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August 27, 2007 - Nikki Sixx is an icon. There aren't too many rock musicians who can lay claim to having sold 45 million albums, started trends, headlined the biggest festivals, written a bestseller, married a Bay-Watcher, launched a fashion line, redefined the power ballad and…oh yeah, died and come back to talk about it. Sixx is everywhere these days with a new band (Sixx: A.M.) and his upcoming literary release of The Heroin Diaries.

Enduring a troubled upbringing that saw him grow up fatherless and shuffled back and forth between various family members, Sixx's only solace throughout all the turmoil was music. His vision of the ultimate rock 'n' roll band consisted of Kiss theatrics, Van Halen swagger and the sneering bravado of the Sex Pistols. This childhood fantasy came to fruition in Motley Crue some 25-plus years ago, the band that he masterminded along with Tommy Lee, Vince Neil and Mick Mars. Hitting the scene about the same time as the LA-metal boom of the early '80s, The Crue was an entity unto itself. Mixing the glam theatrics and imagery of '70s-era juggernauts like KISS, The Sweet, and Alice Cooper, with dirty riffs, bubble-gum-flavored vocals, big choruses and the distinctive double-bass drum kick of Tommy Lee, the band's sound was fresh, but with a just enough of the ol' vintage to add a ragged authenticity to the proceedings. Looks-wise, the band eschewed the spandex and frosted hair of the day in favor of a scarier, dark-glam style that mixed gothic tones with heavy metal thunder. In the early days, the band's self-released records could be heard at some punk and Goth clubs in addition to the requisite rocker hangouts. After selling 20,000 copies of its independent debut Too Fast For Love, a major-deal was struck with Elektra Records.
 With their second album, Shout At The Devil, the band continued to ascend the charts and levels of excess, which unfortunately climaxed in the tragic death of Nicholas "Razzle" Dingley of up-and-coming Finnish glam-punk outfit Hanoi Rocks on their first visit to the US, at the hands of the drunk-driving Vince Neil. Neil paid fines and did community service, but Motley Crue's internal affairs were strained to say the least. Nevertheless, the next album Theatre of Pain was a rousing success, as was each of the band's other '80s releases--the trashier Girls Girls Girls and mega-platinum Dr. Feelgood--leading to an unprecedented contract renewal for $25 million with Elektra. Interspersed between all the ups and downs from the mid '80s onward was one constant—Sixx's increased drug usage, which culminated in an overdose and his momentary passing in late 1987, when his heart was overrun with the scary stuff. The next decade would see the advent of a new wave of music that would all but eliminate the old guard. Grunge and so-called alternative music would become mainstream, bringing shrill 20-something angst to the masses, annihilating not just the frilly hair metal bands that littered MTV, but also many of the heavier metal and alternative bands that were in any way associated with the old school. Motley Crue soldiered on with a new singer for one album. A heavier affair, the self-titled album saw the band taking things in a more raw and volatile direction that—while still selling marginally well—alienated many fans and critics. The late '90s saw Vince Neil return to the fold to unleash the promising Generation Swine. With a thoroughly modern, industrial-lite production, the album was classic Crue with a futuristic twist. Although back in the game, most critics panned it. Nonetheless, the album debuted high on the charts and the band embarked on a full-scale headlining tour in support. Next to depart would be Tommy Lee before 2000's New Tattoo, which would be the band's first release not on a major label. A raunchy, back-to-basics affair, material-wise the album saw the band at its most vibrant-sounding in years, in spite of the absence of Lee's signature kick rhythms. After a couple decades of unseen highs and demoralizing lows, Motley Crue is surprisingly still intact and can still be found headlining arenas as well as grabbing headlines. The band's tell-all biography, The Dirt, was a best seller a few years ago with a film rumored to be in production. Sixx is also one half of Royal Underground, an upscale fashion line incorporating a serious rock 'n' roll influence. 

But Sixx is still haunted by some of his past demons and one way he's been able to come to terms with it is to bare all in The Heroin Diaries, which will be released next month through Pocket Books/Simon & Schuster. A rollercoaster ride plummeting the depths of incurable drug addiction, the book is actually based around diary entries Sixx scribbled down between Christmas, 1986 and Christmas, 1987. Co-written by Ian Gittins, it also features commentaries from those who knew Sixx well during this fateful period, people like ex-Motley manager Doc McGee, Alice Cooper, Prince chanteuse Vanity and Cheap Trick's Rick Nielsen. In addition to the book is the audio companion from Sixx: A.M., featuring vocalist/producer James Michael and guitarist D.J. Ashba (ex-Beautiful Creatures). Epic, surreal and theatrical, The Heroin Diaries soundtrack is a bit removed from the addictive hooks and streetwise riffs we've become accustomed to over the past three decades of Motley mayhem. But, each listen brings new aspects of the complex album to the surface, making it all the more intriguing. And although it's a departure from previous work, it's got Sixx's stamp all over it, albeit this time around it's a bit blacker, rather than hot pink or blood red.

