How did Nikki Sixx choose his name?
Nikki Sixx is a name synonymous with heavy metal. His iconic jet-black hair and carefree demeanour made him the epitome of rock ‘n’ roll, a persona he embraced fully in his lifestyle. As a crucial member of Mötley Crüe, Sixx carved a reputation rooted in rock, borrowing from various corners of the industry to craft their sonic tapestry. He also directly adopted his name from another figure in the Sunset Strip music scene.
Born Frank Carlton Serafino Feranna Jr, Sixx’s journey to stardom was anything but conventional. Raised in Idaho and later moving to California, he embraced the pulsating beat of the Sunset Strip, diving headfirst into the burgeoning music scene of the late 1970s and ’80s. It was in this electric atmosphere that Sixx found his calling, co-founding Mötley Crüe, a band that would become not just a musical powerhouse but a cultural phenomenon.
As the band’s bassist and primary songwriter, Sixx unleashed raw, unapologetic tracks that became anthems for a generation. His songwriting prowess shaped hits like ‘Home Sweet Home’, ‘Girls, Girls’, and ‘Kickstart My Heart’, each one a testament to his creative depth and ability to capture the era’s essence.
Never confined to just music, Sixx’s creative spirit extended beyond Mötley Crüe. He explored other artistic avenues, including photography, radio hosting, and philanthropy. His radio show, Sixx Sense, provided a platform for his candid discussions on music, culture, and life, further cementing his place as an influential voice in the industry.
Perhaps one of the most intriguing aspects about Sixx is his name itself. Most fans know the general story of how this came to be, along with the idea that Sixx sought to reinvent himself to get away from his troubled upbringing. However, not many know the actual inspiration behind that specific name, including the person it initially came from.
Sixx was once romantically involved with Angie Saxon, a musician and journalism student. Prior to this relationship, Saxon had been in a relationship with Jeff Nicholson, the lead singer of the California cover band Squeeze. Nicholson had gained recognition in the music scene through his involvement in cover bands alongside Sammy Hagar. Notably, when he established Squeeze, Nicholson also took on the attention-grabbing stage name Niki Syxx.
Sixx was captivated by Nicholson’s alternate persona to such an extent that he opted to adopt it as his own. “I loved that name right away — even though it was missing that sweet extra k,” he wrote in his book, The First 21: How I Became Nikki Sixx. “Then and there, I decided to steal it.” Sixx also admits to struggling to find a suitable stage-name for quite some time. “For a while, I went around calling myself Nikki London,” he wrote. “But it caused problems, eventually, because of what we called the ‘Van Halen Syndrome.'”
Sixx briefly contemplated adopting the moniker Nikki Nine but was drawn to a different numerical alias. Saxon objected when Sixx expressed his intention to transform himself, citing his inability to appropriate Nicholson’s name. Despite her protest, Sixx maintained his signature standoffishness. “‘Whatever,’ I said. ‘He’s never going to make it.'”
