As they often insist on reminding us, it is a hard life being a rock star.

The demands of the music business, coupled with constant

touring, difficulties in forming lasting relationships and struggles with alcoholism, drug abuse and infidelity push many
musicians to breaking point. But there are others who have more to face than most, being forced to overcome health issues and
personal tragedies to remain at the top of their game. Poison frontman Bret Michaels has spent his entire career coping with
diabetes and Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen lost an arm in a car crash but continued to perform, while Mtley Cre guitarist
Mick Mars has dealt with the pain and discomfort of ankylosing spondylitis. A type of arthritis that causes inflammation and
fusion of the spine, resulting in chronic pain and immobility, AS, as it is sometimes referred to, drastically alters the life of the
sufferer, often forcing them to retire from their chosen profession to instead focus on physiotherapy and rest.
Mars was born on 4 May 1951 in Terre Haute, a city on the western border of Indiana. When he was six years old Robert Alan
Deal was given a guitar as a Christmas present from his parents and less than a decade later he was performing Beatles songs
with a local band called The Jades. But by the end of his teens Deal had begun to suffer severe pains, something that would
continue to plague him throughout his life. As he recalled in The Dirt; I first noticed it when I was nineteen. My hips started
hurting so bad every time I turned my body that it felt like someone was igniting fireworks in my bones. I didnt have enough
money to see a doctor, so I just kept hoping that I could do what I usually do: will it away, through the power of my mind. But it
kept getting worse
Then, one afternoon while doing my laundry, I started having trouble breathing. At first, it felt like someone had plunged a knife
into my back. But as the weeks passed, the pain kept moving around my back. Next, my stomach started burning, and I worried
that my whole body was about to fall apart. I thought that there was a hole in my stomach, and acids were leaking out and
destroying my bones and organs. Id grab hold of doorknobs, anchor my legs into the ground, and pull with my hands to stretch
my back and ease the pressure out.
As his passion for guitar playing grew he eventually adopted the stage name Mick Mars, relocating to Los Angeles to pursue a
career in music. Forming White Horse in the mid-1970s, Mars soon became frustrated that the band only wanted to perform cover
songs, while he wanted to write original material. This decision would result in him being fired. Mars placed an advert in a
newspaper called The Recycler, in which he described himself as a loud, rude and aggressive guitarist. Among the hopefuls to
respond was a bass player seven-and-a-half years his junior called Nikki Sixx, who had enjoyed minor success on the Hollywood
scene with both Sister and London.
Sixx had decided to start a band with his drummer friend, Tommy Lee, and Mars was invited to audition, in which they
performed several songs that Sixx had written. After recruiting Vince Neil, the singer from another act from the L.A. music scene
known as Rockandi, Mtley Cre was born. One of the most successful of the so-called hair metal groups of the 1980s, Mtley
Cres debut album Too Fast for Love was released independently through their own label, Leathr Records, before later being
re-released by Elektra Records once the band were signed.
Like many of the other groups who performed regularly around Hollywood, Mtley Cre soon gained a reputation for their
excessive drug use. Sixx and Neil would become the most notorious, while the death of Hanoi Rocks drummer Razzle due to Neil
driving under the influence cast a darkness over the endless partying the group had enjoyed up to that point. Neil faced prison, the
passengers of another vehicle were hospitalised and Hanoi Rocks would split following the tragedy. Being several years older
than his bandmates and suffering from a painful illness, Mars seemed less destructive and avoided some of the more
embarrassing incidents, although this was not always the case.
As Neil revealed in his autobiography Tattoos and Tequila, while Mtley Cre were touring Japan a particularly excessive
evening brought an intoxicated Mars to the attention of the Roppongi authorities; Leaving the club wearing a Godzilla mask,
Mick terrorized people in the street. Reportedly with his pants around his ankles, he was apprehended by police as he was
urinating along the side of the road.
But for the most part Mars was known as the quiet one from Mtley Cre, often remaining silent in the background as the other
three caused mischief and mayhem around him. But the more successful we became, the harder it was to enjoy the rewards,
Mars continued. New ankylosing spondylitis symptoms kept appearing: Something called iritis set in, producing bolts of pain
in my eyes whenever I looked into bright lights, like I did onstage every night. And my lower spine seized up and froze
completely solid, causing scoliosis in my back and squashing me further down and forward until I was a full three inches shorter
than I was in high school. Thats why I never take off my platform boots. I dont want to be a pygmy.
Despite his symptoms worsening, Mtley Cres success would continue throughout the remainder of the decade, culminating
with their 1989 hit album Dr. Feelgood. By this point the band had become newly sober, following Sixxs near-death experience
and the gruelling experience of recording their last album, 1987s Girls, Girls, Girls. But, like many of the groups to emerge from

