Mick Mars is the Alice Cooper look-alike who spit blood on stage like Gene Simmons and played lead guitar for the glam metal band Motley Crue. He was born Robert Alan Deal on May 4, 1951, in Terre Haute, IN. His family moved to SoCal when he was 9. He started out as a bassist, inspired by the Beatles, and was in his first band at 14. Deal knocked around the LA music scene in the 70s, playing with blues bands that went nowhere (White Horse, Vendetta).

In 1981, Deal re-invented himself by dyeing his hair jet black, changing his name to Mick Mars, and knocking 4 years off his age. Then he posted an ad in LA’s Recycler describing himself as a “loud, rude and aggressive guitar player.” Nikki Sixx and Tommy Lee were putting a band together and brought Mick in to audition. They didn’t realize he was a decade older than them, but liked his experienced hand. He got the job, and held it until Motley Crue’s farewell tour last year. Mick is credited with giving the band its name.

Mick suffers from a severe degenerative spinal condition that affects his posture, stamina (especially using the heavy Gibson Les Paul guitar - he switched to a Fender Strat later on), and contributed to his abuse of alcohol and pain killers. Along with the rest of the band, he got clean for the Dr. Feelgood album (on orders from their record label), and has remained sober ever since.

Happy Birthday to Mick Mars!