Nikki Sixx Criticizes ‘Artists That Are Still Trying To Act 25 And They’re 65’: ‘I Don’t Think That’s Cool’

As Mötley Crüe approaches its 45th year as a band, bassist and primary songwriter Nikki Sixx is embracing the reality of aging, and he has little patience for peers who refuse to do the same. In a candid new interview with Dustin Grove of Indianapolis station WTHR-TV Channel 13, Sixx discussed the necessity of artistic evolution and the pitfalls of trying to cling to youth.

While the rock industry is often predicated on eternal youth and rebellion, Sixx argued that authenticity is far more valuable to an audience than a facade.

“Life changes, man. It’s cool that it changes,” Sixx told the outlet (as transcribed by Blabbermouth). “The thing that I don’t like is when I see artists that are still trying to act 25 and they’re 65. I don’t think that’s cool for the fans. Evolution is evolution. We all age, we all change, we have different interests, and Mötley Crüe seems to have ridden that wave pretty good, just letting it be real.”

This philosophy of evolution has directly impacted Sixx‘s approach to songwriting over the decades. He noted that as his personal life transformed, so did the themes he explored in the studio.

“You evolve as a person, as a lyricist. My evolution as a lyricist, it goes from the rawest of the raw to the most heartfelt. And that’s just as I grew as a man and my interests evolved,” Sixx explained. “That changes the lyrics, but then that changes the idea of the song. The lyrics to ‘Home Sweet Home’ is way different than the lyrics to ‘Shout At The Devil’. And so as we go, we just keep evolving.”

Part of that evolution involves a shift in priorities. Sixx revealed that the frenetic pace of the band’s early years has been replaced by a more balanced approach, largely driven by his family life.

“We’re not in a rush ever. We don’t have to be in a rush. In my case, I’ve got a six-and-a-half-year-old [daughter] who’s amazing,” he said. “And so I wanna not be in a rush to work constantly so I can enjoy that part of it and then go out there and play for the fans. It’s about balance.”

Reflecting on the band’s legacy, Sixx acknowledged that Mötley Crüe has always flourished in the space between adoration and outrage. He recalled the Satanic Panic era surrounding the release of the Shout At The Devil album, noting the absurdity of the backlash.

“We put out Shout At The Devil and it was, like, ‘I keep saying, ‘But it said Shout At The Devil, not With The Devil.’ [There were] Christian groups outside the concerts, [accusing us of being] devil worshipers. And at the same time, the arenas were full.”

According to Sixx, that polarizing nature is the secret sauce that has kept the band relevant for nearly half a century.

“Like us or hate us, one thing about Mötley Crüe is we have so many people that we just really piss them off, and other people that they say we’ve changed their lives,” he mused. “So I guess if you’re gonna operate the way we operate and say it and do it the way you wanna do it, not like anybody else, you’re gonna probably draw both extremes of types of reactions. And that’s kind of also been accidentally the magic of Mötley Crüe.”

The band is currently preparing to launch “The Return Of Carnival Of Sins” tour. Produced by Live Nation, the extensive trek is set to kick off on July 17, 2026, in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania, featuring support from special guests Extreme and Tesla.