Guitarist Mick Mars’ long-discussed solo album is lastly completed. The Different Aspect of Mars is crushing trendy steel with gothic touches, violins and violas, prog-like soundscapes, and extra. In the event you’re anticipating a carbon copy of Mötley Crüe, you’re in for a shock.

The album options the core of keyboardist Paul Taylor (Winger, Alice Cooper), drummer Ray Luzier (Korn), bassist Chris Collier, and vocalists Jacob Bunton and Brion Gamboa.

How did this album lastly come collectively?
Proper after the ultimate (Mötley Crüe) tour, I began writing new varieties of fabric in comparison with what I’d completed previous to that. I went, “Nope, too dated. Nope, too previous.” I needed to hold writing and keep present to me. I reinvented my mind-set and enjoying.

Once I was with Mötley, I wrote Mötley Crüe songs, however I had quite a lot of different stuff in my thoughts that was extra me. I began rewriting earlier than The Stadium Tour, and after that, I completed what was left. I had these items rolling round in my thoughts for fairly some time. I’d hear again a few of this earlier stuff that I did, once we did the ultimate tour and I began writing, after which once we went again out after The Filth film and I listened to these songs, I went, “That’s not what I’m listening to anymore.” I simply moved on and stored writing and redoing stuff.

Is it contemporary materials or does a few of it return?
All of it’s fairly contemporary.

You labored with well-known and unknown musicians. You can have used all-star mates.
I felt actually strongly concerning the steps I took to do that. I didn’t need an all-star group. Once I was buying this music, lots of people had been going, “The brand new trendy approach is to get a cool singer that’s a giant identify.” Please don’t take this as an ego factor, however I’m going, “I’m already a giant identify. I don’t want that. I want to have some contemporary expertise.” I needed totally different flavors and a complete totally different approach of being me.

Speak a bit concerning the first single, “Loyal to the Lie.”
That’s a heavy, in-your-face, modern-sounding tune, not the ’80s once more. I feel individuals anticipated me to do blues or an ’80s-sounding factor, and I didn’t wish to try this.

“Undone” has a easy guitar riff and piano and string elements performed on a synth.
I’m very pleased with the way in which that tune turned out. It’s the type of factor I actually like – not simply, “Right here I’m wailing away on a solo.” It’s not mellow – it’s aggressive – however 100,000 notes don’t should be performed to get your level throughout.

I’m going to be sincere with you. I feel guitar solos are getting previous. It’s been completed for years, and if it wasn’t a guitar solo it could be a saxophone, piano, or drum solo. I’m not making an attempt to weed out all guitar solos, as a result of individuals love to listen to them. However, to me, it’s just a little redundant; right here comes the verse, right here comes the refrain, right here comes the guitar solo. I’m making an attempt to rethink the way in which I write songs. I don’t really feel you want a guitar solo. Generally it appears like an interruption.

The instrumental “LA Noir” is nice enjoyable.
I wrote that a very long time in the past and rediscovered it. I checked out previous black-and-white sleuth motion pictures, with the non-public eye. They all the time had that music that was type of sleazy, performed on trumpets and trombones. For the lick, I used to be pondering, “What would a saxophone do?” However I can’t play these devices, so I made all of it guitar (laughs)! It’s actually slinky and free.

Which guitars did you play on this album?
My regular guitar, the white [’96 Custom Shop Stratocaster] I exploit onstage, by way of my common setup. I name her Isabella. On “Undone,” I used an Ibanez seven-string that Steve Vai gave to me a few years in the past.

Have you considered reside performances, equivalent to a residency?
I don’t give a s**t about cash, but when the demand for a residency was there, I’d in all probability try this. Additionally, I’d in all probability must Youtube it so the individuals who couldn’t make it might nonetheless see it. The grueling a part of touring is approach up to now for me.

This text initially appeared in VG’s March 2024 difficulty. All copyrights are by the creator and Classic Guitar journal. Unauthorized replication or use is strictly prohibited.