Nikki Sixx Recalls ‘Painful’ Process of Writing 1994 ‘Motley Crue’ LP, John Corabi Responds
Adjusting to life with a new lead singer takes time for any established band — and as Nikki Sixx recalled during a recent interview, that period proved somewhat painful for him during the sessions for Mötley Crüe's self-titled 1994 LP.
That record found singer John Corabi stepping in for departed Crüe co-founder Vince Neil, and as Sixx told Sweden Rock Magazine (via BraveWords), Corabi's arrival meant dealing with a new co-writer — an experience he seems to look back on with decidedly mixed emotions.
"I think it was a very unfocused record. It was painful for me, because John Corabi can't write lyrics, and I had to do all that work. It was the first time I ever had to work with somebody that wanted to participate in the lyrics," Sixx is quoted as saying. "And my standard is so high that it was just ... it was so hard, it took months. He was a nice enough guy, but he just didn't have that fire, and it was hard for me."
Ultimately, Sixx credited producer Bob Rock with capturing a suitable sound for the album, but he still doesn't seem 100 percent happy with the results. "In general, it felt like a great-sounding record but a little bit unfocused," said Sixx. "That's just me."
Corabi, while declining to respond directly to Sixx's comments, posted a Facebook update simply thanking the band for changing his life by bringing him into the fold. "I'm happy knowing I haven't followed any trends, caved to any record label and just basically been myself," reads the post in part. "I am who I am, I write the way I write, and I'm beyond happy being the person I am ... I have nothing but mad respect for Motley, including Mr. Sixx ... And wish them ALL the best with their future endeavors."
Sixx's former bandmate Mick Mars, meanwhile, evidently has happier memories of the 1994 Mötley LP, as he's working on a new record with Corabi right now. And Sixx himself seems to have changed his tune over the years — in a 1994 interview, he singled out Corabi's songwriting contributions, saying he appreciated being able to share the burden with a new writer. "That was a real nice experience for me, because in the past I had to do it all myself," he said at the time. "It was cool."
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