Mötley Crüe backing vocalist Emi Canyn, born Emi Jo Schmidt on December 5, 1954, was an American singer and composer. She divorced Mick Mars, Mötley Crüe’s guitarist. Emi made rock history with her contributions to the band’s legendary tours and her personal life with some of rock music’s biggest personalities, despite her fame struggles.
Early Life and Music
Born in Tacoma, Washington, Emi Canyn discovered her love of music early on. Her musical skill led her to a rock career, albeit her early life is hidden. The 1980s glam rock and metal genres captivated Emi.
She made her mark when she joined Mötley Crüe in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Mötley Crüe, known for their loud, rebellious attitude and larger-than-life personas, added Emi Canyn and Donna McDaniel to their backing group, “Nasty Habits.” The band’s Girls, Girls, Girls and Dr. Feelgood tours highlighted Emi’s stunning vocals.
Emi Canyn’s Mick Mars Relationship
Famous guitarist and Mötley Crüe co-founder Mick Mars was born Robert Alan Deal on May 4, 1951. Mars’ forceful, lyrical solos and unique bluesy riffs helped shape the band’s style and popularity. Mars started playing music young, but Mötley Crüe made him famous. Mars’s explosive guitar work on “Kickstart My Heart” and “Shout at the Devil” defined the style of ’80s rock, which was excess and revolt. Mars has struggled with ankylosing spondylitis, which has limited his touring in recent years. He left the band’s rigorous travelling schedule in 2022 due to health issues, although he remains a major rock personality.
Mick Mars was married to Emi Canyn. Mars was close to Emi throughout their early 1990s marriage. Mars married singer and former backing vocalist Emi Canyn from 1990 until 1994, during the band’s most difficult years. Emi’s influence on Mick Mars throughout their divorce was noticeable. Mars later married Seraina Schönenberger in 2013, but his relationship with Emi Canyn is significant. Mick Mars’s musical legacy and relationships, such as with Emi, complicate his life and work, making him a person with a global effect.
In Mötley Crüe: Nasty Habits
Emi Canyn was crucial to Mötley Crüe’s live performances. As a backing vocalist, she provided luscious harmonies for “Girls, Girls, Girls” and “Dr. Feelgood” on stage. Her forceful, often sensuous voice complemented Mötley Crüe’s hard rock style, and her stage presence elevated their already high-octane shows.
The late 1980s and early 1990s saw Emi tour extensively with the band, becoming a vital component of their live experience. Mötley Crüe fans recall the “Nasty Habits” for their energy and chemistry, giving excitement to the renowned rock gigs.
Personal: Married Mick Mars
Besides her singing career, Emi Canyn was famous for her marriage to Mötley Crüe guitarist Mick Mars. Both their personal and public lives were marked by their 1990 marriage. They divorced in 1994 after a short marriage. Emi and Mick remained respectful of each other after their breakup, working in the music industry in their separate ways despite their hardships.
Emi’s bond to Mick Mars and Mötley Crüe shaped her identity after their brief marriage. Her marriage to Mars solidified her position in rock history, as she was connected with the band’s golden phase.
Late Life and Death
Emi Canyn pursued music after Mötley Crüe. She sang lead in several bands, notably She-Rok. With Alice ‘n Thunderland, she contributed her own voice to their rock sound.
After Mötley Crüe, Emi had a quiet profile, but her legacy lingered on among rock and metal circles that valued her efforts.
Sadly, Emi Canyn died at 62 on February 25, 2017. She died at home in Lacey, Washington. Although her death was not publicly reported, her family, friends, and admirers were deeply affected. She was recognized for her work with Mötley Crüe, her passion to rock music, and her bright personality.
Legacy and Impact
Emi Canyn’s life was more private than rockstars’, yet she left a mark on music. She was Mötley Crüe’s backing vocalist throughout their most successful tours, defining their sound at a vital moment. An indelible aspect of Mötley Crüe’s history, her voice gave depth and melody to their aggressive rock concerts.
Emi is known for her perseverance and reinvention as well as her music. She was a crucial role in the rock scene during a moment of transition and excess, and her work with Mötley Crüe shaped their image at its peak. Emi’s fans remember her as a significant component of the iconic rock band’s live concerts.
Emi Canyn is remembered by Mötley Crüe fans, rock music lovers, and Nasty Habits fans. Emi’s music lives on, even if she’s gone.