IGN freelancer Jim Kaz recently chatted with Sixx about the new direction his life has taken, and touched on a few bits from the past. IGN Music: How's life? Nikki Sixx: You know what, it's been really, really good. IGN Music: So, what prompted you to write this book? Nikki Sixx: I've kept journals since probably 1979. To be honest they're not all flushed out, as I'll write for a few days, then not write for a while. When things started really popping in my life, I got more consistent with it. Every time I'd fill up a book or two I'd take them to my storage unit, where I have a big box of them. One day, I started digging through it, and I began reading about the inception of the band, and how I loved the Sex Pistols and the first Van Halen record, and thinking things like what if a band could look like the New York Dolls, but sound like AC/DC—teenage fantasy stuff. Next I read about the formation of the band, the creation of (first album) Too Fast For Love, the next record Shout At The Devil and how we're playing in front of 70,000 people who are singing our songs. "Home Sweet Home" is a huge success for us and I'm amazed this is all happening. As I'm reading I notice how I'm doing more and more drugs and how the writing is less playful. Then, I hit the '86 era, and I'm reading my diary entries for hours and I'm in shock. I'm thinking, "Where is the guy with all the dreams?" Sometimes I laughed, sometimes I cried. The biggest conclusion I could come to was looking at my life now and realizing that my kids are not going to have the same experience I had. IGN Music: Sounds pretty major. Nikki Sixx: That was the point where I thought this should all be published. Addiction is an issue. It's horrible. We've seen Hendrix die, Janis Joplin die and Bon Scott die in his own vomit. In my experience, it's a band-aid for something else. I had a mother and father that weren't there for me. And now having been sober for a while I realize how important those first four or five formative years are to a kid. My father abandoned me and I was shipped back and forth between grandparents. On top of that, when you throw in a healthy dose of hormones and teen angst you're going to get something [that's] fucked up. I eventually realized that was the core issue of why I needed the band-aid. For me to be able to get that out is an important part of the story. I don't want to be a preacher or an evangelist, I want to share my experience, draw attention to a global epidemic and raise money for a charity. It's my way of giving back, since I've been so fortunate.

IGN Music: That's a noble view. 

Nikki Sixx: I'm just trying to make progress everyday as a human being. 

IGN Music: How long have you been officially clean? 

Nikki Sixx: I've been clean for six years. On December 23, 2007, it will be the 20th anniversary of my death. I would like to tell you that I've been clean, but relapse is the reality sometimes. Six years ago I relapsed and realized that something I was doing wasn't right. Since then it's been very easy to be sober. As human beings we tend to want to close the door on our pasts. But for me, this book and soundtrack reveal what's down the hallway, and go deeper. For me, it's a good thing.
 IGN Music: The new album is very epic sounding and orchestral. It's a departure from what we've come to expect from Nikki Sixx. Nikki Sixx: We've created something that hasn't been done before, a soundtrack to a book. James (Michael) said his interpretation was that of a rock opera, like Jesus Christ Superstar. It was very organic and thee three of us just let our ideas flow. It's very exciting to have complete freedom with no expectations from outside people. IGN Music: On that note, are you affiliated with a major label? Nikki Sixx: Absolutely not (laughs). We have a distribution deal, which is what the major labels do best. Now, it's all changed. You can make a record in your bedroom and cross-market it on Myspace.com, reaching millions of people in no time. We didn't need a major label. IGN Music: And you own all the Motley master tapes? Nikki Sixx: Yes, we own the masters and then license the music to the major labels, and market them ourselves. It's much better than having [the labels] as the banks. IGN Music: Going back a bit, at one point during the '80s it became really trendy—especially in LA—for bands to emulate the low-down, back-alley junkie antics of people like Johnny Thunders and the New York Dolls. Although Motley Crue was known for its excessive lifestyle, on the surface it didn't seem nearly as deviant as that. Did you make a conscious effort to conceal your drug use? Nikki Sixx: We really didn't. I didn't try to conceal anything. It's just that I was a millionaire, living in a mansion and could buy whatever drugs I wanted. Imagine being in the most pain you can be in, where your bones ache, your skin feels like it's peeling off, you're shaking uncontrollably and shit's running down your leg, and then knowing there's something in arm's reach that'll make it all go away. Look at laboratory rats; they always go back to the source of relief. IGN Music: You've stated that your third album Theater of Pain was not your favorite. Did having been immersed in drugs at the time have anything to do with the way it came out? 

