Last Updated on February 24, 2024
Robert Alan Deal, better known by his stage name Mick Mars, is an American singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist.
Mick Mars is probably most noted for being a co-founder and former lead guitarist of the heavy metal band Mötley Crüe. Along with bandmates Tommy Lee, Vince Neil, and Nikki Sixx, Mars has contributed to making Mötley Crüe one of the world’s most successful male bands of all time.
Quick Facts
Full Name: | Robert Alan Deal |
Popular Name: | Mick Mars |
Gender: | Male |
Birth Date: | May 4, 1951 |
Age: | 71 years |
Parents: | Frank Deal and Tina Deal |
Siblings: | Frank Deal Jr. (brother), Timothy “Tim” Deal (brother), and Susan “Susie” Deal (sister) |
Birth Place: | Terre Haute, Indiana, United States |
Nationality: | American |
Ethnicity: | Caucasian |
Education: | Westminster High School |
Marital Status: | Married to Swiss model Seraina Schönenberger (since 2013); was previously married to Sharon Deal (from 1970 until their divorce in 1973) and singer Emi Canyn (from 1990 until their divorce in 1994) |
Sexual Orientation: | Straight |
Wife/Spouse: | Seraina Schönenberger |
Children: | 2 with his ex-wife Sharon (Stormy Deal and Les Paul Deal) and 1 with an unknown woman (Erik Deal) |
Dating: | N/A |
Net Worth: | USD 70 million |
Source of Wealth: | Singing, Songwriting, Music Composing, and Other Ventures |
Height: | 5′ 9″ (1.75 m) |
Weight: | 72 kg; In pounds: 159 lbs. |
Early Life and Career Information
Early Life
Robert Alan Deal was born on May 4, 1951, in Terre Haute, Indiana, United States, to Frank Deal and Tina Deal. His father was a Baptist minister whereas his mother was a homemaker.
Deal attended Westminster High School. However, he dropped out of high school in the early-’70s to pursue his musical ambitions.
Career Information
Robert Deal’s musical ambitions did not take off immediately after dropping out of high school. In fact, his next decade was one filled with frustrations as he unsuccessfully auditioned for bands. It’s then that he decided to reinvent himself by dying his hair jet black and changing his professional name from Robert Alan Deal to Mick Mars.
After changing his name and looks, Mick Mars began responding to newspaper ads looking for musicians. Tommy Lee and Nikki Sixx, who were in the process of putting up the Mötley Crüe band, contacted Mars and subsequently hired him after a successful audition.
Mötley Crüe, through Mick Mars’ contribution, released its debut studio album in November 1981, titled ‘Too Fast for Love.’ The album was initially released through Mötley Crüe’s record label Leathür Records but later re-released when the band signed with Elektra Records.
In 1983, Mötley Crüe released their second studio album, ‘Shout at the Devil.’ The band would later release three more studio albums during the ’80s, namely Theatre of Pain (1985), Girls, Girls, Girls (1987), and Dr. Feelgood (1989).
In 1994, Mötley Crüe released their sixth album that was named after the band. The group later followed with the 1997 album ‘Generation Swine.’
In 2000, Mick Mars and his fellow Mötley Crüe members released their eighth album, ‘New Tattoo.’ The group’s ninth and final album to date, titled ‘Saints of Los Angeles,’ was released in 2008.
Other Ventures
Mick Mars has also pursued a solo music career. In 2015, it was announced that Mars was working on a solo studio album along with former short-lived Mötley Crüe member John Corabi.
Mars has also written songs for many artists and bands. Examples include John LeCompt, various Machina band members, and members of the Swedish band Crashdïet.
Mick Mars’ Net Worth
As at 2023, Mick Mars had a net worth of $70 million. That’s enough to make him one of the two richest Mötley Crüe members.
For comparison, Tommy Lee also has a net worth of $70 million. Vince Neil comes second with $50 million while Nikki Sixx is currently the ‘poorest’ Mötley Crüe member with a staggering net worth of $45 million.
Like his other Mötley Crüe bandmates, a huge chunk of Mars’ net worth came from his involvement with the band. Mötley Crüe has sold more than 100 million albums worldwide. The band’s albums have also earned seven platinum or multi-platinum certifications while all their nine albums have charted on the Top 10 position on the Billboard 200.
Lessons from Mick Mars
1. Reinvent yourself
Success in the entertainment industry sometimes consists in one’s ability to reinvent themselves. It appears that Mick Mars understood this invaluable tip. That explains why he opted to change his stage name and appearance with the hope of having a fresh start, a decision that ultimately paid off.
2. There’s no substitute for hard work
Mars has put in the work to make Mötley Crüe the successful brand is it today. That’s despite battling ankylosing spondylitis for years.
3. Know when to exit the stage
As a member of a team or organization, it’s always recommended to exit the stage when things are still looking up. This is another crucial lesson we can pick from Mars’ decision to retire from Mötley Crüe on October 26, 2022.
Famous Quotes by Mick Mars
• Get as rude as possible and don’t let anyone tell you how to live.
• I’m thinking about learning a few new things – like taking classical guitar lessons – and I’d like to bring what I learn into hard rock.
• When I drank, I had a very different attitude towards my playing. It was sloppier but I kind of liked it that way. It was like the alcohol was telling my mind what to do.
Wrap Up
Mick Mars is an American musician who rose to prominence for being a member of Mötley Crüe. Mars has a net worth of $70 million, which makes him along with Tommy Lee the richest Mötley Crüe members.