Charity Book Spotlight: Nikki Sixx


Title: The Heroin Diaries: A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rock Star
Author: Nikki Sixx
Genre: Memoir
Number of Pages: 413
Synopsis: Set against the frenzied world of heavy metal superstardom, the co-founder of Motley Crue offers an unflinching and gripping look at his own descent into drug addiction. It follows him during the year he plunged to rock bottom and his courageous decision to pick himself up and start living again."

I was given this book from my good friend Gina to read. I had posted a photo on Facebook talking about how the best gift one could get was a copy of someone's favorite book, with highlighted passages that mean a lot to them, so you can read the book through their eyes. This is exactly what she did. I didn't know much about the book before I started reading it, other than I knew it was her favorite book and that it was about Nikki Sixx. 

It was an interesting read. Hard to read at times though because of the subject, but it was worth reading. It had me laughing, crying, and my heart shattering. I learned so much. If you're a fan of 80's metal Motley Crue, Sixx AM, or Nikki Sixx, it is worth reading.  -Kate

Pick up a copy here: Amazon




Title: This is Gonna Hurt: Music, Photography, and Life Through the Distorted Lens of Nikki Sixx
Author: Nikki Sixx
Genre: Memoir
Number of Pages: 224
Synopsis: This Is Gonna Hurt is music, photography, and life through the distorted lens of Nikki Sixx, bassist for heavy metal rock band Mötley Crüe’s and the New York Times bestselling author of The Heroin Diaries. A combination of powerful prose and dramatic photographs, This Is Gonna Hurt is an arresting, deeply personal look through the eyes of a real rock star at a stark, post-addiction world.

Yet again Nikki Sixx has welcomed readers into his mind and allowed us to experience life through his distorted lens. As Sixx states in the introduction of the book, “I am happy to roll up my sleeves (tattoos and all) and let you see that I wear my heart for the whole world to see (scars and all).” This book is a compelling collection of photographs, thoughts, poems, and other writings by Nikki Sixx on many topics. Each page is beautifully thought out and decorated unlike any other book I have ever encountered, (Other than The Heroin Diaries by Nikki Sixx). 

While there are no concrete main characters, per se, in this book, all of the writings come from the mind and experiences of Nikki Sixx. There also photographs and stories of/about the people he has met while on many of his travels. Sixx’s thoughts and the stories he provides about those individuals in the photographs are heartbreaking but enlightening all the same. 

The theme within the book id about people’s distorted view on beauty and acceptance of those who are different from the ‘stereotypical definition of beauty.’ Throughout the book Nikki has photos of individuals who struggle with self-image or who are just struggling their way through life and shows that in their own way they are beautiful. He also challenges the reader to break away from conventional beauty that is portrayed in the media. He allows you to challenge your thoughts and beliefs and see that beauty is all around even in places you lest expect it to be. 

Personally, upon reading this book it made me delve deeper into the human belief/concept of beauty and how we shouldn’t listen to those ideas of beauty that are around us instead we should make up our own definition and embrace all of the beauty that the world gives us. I believe that this book was written to show a different side of Sixx, that he isn’t just a badass rockstar, but that he is willing to open up and show other aspects of what he loves to do and his many passions. I absolutely loved this book and was looking to buy it for some time after hearing the audio book version. The audio book version is not a bad listen, however, it’s better to have the physical copy because then you can see the photos that are being discussed in the stories of the book. 

This book held my attention and was one that I found very interesting. It did not take me very long to finish reading. I would definitely recommend this book as one that everyone should read at least once, since you will not be disappointed. And as Nikki mentions at the end of the book, ‘I know that if you’re still reading you must have felt something, and I’ve given you a glimpse through my distorted lens, then maybe we can both agree that life is wonderful and beautiful, no matter what. Don’t believe the lies of the beautiful people; believe in yourself.” -Gina

Pick up a copy here: Amazon


Both of these books benefit Running Wild In The Night music program at Covenant House California 


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