Nikki Sixx

Frank Carlton Serafino Feranna Jr. was born on December 11, 1958, in San Jose, California. He was also raised in San Jose. He is of Italian descent on his father's side, from Calascibetta, Sicily. Sixx was partially raised by his single mother, Deana Richards, and by his grandparents after his father left the family. Feranna's uncle, husband of Deana's sister Sharon, is Don Zimmerman, producer and president of Capitol Records. Feranna had one full biological sister (born with Down syndrome; died circa 2000) and has one half-brother and a half-sister. Feranna grew up listening to Deep Purple, Harry Nilsson, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Elton John, Queen, and Black Sabbath; he later discovered T. Rex, David Bowie, and Slade. While living in Jerome, Idaho, Feranna's youth was troubled; he became a teenage vandal, broke into neighbors' homes, shoplifted, and was expelled from school for selling drugs. His grandparents sent him to live with his mother, who had moved to Seattle. Feranna lived there for a short time and learned how to play the bass guitar, having bought his first instrument with money gained from selling a guitar he had stolen. ==Career==

Early career, Sister, London (1975–1979) At the age of 17, Feranna moved to Los Angeles and worked menial jobs such as working at a liquor store after answering an ad in The Recycler for a bass player. Soon after recording a demo, Feranna was fired from Sister The band self-recorded their debut album, Too Fast for Love, which was subsequently released in November 1981 on the band's own Leathür Records label. After signing with Elektra Records, they re-released the same album. During his time with Mötley Crüe, Sixx became addicted to heroin. He is quoted in The Heroin Diaries as saying: "Alcohol, acid, cocaine... they were just affairs. When I met heroin it was true love." He estimates he overdosed "about half a dozen times". On December 23, 1987, Sixx overdosed on heroin and was reportedly declared clinically dead for two minutes before a paramedic revived him with two syringes full of adrenaline. performing onstage with Mötley Crüe, on June 14, 2005, in Glasgow, Scotland After releasing the compilation album Decade of Decadence in 1991, Neil left the group, and was replaced by John Corabi, who formerly served with The Scream. They released one self titled album with Corabi, in 1994, before firing him in 1996. Afterwards, they reunited with Neil, with whom they released Generation Swine in 1997. On June 24, 2008, Mötley Crüe released their ninth studio album, Saints of Los Angeles, with Sixx credited as either writer or co-writer on all tracks. Sixx wrote most of Mötley Crüe's material, including tracks such as "Live Wire", "Home Sweet Home", "Girls, Girls, Girls", "Kickstart My Heart", "Wild Side", "Hooligan's Holiday" and "Dr. Feelgood". In the 1990s, all four members began contributing to the material on the albums. Netflix released The Dirt biopic based on the book of the same name that coincided with an 18-song soundtrack on March 22, 2019. Following the success of the movie and a new generation of fans, Mötley Crüe and Def Leppard announced The Stadium Tour in 2020. Due to Covid delays, the tour started on June 16, 2022 in Atlanta, GA at Truist Park Stadium and ended on November 14, 2023 at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Australia. The tour was massively successful selling out stadiums across 5 continents, North and Latin America, Europe, Australia and Japan. In October 2024, the band released the “Cancelled” EP via Big Machine Label Group featuring three new songs, the bands first new music since 2019. This EP release coincided with Mötley Crüe's return to the Sunset Strip in Hollywood, CA for the Höllywood Takeöver - 3 historic club shows at The Troubadour, Roxy, and Whisky A Go Go - during which the band raised $350K to benefit Covenant House and support the fight to end youth homelessness through Mötley Crüe’s Give Back Initiative. In 2025, Mötley Crüe returned to Las Vegas for their third residency, the first in more than a decade, following 2 successful sold-out runs of Mötley Crüe Takes On Sin City (2012) and Evening In Hell (2013). The Las Vegas Residency 2025, at Dolby Live at Park MGM consisted of 10 exclusive performances from September 12 to October 3, 2025. 58 (2000) In 2000, Sixx formed the internet-based side project 58 with producer Dave Darling, guitarist Steve Gibb (formerly of Black Label Society and Crowbar) and drummer Bucket Baker. Brides of Destruction (2002–2004) Brides of Destruction were formed by Sixx after Mötley Crüe went on hiatus and Guns left L.A. Guns. Sixx also invited former Beautiful Creatures guitarist DJ Ashba to join the group however he declined to focus on his solo band, ASHBA. Ashba would eventually join Sixx in Sixx:A.M. After a few lineup changes, that included Sixx's former Mötley Crüe bandmate John Corabi, the group was composed of Sixx, Guns, singer London LeGrand and drummer Scot Coogan formerly of Ednaswap and Annetenna. They entered the studio with producer Stevo Bruno to begin recording what would become Here Come the Brides. The Brides played their first show opening for Mudvayne and Taproot on November 14, 2002, at the Ventura Theatre in California. After signing a deal with Sanctuary Records, the group released Here Come the Brides in 2004, with the album debuting at number 92 on the Billboard 200 selling over 13,000 copies. A tour of the US, Europe, including an appearance at Download Festival in the United Kingdom, and Australia followed. On October 25, 2004, it was announced that the group were to go on hiatus while Sixx reunited with Mötley Crüe for a reunion tour. The group continued without Sixx, however, with Guns adding former Amen bassist Scott Sorry to the group as Sixx's replacement. The second Brides of Destruction album, titled Runaway Brides, released in 2005 featured three songs co-written by Sixx during the Here Come the Brides sessions. Sixx:A.M. (2006–2017) Sixx formed his own group Sixx:A.M. in 2006, to record an audio accompaniment to his memoir The Heroin Diaries: A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rock Star, They recorded and released The Heroin Diaries Soundtrack in August 2007 through Eleven Seven. peaking at number 2 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks. The band made their live debut at the Crash Mansion on July 16, 2007. They performed five songs from the album, with former Beautiful Creatures drummer Glen Sobel filling in on the drums. On April 15, 2008, Sixx:A.M. announced they would be touring as part of Mötley Crüe's Crüe Fest. During Crüe Fest, Papa Roach drummer Tony Palermo served as a touring drummer for the band. A deluxe tour edition of The Heroin Diaries Soundtrack was released on November 25, 2008, which included a bonus live EP entitled Live Is Beautiful, which features recorded performances from the band's summer tour. In April 2009, both Sixx and Michael confirmed that the band was in the studio, recording new material. Sixx added that the new material was "inspiring. it feels like we may have topped ourselves on this album coming up, and can't wait for you to hear what it sounds like." In 2010, the group continued recording the album with plans to release it by the late 2010/early 2011 with the group bringing in Paul R. Brown to shoot the video for the album's first single. During an interview in July 2010, Sixx stated that the album was almost finished. This Is Gonna Hurt, the band's second studio album, was released on May 3, 2011. A third studio album, Modern Vintage, was released in 2014. Prayers for the Damned and Prayers for the Blessed were released in 2016. The band went on hiatus in 2017, with other members DJ Ashba and James Michael forming a new band, Pyromantic. In 2021, the band released a greatest HITS album to coincide with Nikki's fourth novel, THE FIRST 21. In 2025, nearly a decade after the original release, a deluxe version of “Prayers for the Damned” and “Prayers for the Blessed” was released, featuring both albums together with brand-new renditions of “Maybe It’s Time” (Piano Version), “Prayers for the Damned” (Piano Version), and an alternative mix of “We Will Not Go Quietly." ==Other work==

