Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx unveiled his book Heroin Diaries - "The Life Of A Shattered Rock Star" on September 27th at Borders- Downtown Crossing in Boston. Hundreds of fans lined up at 9 A.M. to get a wristband for the event. Due to time restrictions, Nikki had to leave for Toronto on a 4:20 PM plane from Logan; so only 300 lucky fans were able to receive a wristband.
What was most inspiring about the event today was how Nikki Sixx let down his mega rock star image and seemed ever so real, as he listened to his fans tell him how he has changed their lives with the release of his book.
Nikki commented to me recently, "I don't know why I am still alive?" Anyone could see today, the man who almost lost his life to his addiction has overcome his demons to help the youth of America not make the same mistake that he did.
There also was a raffle of the newly Heroin Diaries Ovation guitar, which resembles the book. Today, Motley Crue bass player Nikki Sixx is on a mission to help the youth of America not make the same mistakes that he did. In a world, that looks up to musicians, actors, and athletes, what better way to get the message across with someone who has lived through the horrors of addiction, and has completely turned his life around with his knowledge and strength. It was inspiring today, to see the man behind the legend and new book greet fans and listen to their stories. Motley Crue has always been larger than life, and today the man behind the music proved that he is just as real and honest as his book.
I had the opportunity to speak to Nikki about his new book and the Sixx A.M. Soundtrack.
NIKKI, WHAT DO YOU HOPE THAT FANS WILL LEARN ABOUT THE ADDICTION FROM READING YOUR BOOK,” HEROIN DIARIES"? My hope is it both paints a picture of not just the addiction, but how we can get there and the recovery part too. The whole picture is important. If someone is struggling, or has someone in their life that is.
DO YOU FEEL THAT MUSIC SAVED YOUR LIFE? For me Yes, 100 %. I have a hard time imagining how life would of been without it. Today, it's not just music, but when I was in those years between 13-26, it was the only thing I had that gave me hope.
HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO HAVE MUSIC PROGRAMS IN SCHOOLS TODAY? TELL US ABOUT THE PROCEEDS FROM THE BOOK THAT WILL GOT TO COVENANT HOUSE AND HELP ESTABLISH A FUND FOR THE CHILDREN TO HAVE MUSIC IN THEIR LIVES? Music, arts, and all creative programs are very important in my opinion. Not only in life, but also in our school systems. Covenant House is not so much a school, but an outreach program for at risk youth. When they bring these kids off the street and start getting to the core issues dealing with it all. They have had to endure, then the recovery part starts and a creative outlet for them to plug into is what we're creating.
My goal is to bring awareness and income to Covenant House. So these programs being set up will be in place for years and years to come and maybe, just maybe One (hopefully more) kids will stick out the Covenant House program and get back on their feet and have an opportunity to do something positive with their life... Maybe changing someone else's life in return and so on and so on.
DO YOU FEEL THE ROCK LIFESTYLE PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN YOUR ADDICTION? No that I did all on my own. I take complete responsibility for my actions, good and bad.
Sixx
WHAT WERE YOUR INITIAL EXPECTATIONS WHEN YOU FIRST BEGAN WRITING? HOW DIFFICULT WAS IT TO RELIVE THE PAST, IN ORDER TO SET THE VIBE FOR THE ENTIRE ALBUM? Our expectations were absolutely zero. We had the outlook that we were doing something that we don't believe had ever been done before. Which was scoring a soundtrack to a book. It was for us complete freedom, as producers and songwriters to not really have to niche into anything. The album takes you on a journey, musically, lyrically, and it does go left. But very far to the left, and very far to the right. For us, it was complete freedom to do that because we had no expectations. We never expected to be on radio. The fact that it is and doing so well at radio is just is icing on the cake. It is fantastic not to follow a standard, as songwriters and producers.
Signing for fans in Boston
OVER HOW LONG A TIME PERIOD, WOULD YOU SAY DID IT TAKE TO SCORE THE MUSIC FOR THE ENTIRE SOUNDTRACK? Ya know, we did a double album of music. We just were so open. There were no rules. If it was a twelve-minute song, or if it was a one-minute song, we just went with whatever the song needed. If it had a heavier feel or more of an acoustic feel or if it had a more orchestrated feel whatever the song called for and whatever it went with the three of us is where we went. It went very quickly. We probably had over 30 songs. I would say about eight months. Quite quick to be honest with you.
HOW DIFFICULT WAS IT TO ASSEMBLE THE RIGHT MUSICIANS FOR SIXX A.M.? DID YOU WORK WITH ANY OF THESE MUSICIANS BEFORE? THE MUSICAL CHEMISTRY BETWEEN, DJ ASHBA AND JAMES MICHAEL AND YOU WORK IS GREAT. ALL THREE OF YOU PRODUCED THE SOUNDTRACK TO "HEROIN DIARIES", IS THAT CORRECT? Yes, all three of us produced it. I met James probably, somewhere between seven or eight years ago. We had written not only for Motley Crue, but Meatloaf and Salvia. We became very good friends. We had done all kinds of song-writing together. DJ and I got together, as friends. We started writing music and had the same chemistry between him, and me when we were working with Drowning Pool, Marion Raven, and Trapt. DJ and I are very, very close friends and we share a studio together called Funny Farms Studio. So it was just natural to get all three of us together. Because you got a bass player, producer, songwriter, a guitar player, producer, songwriter, and a vocalist, producer, songwriter. ..
Heroin Diaries - The book
We didn't need anybody else. We basically laughed the whole time. We just had the best time, because we are such good friends. It is such a fresh, exciting experience to have no boundaries.
NIKKI ARE YOU OVERWHELMED WITH THE RESPONSE YOUR FIRST SINGLE;” LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL" IS RECEIVING? We are all blown away. Too be honest, we had no expectations, except to make a very adventurous album. I had so many people comment on how life changing they feel the lyrics are. One person told me, they were on the verge of suicide until they heard the song. That is why we make music right there, in a nutshell.
WHAT IS LIKE WORKING WITH YOUR NEW BAND SIXX: A.M. FEATURING NIKKI SIXX, JAMES MICHAEL, AND DJ ASHBA? THE BAND SOUNDS INCREDIBLE? We're all producers and songwriters. It's magical because we each bring something different to the table. We laugh a lot. We're all best friends and have so much in common and that helps us bond even deeper to the music.
Sixx A.M. Live - Life Is Beautiful
MY FIRST REACTION TO YOUR FIRST SINGLE,” LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL", IS THAT IT IS ONE OF THE BEST NEW SONGS THAT I HAVE HEARD IN A LONG TIME. THE KEY FACTOR HERE IS THAT THE LYRICS ARE REAL AND PEOPLE CAN IDENTIFY WITH THEM. THE MUSICIANSHIP IS OUTSTANDING. IT MUST BE SO INSPIRING FOR YOU AS AN ARTIST TO BE ABLE TO PUT OUT SUCH AN AMAZING RELEASE FILLED WITH REAL LIFE EXPERIENCES AND MUSIC THAT INDEED TOUCHES YOUR HEART AND SOUL? Yes, I'm proud. DJ and James are amazing talents and we're a great team. SIXX: A.M is a fun name. It is definitely magical.
THANKS TO NIKKI FOR TALKING WITH SAVIOURS OF ROCK. HE'S A GREAT GUY AND WE WISH HIM ALL THE BEST FOR THE FUTURE. GO CHECK HIM OUT AT
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