Sixx:A.M. Release First New Song in Five Years, “The First 21”

I really dug Sixx:A.M.’s first album, The Heroin Diaries Soundtrack, which came out in 2007. The brainchild of Mötley Crüe bassist/songwriter Nikki Sixx (duh) and DJ Ashba (ex-Guns N’ Roses, ex-Beautiful Creatures), along with singer James Michael, the album contained song after song of big hard rock hooks, and the autobiographical element connecting to Sixx’s story brought it all together.

But I haven’t cared much for the band’s material ever since. I’ve listened to the singles, and they’ve been fine, but they haven’t stuck with me… no impulse to go back and listen again.

That said, “The First 21,” the band’s latest single, is super solid, and it reminds me of how good of a songwriter Nikki Sixx is. He’s got that gift that great songwriters have, the ability to tell a story that seems at once specific and generally relatable and to do it in a lyrically engaging way. And he’s got the musical prowess to back it up, with help from Ashba and Michael, of course.

“The First 21” comes from Sixx:A.M.’s upcoming compilation album, Hits, due on October 22 via Better Noise Music. The album is a retrospective celebration of SIXX:A.M.’s biggest hits and fan-favorite songs and also includes five previously unreleased tracks and mixes, marking the band’s first official album with new material since 2016. The First 21 is also the name of Sixx’s brand new memoir.

Give the new song a spin below.