Ernie Ball's latest "String Theory" episode features MÖTLEY CRÜE guitarist Mick Mars. In the clip below, Mars dives into his early inspirations, his creative process, and how he gets his signature tone with Ernie Ball strings. He also talks about his upcoming solo release, saying: "When I come out with my solo project, my first record will give me a key to that door I need to open. I'm definitely gonna lose some fans, because it doesn't sound like my old band. If it does well, then I know I can go another further, another further, another further, and keep reinventing. I wanna keep evolving, keep moving, keep that motivation going. When you stop learning, [you] might as well just put your guitar down."

Back in 2016, Mars released snippets of two solo songs, apparently called "Gimme Blood" and "Shake The Cage". The tracks, which were recorded at Blackbird Studio in Nashville, Tennessee, also featured former MÖTLEY CRÜE singer John Corabi, who appeared on the band's 1994 self-titled album.

During a March 2014 appearance on Eddie Trunk's show "Trunk Nation" on SiriusXM's Hair Nation, Mars stated about his solo plans: "I can honestly say that I am going to release at least an EP. As far as a whole album right now, I won't release a whole album till I think every single one of my songs is an 'A' song. And I've got a shitload of songs, and they're all 'B' songs, 'C' songs… I'll give them to, like, baby bands coming up, TV commercials, movies, soundtracks, whatever the heck, but I will not put them on my record until I believe in my heart that they're 'A' songs, that when you hear them, you have to have all of them. You know what I mean? No fillers. If I hear a filler in there or anything I think is a filler? No. But then, who am I to judge? Then you release singles."

"String Theory" features a selection of Ernie Ball's most innovative and influential brand ambassadors as they talk about the sonic origins of their tone and playing styles. Other episodes have featured notable guitar players Butch Walker, Joe Bonamassa and Mike Herrera. Created and produced by Ernie Ball, the series is filmed in the home studios where artists can pick up their guitars and demonstrate skills and tricks they'e learned on their lifelong exploration of the guitar.