Motley Crue Bassist Nikki Sixx on Drugs and Creativity

Photo courtesy of Blabbermouth

It is a common notion in the world of music (primarily rock and metal) that drugs make you more creative. Artists like The Beatles and Jimi Hendrix definitely helped cement that in the minds of the common folk. Former Motley Crue bassist and primary song writer Nikki Sixx has recently opened up and shared his thoughts on the subject.

Sixx is of course notorious for having been a heavy drug addict during Motley Crue's 80's heyday. The name Motley Crue was pretty much synonymous with sex, drugs, and rock n' roll and nobody partied harder than they did. This of course affected their work and also caused Sixx to overdose twice and die briefly the second time.

Years later Sixx would recount that time of his life with is book The Heroin Diaries: A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rockstar (which is now celebrating its 10th anniversary). In a recent interview with MSNBC Sixx goes into his feelings on the drug epidemic in America, but more interestingly his feelings on how drugs affect creativity, saying:

“I was thinking about 1987 and how I was barely able to get an album done and a tour. And, actually, the tour was canceled, the last part of the tour. And in 2017, I'm able to do a radio show, write books, do photography, be a better husband, a father, and be part of these conversations that are happening. So I really think that sobriety gives you more energy and more creativity.”

Sixx is sadly one of the few lucky ones who was able to get away from such a lifestyle and live many more happy and healthy years. I wholeheartedly agree with his statement on creativity. It just takes away your energy and your focus. All you become focused on is getting your next fix just to be ok. Even if you're just doing something like pot it still takes away from your creativity because what comes from you isn't really you. It's just whatever your drug addled brain made you spew out at that moment. I personally have come up with all of my best material when I'm not under the influence of any mind altering substances (that weren't prescribed to me and taken at the instructed dosage). If you're really a creative person, you can do it without any substances.