Nikki Sixx to Release New Book How I Became Nikki Sixx

One would think any discussion of how a teenager named Frank Feranna Jr. became world-famous as Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx was sufficiently covered in the band’s collective autobiography, The Dirt. And if not there, then in Nikki’s subsequent book, The Heroin Diaries. And if not there, then in Nikki’s subsequent subsequent book, This is Gonna Hurt.

Apparently not, though! For Mr. Sixx has now announced a new book, The First 21: How I Became Nikki Sixx, which is being marketed as the bassist’s “origin story.” In case you were concerned it would just be a detailed set of instructions for how to file a Petition for Change of Name in the state of California.

Here’s the publisher’s description of Sixx’s latest tome:

“Rock-and-roll icon and three-time bestselling author Nikki Sixx tells his origin story: how Frank Feranna became Nikki Sixx, chronicling his fascinating journey from irrepressible Idaho farmboy to the man who formed the revolutionary rock group Mötley Crüe.

“Nikki Sixx is one of the most respected, recognizable, and entrepreneurial icons in the music industry. As the founder of Mötley Crüe who is now in his twentieth year of sobriety, Sixx is incredibly passionate about his craft and wonderfully open about his life in rock and roll, and as a person of the world. Born Franklin Carlton Feranna on December 11, 1958, young Frankie was abandoned by his father and partly raised by his mother, a woman who was ahead of her time in some ways and deeply troubled in others. Frankie ended up living with his grandparents, bouncing from farm to farm and state to state. He was an all-American kid—hunting, fishing, chasing girls, and playing football—but underneath it all, there was a burning desire for more, and that more was music. He eventually took a Greyhound bound for Hollywood.

“In Los Angeles, Frank lived with his aunt and his uncle—the president of Capitol Records. But there was no short path to the top. He was soon on his own. There were dead-end jobs: dipping circuit boards, clerking at liquor and record stores, selling used light bulbs, and hustling to survive. But at night, Frank honed his craft, joining Sister, a band formed by fellow hard-rock veteran Blackie Lawless, and formed a group of his own: London, the precursor of Mötley Crüe. Turning down an offer to join Randy Rhoads’ band, Frank changed his name to Nikki London, Nikki Nine, and, finally, Nikki Sixx. Like Huck Finn with a stolen guitar, he had a vision: a group that combined punk, glam, and hard rock into the biggest, most theatrical and irresistible package the world had ever seen. With hard work, passion, and some luck, the vision manifested in reality—and this is a profound true story finding identity, of how Frank Feranna became Nikki Sixx. And it’s a road map to the ways you can overcome anything, and achieve all of your goals, if only you put your mind to it.”

So it’s The Secret for glam metal fans who never saw Back to the Future? Cool cool cool.

P.S. Massive props to whoever pitched comparing comparing Nikki Sixx to Huckleberry Finn with a straight face. They do have at least one thing in common.

The First 21: How I Became Nikki Sixx comes out October 19. You can pre-order it wherever you pre-order books. Figure it out.

Mötley Crüe have been in the news a lot lately, although generally for reasons even more embarrassing than this.

Mötley Crüe are currently scheduled to tour with Def Leppard, Poison, Joan Jett, and some other band called Tik Tuk or something like that in the summer of 2022. Buy tickets here to help me feed my five kids.