves as a commentary on the dangers of cult mentality and the allure of false promises, drawing from Mick’s own experiences and perceptions.
Our review of the record
The long-awaited solo debut is finally out. Was it worth waiting all this time? Well, it really depends on what you expected from the legendary black-haired guitarist. If you were hoping for that Mötley bluesy, raw, and dirty magic of Mick’s, then you are in the wrong place, really. Except for the last song, “LA Noir,” which is actually an instrumental, that side of Mars is nowhere to be heard. This is a modern rock album full of heavy riffs. Although the execution of the songs, both vocally and musically, is top-notch, everything sounds somehow generic and unimpressive. Maybe if he had released this album 8 years ago, the impact would have been bigger, but now in this day and age, well, it somehow isn’t. It’s good for Mick to have the golden will to continue releasing new music after “retiring” from Mötley Crüe, but we would really love to hear more of pure Mick Mars than this generic, anything-but-metal stuff.
Key songs: Loyal To The Lie, LA Noir, Killing Breed, Ain’t Going Back
Rating: 6,5 / 10
If you are a vinyl lover you can grab you copy here.
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