Friday, December 12, 2008

Crue Dude Hits Half Century Mark

The Pulse of Radio reports: MÖTLEY CRÜE bassist Nikki Sixx turned 50 on Thursday, December 11 and no one is more surprised than Sixx himself that he made it. The California native was a major drug abuser during much of the band'sfirst decade and was once declared dead for two minutes after a heroin overdose.

Since getting sober, however, Sixx has continued to record and tour,written a book, taken up photography and become president of a record label. Hetold The Pulse of Radio that sometimes he can't believe his current lifestyle.

"It's insane," Sixx said. "And you know what? If you manage it well, you can achieve so much on the planet, more than what I used to be able to achieve, which was, 'Let me write ten songs, record an album and go on tour.' That's it. That's all I did. That's like, ridiculous. If all I had to do was make a MÖTLEY CRÜE album and tour, I'd feel like I was gonna slit my wrists, I'dbe so bored now."

Sixx's real name is Frank Carlton Serafina Feranna. He was born in San Jose andraised by his mother and grandparents after his father left the family.After moving around several times, he struck out for Los Angeles on his own atthe age of 17, first joining the band London before forming MÖTLEY CRÜE in 1981with drummer Tommy Lee.

The band released its debut album, "Too Fast For Love", in 1982, and scored itscommercial breakthrough in 1983 with "Shout at the Devil".Despite other hit albums such as "Girls, Girls, Girls" and "Dr. Feelgood", theCRÜE went through a period of uncertainty in the '90s, with both singer VinceNeil and Lee leaving the group at different times.The original band reunited in 2004 for a hugely successful world tour, at whichpoint Sixx officially declared himself sober.

His darkest drug period was chronicled in a 2007 memoir, "The Heroin Diaries: AYear in the Life of a Shattered Rock Star", and the accompanying album by hisside project SIXX: A.M.Sixx has been married twice, to Playboy Playmate Brandi Brandt and actress DonnaD'Errico, and has five children. He is currently dating tattoo artist and "L.A.Ink" star Kat Von D.

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