Emi Canyn (born 5th December 1954; Died 25th February 2017) was an American rock singer, songwriter, performer, and the ex-wife of Mick Mars, the iconic rock star who is a member of Mötley Crüe.
Emi Canyn fronted bands such as She Rok and Alice ‘N Thunderland. She and Mars got to know each other after she began singing backup vocals for Mötley Crüe in the late 80s.
They began dating in 1987 and wed in 1991. The couple’s marriage lasted for four years before they split in 1994. Both moved on with their lives and Canyn continued pursuing her music career with other bands. Though she never became as famous as her ex-husband, she nonetheless had a good career. She built a thriving life for herself until she passed on in February 2017.
Summary of Emi Canyn’s Biography
- Full name: Emi Jo Schmidt
- Nickname: Emi Canyn
- Gender: Female
- Date of birth: 5th December 1954;
- Emi Canyn’s Age: Died 25th February 2017, Aged: 62
- Ethnicity: Caucasian
- Nationality: American
- Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius
- Sexual Orientation: straight
- Religion: Christianity
- Marital Status: divorced
- Emi Canyn’s ex-Husband: Mick Mars
- Emi Canyn’s Parents: Floyd and Eleanor Schmidt
- Siblings: Barbara Reines, Jeri Ovechka, Joan McMahan (now late), Rob Schmidt, Douglas Schmidt, Kenneth Schmidt, and Jon Schmidt.
- Emi Canyn’s Height in Inches: 5 feet 8 inches
- Emi Canyn’s Height in Centimetres: 175
- Emi Canyn’s Weight: 60 kg
- Emi Canyn’s Net worth: $1 million
- Famous for: Mick Mars’ ex-wife
Emi Canyn Was a Native of Tacoma, Washington
Emi Canyn (birth name – Emi Jo Schmidt) was born on the 5th of December 1954 in Tacoma, Washington D.C. She hailed from a large family of ten. Her father’s name was Floyd Schmidt while her mother’s name was Eleanor. The late Canyn had a total of seven siblings.
Amongst them were three sisters namely; Barbra Reines, Jeri Ovechka, and Joan McMahan (now late). She also had four brothers: Rob, Douglas, Kenneth, and Jon Schmidt. Emi Canyn spent her formative years in Tacoma and attended Mount Tahoma High School. She completed her high school diploma in 1973. She did not proceed to college but rather pursued a music career.
Emi Canyn and Mick Mars Began Dating in 1987 and Wed in 1990
Emi Canyn and Mick Mars first met each other in the late 80s due to their mutual involvement with the rock music industry. Canyn would go on to become a backup vocalist for Mick Mars’ band and they later started dating in 1987.The couple dated for about a year or two before getting engaged. They then went on to get married in 1990.
Following the nuptials, the couple continued working together and touring together just like they did when they were dating. However, a year into the marriage, Canyn scaled back her work with Mötley Crüe and focused on her work with other bands. This made for very busy schedules for both her and Mars but they were able to make their union work.
The Couple Divorced in 1994 After Four Years of Marriage
Emi Canyn’s marriage to Mick Mars lasted for four years and they divorced in 1994. The divorce was achieved without much drama and the couple went their various ways. They never addressed the reason for their split but there have been reports and speculations. One report suggests that Emi Canyn and Mick Mars divorced because Canyn had taken all of Mick’s money.
According to that report, Canyn took advantage of Mars and when he discovered it, he called it quits on their marriage. Mick Mars has never come out to confirm this though. It may be that he and Canyn divorced because of their busy schedule. It may have also been that they simply fell out of love.
She Sang Lead Vocals for Bands Such as She Rok and Alice ‘N Thunderland
Emi Canyn fell in love with music at an early age and started playing and performing wherever she got the opportunity. By the time she finished high school in 1973, she already knew that she wanted to pursue a music career. Initially, she tried to build her music career in Washington. When she didn’t make much headway, she relocated to California in the late 70s and tasted much success.
Emi Canyn served as the lead vocalist for multiple bands such as Canon and She Rok. Her fellow band mates in She Rok were Mary Kay (bass), Lisa Lichtenstein (drums), and Gerri Edinger (guitar) and they performed in numerous metal venues in Long Beach California. Canyn received praises for her strong wailing multi-octave voice as well as her dynamic and active stage presence.
She was also one of the founding members and lead vocalist of the rock metal band, Alice ‘N Thunderland. Her band mates included Matt Sullivan, Danny Wilder, and Chet Thompson. The group was particularly active in the 90s and released an eponymous album in Japan in 1995. The album featured 11 tracks, including Mine All Mine, Pay The Man, Bow Your Heads, etc.
She Also Sang Backups for Bands Such as Mötley Crüe
Emi Canyn also sang backup for several famous rock bands, including Faster Pussycat. Faster Pussycat is a rock band from Los Angeles and Canyn is credited as a backup vocalist on the band’s 1989 album, Wake Me Up When It’s Over. she was also a backup vocalist for the iconic heavy metal band, Mötley Crüe, from 1987 to 1991.
She provided backup vocals for their 1989 album, Dr. Feelgood. She also joined them on various successful tours. Emi Canyn and another singer named Donna McDaniel formed the famous backup duo named Nasty Habits. They accompanied Mötley Crüe on stage as singers. They also danced around on stage and became famed for the nurse and custom metal maiden outfits that they wore.
Emi Canyn Continued Pursuing Her Music Career After Her Divorce From Mars
Following her divorce from Mick Mars, Emi Canyn continued pursuing her music career. She served as the lead vocalist of Alice ‘N Thunderland and they dropped one full-length album. She also sang lead vocals for She Rok and they performed in places such as California.
Canyn’s music career was covered by rock and metal magazines. She also made the news for other reasons.
For instance, in 2004, it was revealed that she wanted to auction a piece of garment belonging to her former husband. The garment was described as red underwear with Mick’s name monogrammed on it.
RIP … Emi Canyn 😢
“Nasty Habbits”Forever! #MotleyCrue #モトリークルー @MotleyCrue pic.twitter.com/XZw5e1x2QZ
— sin🏴☠️ (@southern_cross1) December 14, 2019
Mick Mars’s Wife Died in Lacey, Washington in February 2017 at the Age of 62
Emi Canyn never grew to become as famous as her ex-husband but she nonetheless had a fulfilled career. She performed any chance she got and reveled in her passion. As she got older, Emi Canyn scaled back her career and eventually moved back to her native Washington.
She lived in the town of Lacey until her death on the 25th of February 2017. Emi Canyn died at the age of 62 and her family released an obituary for her memorial in April.
They described her as a kind, talented, and loving daughter of God who embraced the beauty of the world around her. They also paid tribute to her career. From the obituary, we can glean that Emi Canyn had no kids as she was only survived by her siblings.
It is possible that she never remarried after Mick Mars. It is also possible that she remarried and then got divorced. Whichever one, she had a fulfilling life filled with loved ones, including two beloved puppies namely Kujo and Gizmo.
