Nikki Sixx

Sixx is playing His bass live with Motley Crue (http://cryogenichusk.com/2011/06/12/nikki-sixx-87/ (Cryogenichusk ))

Nikki Sixx is My Hero

James Frey once said in his book "A Million Little Pieces" "You only live once, buy Picassos whenever possible." Frey is saying you only have one life and it should not be controlled by addiction because that is no way to live. Nikki Sixx is an 80's glam rock bassist who was an addict during the 1980's during the sex, rock and roll, and drugs phase in Hollywood. He started doing drugs at a young age and, in 1987, his addiction became so bad he had overdosed 6 times and died for two minutes of a heroin overdose. Sixx has overcome his addiction and has found other ways to cope with his suffering. A hero must possess a struggle that they overcome and express to people to help them overcome their own addictions. Nikki Sixx possesses a gift; to share his story of overcoming addiction. He shares his story to help his fans, and addicts in general, to overcome their addictions and realize that their lives should not be controlled by addiction.

Sixx overcame a strong addiction for his fans and himself. He got over his strong addiction to drugs, and sex to make better music for the people who looked up to him. Sixx was asked about his addictions, and his 1987 heroin overdose: "I don't know if I believe in life after death so much as I believe that there is something out there. Before that I was a non-committal person to religion, although I was a bit spiritual. My eyes opened after the OD. It's hard to explain the experience." Sixx was at his lowest of lows when he died for 2 minutes of a heroin overdose. That was when he realized that he needed to get clean. He went to rehab, which made me admire him even more because he decided to do what was best for him.  All of Sixx's fans realized how hard it would have been to lose him because he made a huge mark on the music industry. All of his work would be gone in a flash due to a dangerous drug and stupid decision. He talks about how hard it was for him to quit, and how he now copes with things so he is no longer tempted by his addictions. He expressed the difficulties of overcoming his demons: "It is hard quitting, and the hardest part is that you like it. What can I say about something that's pleasurable and dangerous? You find that the drugs are so tempting that you have to find other forms of enlightenment. What my wife and I do is go to an island once a year or so, and basically get crazy (not drugs). We get drunk, crazy. We're parents and she's an actress, and we both have." Sixx quit drugs for his family, he didn't care how hard it was going to be to quit, and he did it for his loved ones. I admire him for what he did because he really knows how to love someone even though he was never loved as a child. He quit for his fans as well to show that he can be bigger and better without all the sex and drugs. This opened my eyes to see that you don't have to put on a fake, stereotypical image to be a great musician. Nikki proved that you don't have to be a substance abuser in order to thrive in the world of rock and roll. He is exemplary of the idea that you don't have to compromise goodness and solidarity of self to be successful in an industry run by abusers and morally corrupt people. 

Sixx is a great musician and business man. He talks about being clean in the music business, and how it's different than being high continuously, "To be in a band, you have to accept the valleys as well as the peaks. When we're not getting played on the radio, we're just picking up speed. It's not all only being successful." Sixx understands the dynamics of the music industry and how to create longevity in the music industry. This is represented in his career which is, despite his struggle with addiction, has lasted from 1975 to present day. In fact, he is preparing a new album in the next couple of years. Sixx talks about his new clothing line Outlaw. "We are in all kinds of stores across America. It's called Outlaw Girl. We're having an extraordinary success. Hot Topic is one of the stores carrying it, and it's exciting to be a part of it." Sixx showed that not only can a rock star be successful with making music but you can be multi-talented. Throughout his years of being a famous rock star people fell in love with his iconic style, and he marketed that successfully.  Sixx is multi-talented he has shown that he is a fashion lover, bass player, and a song-writer. He turned his experience in the music industry into business savvy, and this has helped him be continually successful.

He wrote a book for addicts to read and help them overcome their addictions by sharing his stories with drugs, alcohol, and sex. "There is something about spending Christmas alone, naked, sitting by the Christmas tree gripping a shotgun, that lets you know your life is spinning dangerously outta control." Sixx proved to be a great hero by making his book The Heroin Diaries, Which contains his life ruining experiences and how one person could learn from them. He is different from other musicians because he doesn't glorify that lifestyle and chooses to shed light on the horrors of drugs. "Mick's chapter was very powerful particularly with regard to his disease. It's been very difficult for him." Nikki even talks about his band mate's life changing experiences to help move people by explaining that there is always hope. His band mate Mick Mars has a serious disease and Sixx helped him by playing music with him and taking him to the hospital. Nikki shows that life is hard but you have to push through it and it inspires other people to do the same. 

Sixx uses his stories and his gift of inspiring people by telling them about how he went to rehab and after many attempts became clean from his self destructive behavior. Nikki has many talents and he uses them for the benefit of others such has his fashion, and his wonderful music success. Sixx has shown that anyone can be a great musician without being hooked on drug. He inspires me because he didn't make excuses for himself, and chose to work extremely hard to make up for his mistakes and turn his life around. Nikki writes books using photography to show the ugliness of the world and how beautiful it can be. He shows addiction is ugly and recovery is beautiful. Sixx uses all his talents to show he has a dark past and so do many other people these days because drugs are glamorized in the 21'st century. He wants to make the world a beautiful place by using his diary from his dark times to help people realize everyone suffers and people need to make the best of their suffering. Life is a onetime deal; it's not worth it to fill your life with addiction because you will never reach your full potential. Nikki Sixx is a hero because he didn't waste his life being a puppet for the music industry.

Works consulted

"ClashMusic.com." ClashMusic.com. Clash Music, 2012. Web. 09 May 2012. 1      

Titus, Christa. "Sixx sounds call for national recovery month." Billboard 13 Sept. 2008: 77. Gale Biography In Context. Web. 9 May 2012.

George, Lianne. "Nikki Sixx Talks To Lianne George." Maclean's 120.43 (2007): 16. Biography Reference Center. Web. 9 May 2012.

Martens, Todd. "Sixx digs up more dirt in book." Hollywood Reporter 28 June 2007: 13+. Gale Biography In Context. Web. 9 May 2012.

USATODAY.com." USATODAY.com. USAtoday, 18 May 2001. Web. 09 May 2012. .

"Nikki Sixx 87." Nikki Sixx 87. Cryogenic.com, 12 June 2011. Web. 18 May 2012. .

"Chronological Crue - Motley Crue Books." Chronological Crue - Motley Crue Books. Chronological Crue. Web. 18 May 2012. .