“I had to step away from the pointy era. I chose the Strat because I like the way they look and the way they sound… everything about them is me”: Mick Mars on how he found his thrill with the Fender Stratocaster – and the 1954 unicorn that broke his heart

Mick Mars.

Here at GW, we’ve been celebrating 70 years of the Fender Stratocaster by seeking out Strat-playing cover stars from over the years to talk about their association with Leo Fender’s iconic electric guitar design – and to talk about the Strats that have graced our cover.

When Mick Mars appeared on the cover of the April 2024 issue, his first in-depth interview after his exit from Mötley Crüe, he of course brought a Strat. But this was a ’96 Strat in Sparkle Pink. Where was Isabella? Well, as Mars explains, he wanted to show us something different…