Living with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) sometimes means managing serious pain on the job, and for Mötley Crüe guitarist Mick Mars, this challenge has shaped decades of his career. Even with the physical demands of playing guitar and touring, Mars found ways to keep performing and inspiring others with AS.

Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic inflammatory arthritis primarily affecting the spine and pelvis. Some people with the condition may feel isolated, but it’s important to recognize that you’re not alone with this form of arthritis. Between 0.2 percent and 0.5 percent of the U.S. population is estimated to have ankylosing spondylitis, and Mars’ story proves that even rock stars can face similar challenges.

Early Signs and Diagnosis

Mick Mars was a co-founder and lead guitarist of rock band Mötley Crüe, along with Nikki Sixx, Tommy Lee, and Vince Neil. The heavy metal band’s first album came out in 1981, quickly launching them into fame that required many live performances.

At the time, Mars — whose real name is Robert Alan Deal — had already been experiencing symptoms of AS for years. He first felt sharp pain in his tailbone starting in high school around the age of 14, which later spread throughout his body. AS symptoms often begin in late adolescence or young adulthood, so it’s not uncommon for people like Mars to start experiencing pain in their teens.

“I remember telling a friend that my back was hurting so bad that it felt like I had a hole in my stomach, and stomach acid was burning my insides,” he told Rolling Stone magazine. “I grabbed a hold of a doorknob and said, ‘Pull on me as hard as you can.’ But my back wouldn’t crack, and the pain kept getting worse. My whole body started to bend. It made me look older than I already was.”

Over the years, the pain continued to worsen as Mars toured as a member of the band. “My hips started hurting so bad every time I turned my body that it felt like someone was igniting fireworks in my bones,” he wrote in the band’s biography, “The Dirt.” Without money to see a doctor, he tried to push through the pain, adding, “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.”

Many people with AS experience delays in diagnosis — the average delay can range from three to 11 years — due to the gradual onset of inflammatory back pain and its potential for misdiagnosis. Mars was finally diagnosed with AS at age 27, shortly after the band formed.

Finding Ways To Keep on Rocking

After learning he had AS, Mars learned that the condition’s symptoms typically don’t affect the hands or feet. This meant he could keep playing guitar if he made some changes.

Anyone living with AS knows they often need to adjust how they move or work. Mars adapted by focusing more on his technical guitar skills rather than the jumping and running that other 1980s guitarists did on stage. Low-impact exercise and frequent movement are often recommended to help manage AS symptoms, which worsen with prolonged inactivity. Mars’s choice to stay active likely helped him tour for decades after his diagnosis.

Eventually, however, the symptoms caught up with him. “My spine is now one solid bone,” he shared. “It feels like there’s a 40-pound cinder block tied to my forehead with string at all times, pulling it down.” He also noted that he’s now 3 inches shorter and can’t turn his head.

Today, at age 73, Mars no longer tours, but he manages his condition through swimming and other types of exercises that help people with AS stay mobile without straining their joints. In 2004, he had a hip replacement to help with mobility, a procedure sometimes needed among people with AS when hip joints become significantly damaged over time.

Others who know him have applauded his positive attitude despite living with spondylitis. “We have watched Mick manage his AS for decades, and he has always managed it with utmost courage and grace,” his bandmates said in a public statement following news of his retirement.

Finding Inspiration in Shared Experiences

Seeing someone successful living with AS can provide hope and encouragement. Many fans with AS have found comfort in Mars’ story. One MySpondylitisTeam member shared, “I have seen Mötley Crüe many times, and Mick Mars is my favorite in the band. I was blown away when I found out that he has the same condition as I do. I thought back to the many years he had been able to tour, and I still think he is awesome. I understand how he feels.”

Another member added, “I’m glad I can see that this disease does not discriminate so that my acceptance can be higher and my willingness to persevere like this famous guitar player does can be stronger.”

Mars’ journey shows that while AS presents real challenges, it doesn’t have to stop you from pursuing your passions. His decades-long career as a performer proves that with determination and the right adjustments, people with AS can achieve remarkable things.

Talk With Others Who Understand

MySpondylitisTeam is the social network for people with spondylitis and their loved ones. Here, more than 98,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with spondylitis.

Have you seen Mick Mars performing with Mötley Crüe? Do you know of any other entertainers with spondylitis? Share your thoughts in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.