NIKKI SIXX Says He Doesn't Recall Rape Story In MÖTLEY CRÜE's 'The Dirt' Book: 'It's Possibly Greatly Embellished'

MÖTLEY CRÜE bassist Nikki Sixx has apologized for a story in the band's 2001 memoir "The Dirt" in which he describes a scene where he may have participated in a sexual assault during a party.

In one of the book's most controversial tales, Sixx said he "pretty much" raped an intoxicated woman after he had had sex with her in a closet and then sent drummer Tommy Lee in to do the same.

If such an account were published now, or allegations to that effect posted on social media, the artist in question would be vilified by fans and potentially subject to criminal proceedings.

Earlier today, Sixx told Rolling Stone that he doesn't recall the incident in question, claiming that the details in the book — which was written by the group with author Neil Strauss — were "possibly greatly embellished" or "made up."

Sixx's full statement to Rolling Stone reads as follows: "The book was written in 2000 during a really low point in my life. I had lost my sobriety and was using drugs and alcohol to deal with a disintegrating relationship which I still to this day regret how I handled. I honestly don't recall a lot of the interviews with Neil.

"I went into rehab in 2001 and really wish I would've done my interviews after I was clean and sober like I am today.

"I don't actually recall that story in the book beyond reading it. I have no clue why its in there other than I was outta my head and it's possibly greatly embellished or [I] made it up. Those words were irresponsible on my part. I am sorry.

"There is a lot of horrible behavior in the book.

"What I can tell you is that we all lived to regret a lot and learned from it.

"We own up to all our behavior that hurt our selves, our families, friends and any innocents around us.”

In "The Dirt", Sixx said that a woman he knew pulled him into a small room and the two began having sex. He later returned with Lee and tricked the woman into thinking the drummer was him.

"We fucked for a while, then I told her I had to go to the bathroom. I went into the party and found Tommy," Sixx was quoted as saying in the book. "[I said], 'Dude, come here.' I grabbed him [and said], 'I got this chick in the closet. Follow me, and don't say a word. When I tell you, start fucking her.'

"In the closet, I stood directly behind Tommy. He fucked her while she grabbed my hair and yelled, 'Oh, Nikki! Nikki!'"

In the book, Sixx said he completely forgot about the encounter until the woman called him the following morning and told him she had been raped, explaining a man had assaulted her as she hitchhiked home from the party.

Sixx said in the book that the story made him realize he had "probably gone too far," adding: "At first, I was relieved, because it meant I hadn't raped her. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that I pretty much had. I was in a zone, though, and in that zone, consequences did not exist. Besides, I was capable of sinking even lower than that."

The incident is not included in the upcoming film adaptation of "The Dirt", which will arrive on March 22 via Netflix.

Photo credit: Courtney Sixx