Nikki Sixx: Kind of. That was a weird time. The accident Vince had that killed Razzle (drummer of Hanoi Rocks) really struck through the heart of the band. The brotherhood we had now had a stake through it. It definitely killed the party atmosphere we had going within the band because of our success. We weren't unified. But, there still were a couple wonderful songs on there.

IGN Music: Conversely, what about Dr. Feelgood, which many consider to be your best work? Was everyone clean? 

Nikki Sixx: Absolutely. We made a conscious effort to all be really together on it. [Producer] Bob Rock really brought the best out in us.

IGN Music: A few years later during the mid '90s, how did it feel to be out of step with pop culture, with the rise of grunge and alternative music? Motley was suddenly public enemy number one, with the media and music world against it…

Nikki Sixx: I was so happy about it. There needed to be a change. You could lump us in with all the rest, but only the shit went down the toilet, the imitators. Bad imitations. The same thing has happened with rap-rock. It's just the industry, it happens every decade. But the great ones will stick around.

IGN Music: Was it discouraging? What made you not slip back into depression and drugs, knowing that your band was not exactly in vogue? 

Nikki Sixx: Well, you know I'm not a guy that really cares about being in vogue, and that's probably a blessing for me. I'll never forget sitting in the studio working on Generation Swine and Pamela (Anderson) saying to me "Nikki, you should shave your head, you'd look really current." I chuckled and told her "I'm as current as it's gonna get (laughs). I've been in and out of style so many times, bro. I'll walk down the street and teenagers will approach me and say my hair's cool and my band rocks, but in a couple years they'll go (scowl) "My god." (Laughs). 

IGN Music: So what's going on with Motley Crue, are you going to do another record? 

Nikki Sixx: Sure, but it's gonna take some time. I've been very respectful of Motley Crue and don't do my projects on top of it. But, yeah Mick and I are gonna get together soon and work on some riffs and we'll see where it goes. Right now, I'm just focusing on The Heroin Diaries book and soundtrack, plus the clothing line I've got with Kelly Gray called Royal Underground that's doing really well.

IGN Music: I've heard that it's in several high-end stores and boutiques. 

Nikki Sixx: We're getting ready to launch the women's and jewelry lines. We're getting lots of requests from buyers at certain retail stores. It's great to see it next to brands like Diesel and Juicy.

IGN Music: You must be excited.

Sixx. I am. To be able to be a creative person and write this book and music, design a fashion line and write and play in Motley Crue tells me I've picked the right path.

IGN Music: And you've got a charity cause you're working on. 

Nikki Sixx: Yes. It's called Covenant House and they've been around for a very long time. When I first met with them I was blown away by their infrastructure and how they work. They have an outreach program for kids on the street. They talk to [the kids] and sometimes it may take up to 20 times before they get them to come in and get help. They'll give them a place to sleep, medical attention, psychological help and can help in all different situations like addiction, alcoholism and sexual abuse. They get them into a program of recovery and education and eventually, back into the system. One of the things I wanted to be involved in was creating a music program to give them another reason to stick with it. It's called "Running Wild in the Night," and we have different people helping us out with it at the various locations. If there's a kid who comes in with raw musical talent, he'll get to refine it and maybe he'll go on to do something and change his life in the process.

IGN Music: You have your hands in so many different projects. What was it that bolstered your spirits after the all the chaos you've been through? Did the success of The Dirt play into this strong sense of motivation?

Nikki Sixx: I've always been driven, but I just haven't known where I was going. I have a very entrepreneurial brain, and sometimes I have to stop myself. I literally could have up to 20 projects going at once, but my quality of life would go to hell if I did that. First and foremost, the most important job in my life is raising my children. After that comes my career. Motley Crue is something I'll do for a very long time. With all the things I'm doing, I have a pretty full life. It's hard work but it's exciting, and enjoyable. 

IGN Music: And what about The Dirt movie?

Nikki Sixx: We're in no rush to make a bad movie. We had a few directors that didn't see eye to eye, so MTV and Paramount are working to find the right situation to make the right movie. It'll happen, I know that much. Whether it's the other musicians I work with, my management or Simon & Schuster, I know these things will happen 'cuz I only surround myself with the best people.

IGN Music: Lastly, any thoughts on Rock Star Supernova?

Nikki Sixx: You know what, I saw a couple of [the episodes]. I don't watch too much TV, but I heard some of the songs and there was some pretty cool stuff there. You always have to give thumbs up to any musician who's making music outside of what they normally do. These days, Nikki Sixx has no shortage of good things to keep his life fulfilled and the demons away. And that's important, 'cuz rock 'n' roll needs him…who else is going to make infectious rock music and keep the kids off the street? That's pretty iconic. The Heroin Diaries will be released on September 18, 2007 through Pocket Books/Simon & Schuster.

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