the Hollywood scene, the new decade brought changes in the music industry and Mtley Cre were forced to adapt or risk
becoming irrelevant.
Following the departure of Neil, they released a self-titled album with a new singer called John Corabi, although his time would
be short-lived and was soon replaced once again by Neil. Further complications would result in Lee quitting the band in 1999
prior to the recording of their eighth studio album, 2000s critically panned New Tattoo. Sixx then formed a new project called
Brides of Destruction with Tracii Guns of L.A. Guns but after releasing only one album, 2004s Here Come the Brides, he
decided it was time to bring together the original Mtley Cre line-up for the first time in almost a decade.
I had done a side project or two and when it came time to resurrect the Mtley machine, Mick was nowhere to be found,
explained Sixx in his book This is Gonna Hurt. Its always been Mars riffs meets my pop and lyric sensibility that was the core
to the songs in the Cre. Now he wouldnt answer his phone or the countless notes I left at the security gate at his private estate. I
was not only worried about writing music without a partner, but I had that gut-wrenching feeling that something was wrong
What I saw haunts me to this day. A frail man of eighty, maybe ninety pounds, shaved head, gray skin, with a beard to his chest.
He was dying, addicted to painkillers, brought on by a disease called ankylosing spondylitis.
I immediately got on the phone with our manager, Allen, and started a mission to save Micks life, Sixx added. First thing was
the crazy girlfriend. She had to go. Not only was she feeding him pills by the bucketload, she was spending his cash faster than
anyone could imagine So Mick Mars was living in my guest room, kicking prescription meds, girlfriendless. It didnt look like
a Mtley album was going to happen any time in the near future for sure. After we had settled into a routine came the doctors,
one after another day after day until finally Allen found the doctor who got Mick sorted out.
In an article published by MTV regarding Mars operation surgeon Dr. Brad Penenberg explained, The surgery went extremely
well. I expect him to be walking with the help of a physical therapist as early as Wednesday morning. Due to Sixxs intervention
Mars was able to make a significant recovery and Mtley Cre prepared to make its long-awaited comeback, commencing in
early 2005 with a new retrospective entitled Red, White & Cre. Gathering together material from almost twenty-five years, the
album featured two new studio tracks, If I Die Tomorrow and Sick Love Song.
The band were soon on the road once again, although due to his recent health issues Mars found the touring quite difficult. In a
2008 interview with Yahoos Associated Content Mars looked back on his comeback tour, I guess the last tour that I did was
kind of messed up from a lot of things. AS (ankylosing spondylitis), of course, which, without getting into too much detail or
dragging it on, led to drug abuse, prescription quick-fix drugs, which was crappy, and made me worse, and then there was the
hip-replacement.
The same year he explained to Metal Sludge, I kept getting worse and worse, and I just stopped playing guitar for almost two
years. Nowadays, its not so bad, but back then when I was high on all that stuff and Mtley were having a break, I knew if I
didnt stop I was gonna die. In the end, I have to go to a neuro-psychiatrist to straighten me up and he said to me Just hold the
guitar for an hour a day dont play it, just hold it It was pretty bizarre but I got through it, and in the end I think Im actually
a better player because of it.
In 2008 Mtley Cre released Saints of Los Angeles, their first studio album in eight years and, following over a decade of
struggling to regain their former glory, produced a record that rivalled their earlier classic Shout at the Devil. Although at present
there is no known cure for ankylosing spondylitis, Mars has learned to cope with the illness and continues to perform music, most
recently on a sell-out tour featuring Mtley Cre, Poison and the New York Dolls. It still hurts. It still grinds now and then, but
like I said, music is my whole passion. Its what I do. Its what I live for. I guess it keeps me alive, he revealed in a recent
interview with The Times Leader. Im just happy to be here, to be able to make people happy, to make people smile and give
them what I feel inside from my music.
gail January 7, 2012 at 1:58 pm I have never been a big Motley Crue fan but living with this disease myself. Mick Mars has become one of my heros because I
know what agony he is going through getting up on stage and playing!!
Please, if you are healthy dont take it for granted.
I am happy that he is able to live his passion but I also know he pays dearly for it.
Keep rockin Mick!!! You are an inspiration!