In 1989, Sixx was a featured guest artist on the album Fire and Gasoline by Steve Jones, formerly of the Sex Pistols. The book debuted at #7 on The New York Times Best Seller list. Along with Big & Rich (John Rich and Big Kenny Alphin), and James Otto, Sixx co-wrote "Ain't Gonna Stop" for Otto's 2008 Sunset Man CD on Warner Bros/Raybaw Records. In May 2021, it was announced that Sixx along with Rob Zombie, John 5, and Tommy Clufetos formed a supergroup called L.A. Rats. Their debut track, "I've Been Everywhere", is from the soundtrack to the Liam Neeson film The Ice Road. Dolly Parton also appeared on the 2025 version of Mötley Crüe's song "Home Sweet Home" feat. Dolly Parton to commemorate the song's 40th Anniversary. ==Equipment==

Signature bass guitars Sixx is most often seen playing Gibson Thunderbird bass guitars. Between 2000 and 2003, Gibson produced the Nikki Sixx Signature Blackbird. The Gibson Blackbird was for all intents and purposes a standard Thunderbird bass, but with a satin black finish, Iron Crosses on the fretboard instead of dots, an Iron Cross behind the classic Thunderbird logo, and Nikki Sixx's 'opti-grab' (a metal loop installed behind the bridge for hooking the little finger onto while playing). What also made this bass guitar interesting was the lack of volume or tone controls, being replaced by a single on/off switch. Although subtle, this helped give this Blackbird more tone and a higher output. This model was discontinued in 2003, but has recently been put back in production as the Epiphone Nikki Sixx Blackbird. Cosmetically the Epiphone Blackbird is identical to the Gibson original, but with a bolt-on single ply neck, solid mahogany body, different pickups and lower grade parts and manufacturing. The Epiphone model still kept the 'opti-grab,' designed and made first by his bass technician Tim Luzzi, and single on/off switch of the Gibson original. In 2008, Gibson announced a 'limited run' new Nikki Sixx signature bass. Like the original it features a neck through design made of mahogany and walnut, with maple 'wings' to form the body. Unlike the original 'Blackbird' bass, a clear 'satin black cherry' finish is given to the instrument, with red 'slash' X's on the 3rd, 5th, 7th and 12th frets. A mirror pickguard is also applied, with a red signature and two X's (6 x's on the whole bass guitar) is also a new addition. Unlike the Gibson Blackbird, the new signature featured volume and tone controls, the 'opti-grab', and an on/off switch. ==Personal life==

