Lead guitarist Mick Mars (71) is leaving the British hard rock band Mötley Crüe for health reasons. The group said in a statement on Friday. "Although change is never easy, we accept Mick's decision to retire from the band due to his health problems," his colleagues Vince Neil (61), Tommy Lee (60) and Nikki Sixx (63) are quoted as saying. "We've watched Mick for decades as he deals with his Bechterew's disease and he's always done it with a lot of courage and grace," the musicians said.

"Saying 'enough is enough' is the ultimate act of courage. Mick's sound helped define Mötley Crüe from the minute he plugged in his guitar at our very first rehearsal together. The rest is, how to say says history. We will continue to honor his musical legacy."

In the search for a successor to Mick Mars, Neil, Lee and Sixx have already found what they are looking for and want to go straight back onto the stage. "We will fulfill Mick's wish and continue the world tour as planned in 2023. Without a doubt it will take an absolutely outstanding musician to follow in Mick's footsteps and we are grateful that our good friend John 5 has agreed to come on board and join us," they announced.

Mars' successor John 5 (52) has some experience as a guitarist from various projects. From 1998 to 2004 he played for the US rock band Marilyn Manson, and since 2012 he has been a regular guitarist for US rocker Rob Zombie (57). "I'm honored to continue Mick's legacy and look forward to playing these songs," John 5 is quoted as saying in the Motley Crüe statement.

The question remains whether Mars is really turning his back on the band permanently. The US industry magazine "Variety" quoted a statement from a Mars representative on Thursday: "Mick will continue to be a member of the band, but can no longer cope with the rigors of the tour. Ankylosing spondylitis is an extremely painful and debilitating degenerative disease that affects the spine." It remains to be seen whether his membership will then be and remain of a purely formal nature.