In rock history, there are countless “what if” scenarios—moments where one decision or twist of fate could have changed the course of music forever. One such revelation has come from guitarist **Jake E. Lee**, who recently shared that in the early days of **Mötley Crüe**, bassist **Nikki Sixx** and drummer **Tommy Lee** wanted him to replace guitarist **Mick Mars**.
The claim came during an interview with *Tone Talk*, where Lee reflected on his days after leaving the band Ratt and before his career-defining tenure with **Ozzy Osbourne**. At the time, Lee had little direction but was frequently spotted at Mötley Crüe shows, which led to conversations about his possible involvement in the band.
“They Actually Wanted Me”
“Nikki and Tommy wanted me in the band,” Lee recalled. “They actually wanted me to replace Mick — which you can understand that. I was f***ing better looking and f***ing better playing.”
It was a bold statement, but one not without context. In the early ’80s, Lee was establishing himself as one of Los Angeles’ most promising young guitarists, while Mötley Crüe was still carving its identity on the Sunset Strip. Lee’s playing, which combined flash, technique, and an aggressive edge, would have given the band a very different sound.
Why It Didn’t Happen
Despite Sixx and Lee’s enthusiasm, the idea of a lineup change was complicated. According to Lee, Mick Mars had critical financial backing from a family connection, which helped keep Mötley Crüe afloat in its formative years. That support made Mars virtually untouchable.
Lee also noted that there was brief talk of Mötley Crüe expanding to a two-guitarist lineup, but he wasn’t sold on the concept. “Whether somebody denies it or not, that’s what started the rift between me and Mick,” Lee said, suggesting that even the suggestion of replacing Mars planted seeds of tension between the two players.
Lee’s Perspective on Mick Mars
Interestingly, Lee’s recollections weren’t meant as an outright dismissal of Mars’ contributions. In fact, he gave Mars credit for being exactly what the band needed at the time.
“I’m not even necessarily saying it would be better. Nothing against Mick,” Lee admitted. “\[He had] great tone, f\*\*\*ing good rhythm. \[He] probably was what they needed to be big. They wouldn’t have been as big with me. Musically, they might have been better.”
This acknowledgment highlights the subtle truth in rock history: technical brilliance doesn’t always equal commercial success. Mars’ raw style and image fit perfectly with Crüe’s sleazy, hard-living aesthetic, something that may have been lost had Lee joined.
A Career of Alternate Paths
The near-miss with Mötley Crüe wasn’t the only fork in the road for Jake E. Lee. Around the same period, he also caught the attention of **Ronnie James Dio**. After leaving Ratt, Lee briefly joined **Rough Cutt**, a band managed by Wendy Dio and produced by Ronnie himself. Dio later invited Lee to join his newly formed solo band in 1982.
Ultimately, that role went to **Vivian Campbell**, while Lee soon found himself with the opportunity that defined his career: joining **Ozzy Osbourne** in the wake of Randy Rhoads’ tragic death. Lee’s work on *Bark at the Moon* (1983) and *The Ultimate Sin* (1986) cemented his reputation as one of the most versatile and inventive guitarists of the era.
What Might Have Been
Looking back, Lee’s comments fuel speculation about how different the ’80s hard rock landscape could have looked if he had joined Mötley Crüe. Would the band have taken on a more musically sophisticated direction? Or would Lee’s flashier style have clashed with the group’s raw, hedonistic energy?
We’ll never know—but as Lee himself concluded, the band’s eventual success likely depended on Mick Mars’ unique contribution. For fans, the story remains a fascinating “what if” moment in rock history, one that underscores how fragile and unpredictable the path to success can be.
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