Nikki Sixx began dating singer Denise "Vanity" Matthews in 1986. They initially planned to marry in December 1987, but the wedding was postponed. Sixx ultimately called off the engagement in 1988. During their relationship, Sixx had a "V" tattooed on his bicep, which he turned into Roman numeral "VI" after their breakup. In his book The Heroin Diaries, he recalls that their bond was driven largely by their shared drug use. Sixx wrote that he viewed her "as a disposable human being, like a used needle." "Vanity also taught me how to really freebase: the first time I based was with Tommy when Mötley just started and only a few times after that. So up until then, I'd been mostly snorting or injecting. But as soon as she showed me the real ins and outs of cooking up a good rock…it was love. Not her. The drug," he said. From May 1989 to November 1996, Sixx was married to his first wife, Playboy Playmate Brandi Brandt; One month after the divorce from Brandt, Sixx married his second wife, actress and Playmate of the Month for September 1995, Donna D'Errico. Sixx dated tattoo artist Kat Von D from 2008 to 2010. A few months after their breakup, Sixx and Von D were spotted back together. Sixx was featured on an episode of Von D's reality television show LA Ink in 2008, in which Von D gave him a tattoo of Mick Mars, lead guitarist of Mötley Crüe. On August 25, 2010, Sixx issued a statement that their relationship had dissolved. It was reported on October 19, 2010, that Sixx and Von D had gotten back together. On October 27, 2010 Kat Von D confirmed to USA Today that indeed she and West Coast Choppers owner Jesse James were still together, debunking original reports that she and Sixx had reconciled. On November 4, 2010, Sixx attended the Call of Duty: Black Ops Launch Party in Santa Monica, California with Courtney Bingham. On November 26, 2012, Nikki revealed to the public that he proposed to Bingham while vacationing in St. Barts. They were married on March 15, 2014. Sixx practices Transcendental Meditation, as he considers it an important self-help technique. In 2017, Nikki partnered with Leica Camera for the photography exhibition “Conversation with Angels” at the Leica Gallery in Los Angeles. This exhibit was open from October 4 through November 5 and showcased Sixx' street photography from his travels all over the world. During an interview with Wall of Sound, Sixx revealed he is working on a children's book with his wife and a coffee table poetry/photography book. ==Radio shows==

Launched on February 8, 2010, Sixx Sense with Nikki Sixx broadcasts Monday through Friday from 7 p.m. to midnight local time on rock/alternative music stations. Each night, host Nikki Sixx discusses music and lifestyle topics as he gives listeners a backstage look at the world and mind of a rock star. Sixx was joined by co-host Kerri Kasem, from its first episode until March 28, 2014. On April 2, it was announced that radio personality Jenn Marino would be joining the show in Kasem's place. The show is based in Dallas, Texas in a studio in the Northpark Center. Starting on May 7, 2012, KEGL in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas moved the show to mornings, making it the only station to carry the show in the mornings at 6 to 10 AM local time instead of the evening's time slot. The show is customized for the Dallas/Fort Worth listeners for broadcast in the mornings on KEGL. Sixx said that bringing Sixx Sense to mornings "has always been our goal. Who better to start your morning with than a rock star and a hot chick? It's a dream come true to have a morning show on one of America's best rock stations." however, one year later, Sixx Sense returned to evenings at KEGL. In addition, recent episodes of "Sixx Sense" air 24/7 on its own iHeartRadio streaming page. The Side Show with Nikki Sixx is a two-hour original weekend program. Airing Saturday or Sunday between 6 a.m. and midnight local time, Nikki Sixx will air top-charting songs, showcase new and emerging artists, and welcome guests from the worlds of music and entertainment. ==Running Wild in the Night==

With the formation of Sixx:A.M. and the release of The Heroin Diaries, Nikki Sixx teamed up with an already existing charity known as the Covenant House and created his own branch called Running Wild in the Night. In addition to partially funding the services the Covenant House provides on its own, Sixx's division also provides a creative arts and music program. Sixx has negotiated with people in his industry to provide the program with musical instruments and software. A Portion of the profits from Sixx:A.M.'s album The Heroin Diaries Soundtrack and his autobiography, The Heroin Diaries: A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rock Star is donated to help the Covenant House. He continues to auction off personal items to fund Running Wild in the Night. As of April 2009, he had raised over $100,000. ==Discography==

Production and songwriting credits ==References==