Motley Crue Founder Nikki Sixx: ‘Let Your Animal Instinct Lead the Way’

The bassist behind the band that epitomizes rock and roll excess talks creativity, passion and what it is like to stand in front of thousands of people losing their minds in unison.

By Dan Bova Jan 20, 2022

This week’s Get a Real Job guest is the founder of a band that rocked my 15-year-old balls off as I sat way up in the rafters of Madison Square Garden in 1990. (Shout out to my friend Joey’s cousin for landing us those sweet, sweet tix.)

Frank Feranna, better known as Nikki Sixx, was the primary songwriter and bassist for Motley Crue, a band that absolutely epitomizes rock and roll excess. He has a new memoir out, called The First 21: How I Became Nikki Sixx, which tells his incredible life story and gives tips on how you, too, can pursue your dream and hopefully avoid some painful pitfalls along the way.

Related: Talking Dirty With Dirty Jobs’ Mike Rowe

I have to say I expected a lot from our conversation, but as is typical of a guy who performed on stage with a bass guitar that doubles as a functioning flamethrower, he over-delivered in a major way. Thanks as always for listening! Are you ready to rock?

This week’s Get a Real Job guest is the founder of a band that rocked my 15-year-old balls off as I sat way up in the rafters of Madison Square Garden in 1990. (Shout out to my friend Joey’s cousin for landing us those sweet, sweet tix.)

Frank Feranna, better known as Nikki Sixx, was the primary songwriter and bassist for Motley Crue, a band that absolutely epitomizes rock and roll excess. He has a new memoir out, called The First 21: How I Became Nikki Sixx, which tells his incredible life story and gives tips on how you, too, can pursue your dream and hopefully avoid some painful pitfalls along the way.

Related: Talking Dirty With Dirty Jobs’ Mike Rowe

I have to say I expected a lot from our conversation, but as is typical of a guy who performed on stage with a bass guitar that doubles as a functioning flamethrower, he over-delivered in a major way. Thanks as always for listening! Are you ready to rock?

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Dan Bova

VP of Special Projects at Entrepreneur.com
Entrepreneur Staff
Dan Bova is the VP of Special Projects at Entrepreneur.com and host of the How Success Happens podcast. He previously worked at Jimmy Kimmel Live, Maxim, and Spy magazine. His latest books for kids include This Day in History, Car and Driver's Trivia Zone, Road & Track Crew's Big & Fast Cars, The Big Little...

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