Born Franklin Carlton Feranna on December 11, 1958 in San Jose, California, Nikki Sixx was raised by his single mother, and her abusive boyfriend, after his biological father abandoned the family. When he was six, he and his mother moved to Mexico for a short time, after which they moved to Twin Falls, Idaho, with his grandparents. The family moved several more times, to El Paso, Texas, then to Anthony, New Mexico, back to El Paso and then returned to Twin Falls.
While living in Idaho, Sixx became a teenage vandal, breaking into neighbors' homes, shoplifting and being expelled from school for selling drugs. His grandparents sent him to live with his mother, who had moved to Seattle. He lived there for a short time, and learned how to play the bass guitar after buying his first instrument with money he made from selling a guitar he stole from a music store. At the age of 17, he moved to Los Angeles on his own; he got jobs at a liquor store and manufacturing plant and played in a band called Sister with Blackie Lawless of W.A.S.P.
By 1981, Sixx had developed a plan to create the ultimate "theatrical" band for the new decade. He found guitarist Mick Mars, drummer Tommy Lee, and singer Vince Neil to share in this vision. The band Motley Crue rose quickly in the musical environment of L.A.'s Sunset Strip, although at first no label would sign them due to their erratic stage performances. So on their own label, Leathur Records, they recorded "Too Fast For Love" in 1981. After signing with Elektra they re-released the "Too Fast For Love" and then went on to record and release "Shout At The Devil," the band quickly reached national fame.
Like his band mates, Sixx took advantage of the excess that Rock n' Roll allowed, surpassing the attempts of his band mates by binging on alcohol, cocaine, and most notably, heroin. Sixx has often stated that he would use his body as a human chemistry set, mixing excessive amounts of drugs on a regular basis in search for a new "high."
While living in Idaho, Sixx became a teenage vandal, breaking into neighbors' homes, shoplifting and being expelled from school for selling drugs. His grandparents sent him to live with his mother, who had moved to Seattle. He lived there for a short time, and learned how to play the bass guitar after buying his first instrument with money he made from selling a guitar he stole from a music store. At the age of 17, he moved to Los Angeles on his own; he got jobs at a liquor store and manufacturing plant and played in a band called Sister with Blackie Lawless of W.A.S.P.By 1981, Sixx had developed a plan to create the ultimate "theatrical" band for the new decade. He found guitarist Mick Mars, drummer Tommy Lee, and singer Vince Neil to share in this vision. The band Motley Crue rose quickly in the musical environment of L.A.'s Sunset Strip, although at first no label would sign them due to their erratic stage performances. So on their own label, Leathur Records, they recorded "Too Fast For Love" in 1981. After signing with Elektra they re-released the "Too Fast For Love" and then went on to record and release "Shout At The Devil," the band quickly reached national fame.
Like his band mates, Sixx took advantage of the excess that Rock n' Roll allowed, surpassing the attempts of his band mates by binging on alcohol, cocaine, and most notably, heroin. Sixx has often stated that he would use his body as a human chemistry set, mixing excessive amounts of drugs on a regular basis in search for a new "high."
