Born: 11th December, 1958 (San Jose, California, USA)
Profile: He is an American bassist, author, fashion designer, photographer and the main songwriter for the band "Mötley Crüe". He has also played bass for glam metal bands; "London", the experimental band "58", the hard rock band "Brides of Destruction" and more recently, "Sixx:A.M."
History: Since a teenager who lived with his grandparents, Ferrana was always into trouble. His grandparents sent him to live with his mother, who had moved to Seattle. He lived there for a short time, and learned how to play the bass guitar, having bought his first instrument with money earned from selling a prior guitar he had stolen. At the age of 17, he struck out on his own, moving to LA selling vacuums over the phone while he auditioned for bands.
During this period of time, he changed his name, basing it on the stage name of a Riverside, musician Jeff Nicholson, called Niki Syxx. He unsuccessfully auditioned for "Quiet Riot" and "Sister" before joining "London", a local glam outfit whose lineup saw numerous changes. Sixx soon left the band.
In 1981, Sixx founded "Mötley Crüe" with drummer Tommy Lee, later being joined by Mick Mars and Vince Neil. The band decided to self-record their debut album, 'Too Fast for Love', which was subsequently released in November 1981 on the band's own record label. After signing with Elektra Records they re-released the album. The band then went on to record a new album, 'Shout at the Devil', and raising the band to national fame.
In 1989, Sixx was a featured guest artist on the album 'Fire and Gasoline' by Steve Jones (Sex Pistols), and co-wrote and performed on the song, 'We're No Saints'. In 1991, Sixx played bass on 'Feed My Frankenstein' on Alice Cooper's 'Hey Stoopid' album. Besides his "Mötley Crüe" duties, Sixx also had a side project dubbed "58", issuing their debut album in 2000, 'Diet for a New America'. Sixx also formed a band called "Brides of Destruction" with Tracii Guns (LA Guns). After one album, the band broke up due to extremely poor album sales and the inability to get any radio airplay.
Sixx wrote most of "Mötley Crüe's" material, including tracks such as 'Live Wire', 'Home Sweet Home', 'Girls, Girls, Girls', 'Kickstart My Heart' and 'Dr. Feelgood'. In 2006, "Mötley Crüe" completed a reunion tour featuring all four original members and embarked on a co-headlining tour with "Aerosmith", and in 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 also worked on a soundtrack to be released with the book called The Heroin Diaries. The soundtrack was recorded by his new band, "Sixx: A.M". The entire album was written and produced by Sixx. The album was released in 2007, and the book was released a month later. The single 'Life is Beautiful' went to #1.
Influences: Unknown
Axology: Gibson Thunderbird, Gibson Blackbird, Epiphone Nikki Sixx Blackbird, BC Rich Mockingbird & Warlock basses, Hamer made Thunderbird style basses, Ernie Ball Music Man 5-string bass, Fender Precision Bass, Squier Precision Bass, Fender Bassman and Ampeg amplifiers
Signature song(s): Kickstart My Heart - Mötley Crüe (Dr. Feelgood, 1989) and Life is Beautiful - Sixx: A.M. (The Heroin Diaries Soundtrack, 2007)
Link(s):
http://www.nikkisixx.net/ (Official website)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrMVYukSIU0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffWs2OU2yeg
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