As Mötley Crüe prepares for their massive 2026 summer trek, “The Return Of Carnival Of Sins,” bassist Nikki Sixx has revealed that the lineup could have looked very different. In a candid new interview with Lyndsey Marie of the 93X radio station, Sixx disclosed that he actively tried to broker peace treaties between members of defunct bands to get them on the bill—attempts that ultimately failed due to clashing egos.
The 33-city tour, produced by Live Nation, is set to celebrate the band’s 45th anniversary and revisit the theatrical heights of their 2005-2006 cycle. While rock stalwarts Extreme and Tesla have been confirmed as support, Sixx admitted that finding suitable tourmates is becoming increasingly difficult as the years roll on.
When asked how the support acts were selected, Sixx was blunt about the shrinking pool of classic rock peers.
“It’s who’s available, which is not easy. And who’s still around, which is really not easy,” Sixx explained.
He then dropped a fascinating detail about his behind-the-scenes efforts to curate a special experience for the fans, involving bands that are currently inactive.
“There’s a few bands that we actually talked to about getting back together to do this tour with us, and there’s a couple of bands I just couldn’t get ’em to understand that it would be better for the fans than their egos. And so we try.”
Despite the failed reunion attempts, Sixx expressed genuine excitement about the final bill. The addition of Tesla and Extreme aligns with his philosophy that great songwriting transcends genre and style.
“Just Tesla and Extreme both were available, and we couldn’t believe it. We were so happy because that’s just — from the opening chords of Extreme to the last chords of Mötley Crüe, it’s really good songwriting, and I just love good songs,” Sixx said. “Whether it’s done Metallica style, Rammstein style, Norah Jones style — I don’t care — Al Green style, Mötley Crüe style, a great song is a great song. And it’s just gonna be a night of just singing everything.”
The tour aims to update the band’s legendary “Carnival of Sins” production for the modern era. In a previous conversation with Mike Hsu of 100 FM The Pike, Sixx elaborated on how technology will allow them to realize visions that were impossible 20 years ago.
“We were, like, ‘Well, what can you do now with technology that you couldn’t do back then?’ They didn’t have video screens back then, and anything that you could do that would encompass and take over the imagination of all the people there,” Sixx noted.
He teased specific visual enhancements, including a reimagining of the “In The Beginning” intro from Shout At The Devil. “Mid-show, everything went dark and there’s this, basically, devil talking to you, narrating that… these are the kind of things, when you think about the ‘Carnival‘ environment, how far we can take it — it’s super exciting for us.”
Crucially, Sixx clarified that this tour is not a “farewell” or a “cap” on the band’s career. Instead, touring in the summer has become a strategic choice that allows the band members to balance their rock star lives with their family responsibilities.
“It’s summertime. It’s great to be able to go out and be with the band and the fans and not leave my family behind ’cause they’re in school… That’s always kind of been the hardest part for me, is being separated from that,” Sixx told 100 FM The Pike.
He emphasized that his identity has shifted over the decades. “I’m a dad and a husband and a sobriety advocate and a musician before I am a rock star.”
“The Return Of Carnival Of Sins” kicks off on July 17, 2026, in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania.
