Mötley Crüe's co-founder, Mick Mars, has filed a lawsuit against his former bandmates, claiming he was unfairly ousted from the band and financially exploited.

The guitarist had announced last fall that he would not join the band on their farewell tour due to his struggle with ankylosing spondylitis, a debilitating arthritic condition. Despite his health issues, Mars made it clear that he could still record with the band and participate in limited performances, but he could not handle the physical demands of a full tour.

According to legal documents acquired by TMZ, Mars alleges that after announcing his decision to step back from touring, his share of the band's profits was reduced from 25 percent to a mere 5 percent. Mars claims that the band's lawyers suggested he should be grateful for the reduced share, as they didn't believe they owed him anything. He further alleges that the band held a meeting in which they decided to "unilaterally" remove him from Mötley Crüe.

The lawsuit, filed by attorney Ed McPherson, reveals personal conflicts between Mars and other band members. Mars accuses bassist Nikki Sixx of "gaslighting" him about his declining guitar skills. Mars counters that Sixx's criticism is hypocritical, alleging that during a recent tour, Sixx did not "play a single note on bass," with his parts being pre-recorded instead.

Mars is now suing Mötley Crüe, demanding that they provide him with access to the band's financial records to determine if he has been deprived of the compensation he believes he is entitled to.