steven gilbertson January 9, 2012 at 4:19 am NO beleave me or not no one eles has but if u do the reseach u find that every thig that i an abiut to tell is the abulute thruf My
soon to be wife Stormy Deal Is Mick mars daughter his real name is robert allen deal and he has what is called tin man desease
which is slowing killig him now in seem to pass and stormy has been decared diabled i don/t no if it is guilt of whet==at ever but
somethigs got to chage And all we realley is to get poper medical treatment I will find a way to mack every to com to geathe call
me at 7602516320 so he dose all this and cant even help his own kid

Kelly lapp January 25, 2012 at 5:53 am I have been a motley crue fan for over twenty years and had a chance to see them in concert in prince george b.c. I never knew
mick suffered from a.s. but when he came out on stage me and all my friends noticed mick was bent over just like me. I suffer
from a.s. and have allways been insecure about my posture seeing mick and doing research on how mick has dealt with living
with a.s. has been a big insperation to me. Thank you mick, keep on rockin Kelly lapp

Stormy Deal March 11, 2012 at 6:24 am Daddy i so sorry for ehat you have gone through.. I wish i couldve been there.. I knew something was wrong when you stopped
taking my phone calls.. even through I have A.s. too Im your lil gurl and I will always be there for you.. I feel abit guilty about
my compliants but i scared too.. for you and myself.. I had know Idea how Nikki found you.. I love you.. with everything I
have.. your loving daughter S.D

Gregg Masi March 15, 2012 at 9:18 pm Hey Robert,

One of my best friends, who I feel is my younger brother suffers from the same disease as youKeith Savage. He is a young
Dude with 3 kids, a beautiful wife and a future of pain.please reach out to him on Facebook or by email,
keithsavage.9@gmail.comHe can use the support.Thank you

Kelly lapp March 25, 2012 at 4:24 am Stormy ur dad is a insparation to everyone who has this awfull disease. I hope u can patch up ur differences life is to short. I have
done lots of reaearch on A.S. if u ever need any info feel free to email me. Hope to here from u soon take care.


Marcia Tucker June 25, 2012 at 9:06 pm Stormy Deal I had you a few weekend when you were just a baby.I am Eriks mother you know the brother you call a basterd. It
may serve you better if you just suck it up. Mick doesnt have children when he has a girlfriend. So till that changes you are
fighting a losing battle. Now try to be nice or you may get a hump like your daddy. god bless

ty August 14, 2012 at 10:55 pm I loved the Crue many years back. when they hit their mega successful times, i looked to other bands, louder, faster onesAnyways- i was at the Namm show a few years ago and watched Mick stand at a podium for hours, greeting a mile long line of
fans. Having two surgeries on my L4 L5 from a motorcycle accident years ago, I can relate, a little. It blew me away how much
time he took with his fans- moving slow and obviously in a lot of pain. I did not see him at the last show, hope he is alright, and
knows that they are making great advances almost daily in treating the most chronic of back problems.

vivian garcia February 8, 2013 at 6:44 pm crue fan til the endAlways hoping that Mick feels great,and I am thankful that every show I have attended, its with all original
members.rock on!!

debrakinsky February 1, 2014 at 8:54 am Not a Motley Crue fan, but definitely inspired by what this man has to go through. Not too cool to wish the hump on anybody
or to describe it like a curse. Its a sign of suffering. This guy obviously doesnt want anybodys pity and doesnt seek it out; he
just cant hide what he has. Be real careful I wasnt too understanding of people who were sick or weak when I was younger
and guess what happened to me Im learning the hard way what it really means now that its happened to me.

