Mötley Crüe start rehearsals with new guitarist John 5

A picture of John 5 performing live with Rob Zombie
(Image credit: Photo by Daniel Knighton/Getty Images)

Mötley Crüe have started rehearsals with John 5 – who has taken over live duties from Mick Mars.

The band hit the road next month for a world tour alongside Def Leppard. Mars stepped back from live duties last year, saying his long-term battle with Ankylosing Spondylitis made it impossible for him to continue.

A few days after the announcement, the band released a statement confirming Mars will be replaced by Rob Zombie guitarist John 5.

Now bassist Nikki Sixx has confirmed rehearsals for the shows are under way, saying on social media: "42 years and I still get excited about the first day of band rehearsal. Here we go."

John 5 replied with a comment of his own, saying:  "I'm more excited can't wait buddy".

Meanwhile, Crüe vocalist Vince Neil has revealed he's recovering from Covid-19 and that he's ready to "conquer the world".

Motley Crue and Def Leppard: The World Tour 2023

Feb 10: Atlantic City, NJ Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena, US
Feb 11: Atlantic City, NJ Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena, US
Feb 18: Mexico City Foro Sol, MEX
Feb 21: Monterrey Estadio Banorte, MEX
Feb 25: Bogota Parque Simon Bolivar, COL
Feb 28: Lima Estadio Nacional, PER
Mar 03: Santiago Estadio Bicentenario de La Florida, CHI
Mar 07: Sao Paulo Allianz Parque, BRA
Mar 09: Curitiba Estádio Couto Pereira, BRA
Mar 11: Porto Alegre Arena do Grêmio, BRA
May 22: Sheffield Bramall Lane, UK
May 25: Mönchengladbach Sparkassen Park, GER
May 27: Munich Koenigsplatz, GER
May 29: Budapest MVM Dome, HUN
May 31: Krakow TAURON Arena Kraków, POL
Jun 02: Prague Rocks, CZE
Jun 03: Hannover Expo Plaza, GER
Jun 07: Solvesborg, Sweden Rock Festival, SWE
Jun 09: Helsinki RockFest, FIN
Jun 11: Trondheim Rocks, NOR
Jun 14: Copenhagen Copenhell, DEN
Jun 18: Dessel Graspop Metal Meeting, BEL
Jun 20: Milan Ippodromo SNAI San Siro, ITA
Jun 23: Lisbon Passeio Maritimo de Alges, POR
Jun 24: Rivas-Vaciamadrid Auditorio Miguel Ríos, SPA
Jun 27: Thun Stockhorn Arena, SWI
Jul 01: London Wembley Stadium, UK
Jul 02: Lytham Festival, UK
Jul 04: Dublin Marlay Park, Ireland
Jul 06: Glasgow Hampden Park, UK
Aug 05: Syracuse JMA Wireless Dome, NY
Aug 08: Columbus Ohio Stadium, OH
Aug 11: Fargo Fargodome, ND
Aug 13: Omaha Charles Schwab Field Omaha, NE
Aug 16: Tulsa H.A. Chapman Stadium, OK
Aug 18: El Paso Sun Bowl Stadium, TX

Stef wrote close to 5,000 stories during his time as assistant online news editor and later as online news editor between 2014-2016. An accomplished reporter and journalist, Stef has written extensively for a number of UK newspapers and also played bass with UK rock favourites Logan. His favourite bands are Pixies and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. Stef left the world of rock'n'roll news behind when he moved to his beloved Canada in 2016, but he started on his next 5000 stories in 2022.