MÖTLEY CRÜE's NIKKI SIXX: 'We're Loving What We're Doing'

Robert Morast of the Argus Leader recently conducted an interview with MÖTLEY CRÜE bassist Nikki Sixx. Several excerpts from the chat follow:

Argus Leader: Are you sick of talking about the time you overdosed on heroin, and technically died, or do you wear it like a badge of pride?

Nikki Sixx: "I really could care less. I’m into the now. I guess people are into the past, but that’s not really living."

Argus Leader: MÖTLEY CRÜE has written about, bragged about and sang about partying like few other bands in the last 40 years. Has there been a rock group that lived up to the mantra of sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll more than MÖTLEY CRÜE?

Nikki Sixx: "God, I have no idea, dude. Many bands have terrorized, we're not the only one. ... Let's talk about the music."

Argus Leader: Well, I wanted to ask about your best drugs and rock 'n' roll story here, but what music would you like to talk about?

Nikki Sixx: "'Home Sweet Home' (a remix with Chester Bennington of LINKIN PARK done specifically to raise funds for hurricane victims). We had a really good time doing it. The good news is that the whole idea behind it is that it's to build awareness. There's never enough good in the world."

Argus Leader: Cool. Vince was in "The Surreal Life". Tommy went to college. Why is everyone so interested in reality TV? Have you thought about a series?

Nikki Sixx: "Man, if I told you how many I turned down you'd laugh. It's ridiculous. It's not my thing. I'm a musician. The music. That's what people care about."

Argus Leader: Is it mostly aging adults or are there some young people at your concerts?

Nikki Sixx: "It's about 50-50 now. It's amazing wherever we go, so many young kids are like, 'Dude, I love your first album, 'Dr. Feelgood'.' I'm like, 'We had a few before that album.'"

Argus Leader: I'm asking about the younger audience because in the last few years it's become ironically cool for the young hipsters to dig the CRÜE and wear the T-shirts.

Nikki Sixx: "It happened with BLACK SABBATH and AEROSMITH. I actually saw it happen with THE ROLLING STONES. There was a time when it wasn't hip to like the STONES. You've got to keep reinventing yourself. Much like MUDDY WATERS or ERIC CLAPTON, you just keep going. You make music. You don't make music to be fashionable."

Argus Leader: But so many people assumed the CRÜE made music precisely to be fashionable in the ’80s.

Nikki Sixx: "We weren't making music to be fashionable. We were against everything."

Argus Leader: So, when you were becoming famous and people began copying your styles, why didn’t you revolt against the imitation, or did you take the imitators as a compliment?

Nikki Sixx: "I guess you always take it as a compliment. But I don’t want to look around and see a bunch of MÖTLEY juniors. It was pretty organic. It was important to change into who we are."

Argus Leader: Is Johnny Knoxville still going to be Nikki Sixx in the film adaptation of your book "The Dirt"?

Nikki Sixx: "It was like, a couple years ago, we talked about that, he was interested in doing that. The hardest part was getting the director. We're just about buttoned up with a new director. Then we'll get on to casting. We'll see if Johnny is still interested. At the time he was just known for 'Jackass'."

Argus Leader: Will the movie be more about partying or the music?

Argus Leader: How long can the CRÜE survive? How long before it becomes a self-mockery like THE ROLLING STONES, where folks want the band to just retire?

Nikki Sixx: "Who cares what those people say. (THE ROLLING STONES) are making music. They're doing what they want to do. Who gives a (expletive) what people want them to do. We're loving what we're doing. When we're not enjoying it anymore we'll stop doing it."

Argus Leader: Back in the day, the CRÜE's music was a party soundtrack. Has it devolved into a soundtrack for nostalgia?

Nikki Sixx: "I don't have a crystal ball. If that's what people want, that's what they'll see. I don't think people are as concerned about these questions you're asking as you are. It's mostly like, 'We love your band.' Or, 'Tommy slept with this chick so we love your band.' I'm like, OK. I don't listen to 'Start Me Up' or 'Brown Sugar' and think, 'Thank God Keith Richards was a junkie.'"