Nikki Sixx has really turned his life around since the time this diary was originally written. He went from being clinically dead from a drug overdose to struggling for years to get clean to finally appearing to beat his demons. In 1987 he was hiding in the closet of his house, paranoid from drug use. In 2007 he's speaking on Capitol Hill for National Alcohol And Drug Recovery Month. He's truly returned from the dead.
The Heroin Diaries: A Year In The Life Of A Shattered Rock Star chronicles the time when Sixx was in the deepest throes of heroin and cocaine addiction along with depression. His band
Motley Crue was massively successful, which gave him nearly unlimited means to pursue his addictions. The book is his actual diary entries from that year, along with recollections of his friends, family and bandmates of that period, and Sixx's explanations and details of the diary entries.
This book is truly compelling. The tales of debauchery and his out of control behavior are fascinating. The description of the daily life of a drug addict is shocking and a real eye opener. With the money to buy whatever substances he desired and an entourage of enablers and connections, it is miraculous he is alive today to tell the tale.
The Heroin Diaries will be interesting to a lot of different audiences. Fans of Sixx and Motley Crue will enjoy the behind the scenes tales of touring, recording, groupies and the decadent rock and roll lifestyle. At times it's not very glamorous and sometimes downright appalling. But people who have never even heard of Motley Crue can also get something very important from this book. Those who have struggled with addiction, or have family members or friends who have, can get insight and perspective from someone who has been there. And proceeds from the book will go to Covenant House, an organization that helps at risk youth.
After the book was finished, Sixx wanted to write songs about his experiences during that era, and the result was a new band, Sixx A.M. and
The Heroin Diaries Soundtrack. The CD has songs with subject material directly related to or inspired by each chapter in the book.
