Reviewed by Ian Phillips.
By SIXX:A.M., Better Noise Music 2021.
SIXX:A.M. is one of the many musical expressions of Nikki Sixx and Hits is an accompanying piece to his soon to be released memoir The First 21: How I Became Nikki Sixx.
The Hits album is a retrospective of the band’s best-known songs and fan favourites, with the inclusion of an additional five tracks of previously unreleased material.
Sixx was one of the founding members of Motley Crue and his memoir tells the story of how Frank Feranna became Nikki Sixx and the first 21 years of his life.
It follows on from his previous best seller Heroin Diaries: A Year In The Life Of A Shattered Rock Star, which was also a book/record combination.
The track list for the Hits album includes all the tracks you’d expect to be there including Life Is Beautiful,Lies of The Beautiful People, This Is Gonna Hurt, Skin, The Belly of The Beast etc.
Of the additional tracks some are alternate versions of previously released tracks such as Life Is Beautiful done as a vocal and piano mix and a rock mix of Skin but there’s also a Radio Mix of Talk To Me and a new title track The First 21.
Pray For Me is one of Sixx’s best songs and it’s included.
SIXX:A.M. is comprised of Nikki Sixx, Dj Ashba and James Michael, the band name being comprised of Nikki’s name and the initials of the other two members.
The band have released five studio albums as well as a string of hit singles including number one hits Life Is Beautiful, and Lies of The Beautiful People.
Their complete catalogue of albums is: The Heroin Diaries Soundtrack (2007); This Is Gonna Hurt (2011); Modern Vintage (2014); Prayers For The Dammed and Blessed (2016); and three EPs X-Mas in Hell (2008); Life Is Beautiful (2008); and 7 (2011).
If you’re a fan of Nikki Sixx and/or Motley Crue then I suggest you get hold of the book and album.
The Heroin Diaries was a best seller and the combined package excellent.
