MÖTLEY CRÜE's SIXX: 'I Do Everything And Anything To Not Be A Rock Star And Just Be An Artist'

Chris Kallal of Metromix recently conducted an interview with MÖTLEY CRÜE bassist Nikki Sixx. A few excerpts from the chat follow below.

Metromix: MÖTLEY CRÜE is amongst the top selling rock bands of all time. You've sold millions of records and still, to this day, sell out stadiums while on tour. You're kind of a rock star. Has that sunk in for you after 27 years in the business?

Nikki: Dude, I do everything and anything to not be a rock star and just be an artist. I focus on artistry. I mean, yeah, we get compliments from bands, or artists who say they've been influenced by our music, and that's cool, but I don't focus on it. That's kind of like living in ego. I don't go there. I'm just another cat who plays some pieces of metal on a piece of wood.

Metromix: Do you ever regret the things you did in MÖTLEY's heyday? You have kids now, are you open with them about how dad acted back then?

Nikki: No, I don't regret it, but sure I have opinions on whether people should be doing what I did, or learn from my mistakes. I'm not an advice giver, but I do have opinions. You have to give them all the info and hope they make the right decisions. Forcing it on them is a mistake. It will only make them rebel. I tell them, "I'd hate to see you make the same mistakes I did."

Metromix: MÖTLEY CRÜE is on tour right now with HINDER, THEORY OF A DEADMAN and THE LAST VEGAS. Tell me about the tour. Does it feel good to be on the road again?

Nikki: Tonight's our third show, we're in Reno right now. It's been good, and we're still working out the kinks, which is funny for us 'cause we've played together for so long. On the first night, in Palm Springs, we had to stop playing "Live Wire" midway through the song. We had to stop. We screwed up. We just looked at each other and laughed, then started it up again. I mean we've played that song thousands of times, but that's just the way the first few nights are, working out the kinks. THE LAST VEGAS is a next-generation rock band. They're a great, raw, dirty little rock band. I like showing new bands to our fans and letting their fans see our music.

Metromix: You're on the road right now, heading to your next tour stop. What's on your iPod? What bands are you digging these days?

Nikki: Man, that's a tough one. I guess, just start at the top, I've got AEROSMITH and AC/DC, AVERAGE WHITE BAND, BELA FLECK, SIGUR ROS, SNOW PATROL. I'm really into tango — Argentine music, right now. I saw this great band when I was in Argentina this last year, it was like 7 accordions and 2 guitars. It felt like a horror movie soundtrack. I'm like anyone else, I've got a lot of music and musical tastes. You know, though, what I hate is when bands can't remember who they are. When they change their sound, like, "We can do anything we want." That's not true. You have to play the sound you've made.

Read the entire interview from Metromix.