Missy March 13, 2014 at 9:10 pm Its good to know there are successful people out there dealing with the same thing im feeling with for a few years now. Im
almost 40 & this has been slowly coming on for about ten years nowim glad there is hope for going thru this without opiates,
because of course thats the first thing doctors wanna give you. Thank you for the article and the insight.

Scott April 2, 2014 at 3:18 am It is inspiring to read the above mentioned responses, as it provides a sense of inclusiveness as related to AS. Along with AS, I
also suffer from Crohns Disease. I have had both hips replaced and 4 operations on my bowels, repairing numerous perforations.
I empathize with all those suffering from this nasty shit. I have to hand it to Mars, he is an awesome lead and to do what he does
under such painful conditions, is certainly admirable. Rock on Mick and long live the Crue, Bitches!!!!
Signs and symptoms

Illustration depicting Ankylosing Spondylitis.

Symptoms appear gradually, most commonly between 15 and 45 years of age. [1]
Sacroiliitis is usually one of the earliest manifestation of AS. The initial symptom is usually a typical chronic dull pain,
insidious in onset, felt deep in the lower lumbar or gluteal region, accompanied by low-back morning stiffness. It can
occur in in the middle part of the spine or the entire spine, often with pain referred to one or the other buttock or the
back of the thigh from the sacroiliac joint.
Pain is often severe at rest, but improves with physical activity. However, many experience inflammation and pain to
varying degrees regardless of rest and movement.
Enthesopathy: Ankylosing spondylitis is one of a cluster of conditions known as seronegative spondyloarthropathies, in
which rheumatoid factor tests are negative and the characteristic pathological lesion is an inflammation of the enthesis
(the insertion of tensile connective tissue into bone).
Since the initial signs and symptoms are not specific for ankylosing spondylitis, there is a lag-time between onset of
disease and diagnosis, which averages between 8.5 years and 11.4 years.[3]
Arthritis in the hips and shoulders may occur.
The most common extraarticular manifestation is acute anterior uveitis which can antedate the spondylitis. About 40
percent of AS patients experience inflammation in the anterior chamber of the eye (uveitis), causing redness, eye pain,
floaters and photophobia. Visual acuity is usually maintained and the fundus is normal. This is thought to be due to the
association that both AS and uveitis have with the inheritance of the HLA-B27 antigen.
Loss of spinal mobility, with limitation of anterior flexion, lateral flexion, and extension of the lumbar spine, is seen.
The Schober test: It is a useful measure of forward flexion of the lumbar spine. It is reduced in AS.
Pulmonary involvement, is characterized by slowly progressive apical lung fibrosis. There is limitation of chest
expansion. Recurrent chest infection is the most common cause of death.
Aortitis, aortic valve insufficiency or cardiac conduction disturbances.
Prostatitis occurs with increased frequency in men.
The most serious complication of the spinal disease is spinal fracture, which can occur with even minor trauma to the
rigid, osteoporotic spine.

Mortality attributable to AS is largely the result of spinal trauma, aortic insufficiency, respiratory failure, amyloid
nephropathy, or complications of therapy such as upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage.
Other common symptoms of AS include: chest pain and generalized fatigue. Less commonly ectasia of the sacral nerve
root sheaths may occur.
When the condition presents before the age of 18, it is relatively likely to cause pain and swelling of large limb joints,
particularly the knee. In prepubescent cases, pain and swelling may also manifest in the ankles and feet, where
calcaneal spurs may also develop.