Motley Crue working on new material with producer Bob Rock

Nikki Sixx and John 5 performing live with Motley Crue
(Image credit: Photo by JUAN PABLO PINO/AFP via Getty Images)

Nikki Sixx has revealed Motley Crue are working on new material with legendary producer Bob Rock.

And the bassist says John 5 will record guitar on the new songs, putting to bed any question over whether Mick Mars will work with them again.

Sixx says: "I’m sure you all know how important lyrics are to me.This new set feels more personal since we haven’t recorded anything new in a while.The studio is a highly creative space and with us recording I thought I’d try to get a creative head start on some of these for Vince.

"I got one done and gonna try to wrap up the next one and show it to the guys. Bob Rock is pushing us hard and bringing out the best in us. Tommy is playing his ass off. Jesus, these drums sound huge.

"Probably lay down my final bass tracks in the next few days. John is so fast I’m sure he will get all the songs done in just a few days. But then again Bob Rock loves those huge walls of guitars so it could take a moment."

Mick Mars stepped back from touring duties last year due to his ongoing battle with Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS). He was replaced in the live lineup by John 5, but it looked like he would continue to be a member and work with the band in the studio and on select live dates.

Since then, the relationship has soured seemingly beyond repair. Mars and Crue are suing each other, with Mars claiming he was forced out and was being gaslit by Sixx.

He also made a number of other explosive claims, including that Sixx, singer Vince Neil and drummer Tommy Lee all used pre-recorded backing tracks during their recent run of shows with Mars.

On when fans can expect to hear the new Motley Crue tracks, Sixx adds: "When will it come out? Not sure. We haven’t thought that far down the line. Just letting the music guide us."

Responding to Sixx's social media post, John 5 adds: "What you have written so far completely blows my mind .Really amazing work, buddy."

Motley Crue resume their world tour with Def Leppard in May.

Def Leppard and Motley Crue 2023 tour

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.