4.53

5

Oct 17, 2011

Many people called this abstract yet hard to stomach at times work of art..."too common" or "disgusting." I call it brilliant. While capturing the tragic sometimes unknown truths of this disturbing world, he somehow manages to be our shoulder throughout the whole text and beautifully disturbed photography that is this book. Emotions rang through me as I read this book, I cried, I laughed & I felt the hurt in the world. Nikki, is a beacon of hope for any recovering addict no matter what Many people called this abstract yet hard to stomach at times work of art..."too common" or "disgusting." I call it brilliant. While capturing the tragic sometimes unknown truths of this disturbing world, he somehow manages to be our shoulder throughout the whole text and beautifully disturbed photography that is this book. Emotions rang through me as I read this book, I cried, I laughed & I felt the hurt in the world. Nikki, is a beacon of hope for any recovering addict no matter what their poison because he not only shows but proves there is still sincere hope as he has endured many years of sobriety. Nikki makes a prime example of those who trashed his book as a "sob story" or "been there done that" because he shows us that beauty is skin deep and found in the least likely of humans and if you don't like it you can shut the fuck up. I look up to him, not because he is a famous rock star, but because he is living proof that media, money and appearance do not rule all as we have been shown quite often in and on pieces of trash I cannot even call entertainment.
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2

Oct 06, 2011

So in case he stuttered in *Dirt*, *The Heroin Diaries*, or any of the twenty thousand interviews he's given since 1987, Nikki Sixx uses *This is Gonna Hurt* to remind us once again that he overdosed, flatlined, and was resuscitated. Like, over twenty years ago.

We also get a bunch of Nikki's photographs. More pix than text, actually. Much of the text, I skimmed; I read the first two books, man, and watched the *Behind the Music*. I'm good. As far as the photography goes...hrm. There were maybe So in case he stuttered in *Dirt*, *The Heroin Diaries*, or any of the twenty thousand interviews he's given since 1987, Nikki Sixx uses *This is Gonna Hurt* to remind us once again that he overdosed, flatlined, and was resuscitated. Like, over twenty years ago.

We also get a bunch of Nikki's photographs. More pix than text, actually. Much of the text, I skimmed; I read the first two books, man, and watched the *Behind the Music*. I'm good. As far as the photography goes...hrm. There were maybe two that really knocked me out. The rest, though, just weren't what I'd call inspiring. Stuff he'd shot in his studio, all stylized and junk, looking pretty much like any "darkish" imagery you'd see...anywhere. Yanno what it reminded me of? Like, when an actress with gobs of $$ (I'm thinking Scarlett Johanssen) decides she wants to cut an album. She can buy the studio time and she can buy the musicians and everything else, but guess what she can't buy?

Two stars. His pix of Kat Von D are by far some of the best in the book. Glad I checked this out of the library instead of forking over the $30 cover price. Now that woulda really hurt. ...more

4

Aug 06, 2011

Naturally i didn't expect anything less from Nikki and from his twisted mind. I did have some ideas of what it might include. I personally had all ready purchased a e-copy of this book and was anxious about reading it, but seeing from the opening lines of This is Gonna Hurt, i knew that it would be wise for me to finish The Heroin Diaries first b4 i could jump in feet first into this particular book. Now granted i feel like The Heroin Diaries kind of took me to a dark place so to speak, but Naturally i didn't expect anything less from Nikki and from his twisted mind. I did have some ideas of what it might include. I personally had all ready purchased a e-copy of this book and was anxious about reading it, but seeing from the opening lines of This is Gonna Hurt, i knew that it would be wise for me to finish The Heroin Diaries first b4 i could jump in feet first into this particular book. Now granted i feel like The Heroin Diaries kind of took me to a dark place so to speak, but honestly i think that in a way Nikki's life is sort of like a rollercoaster and it helps if you let yourself go and just let yourself be absorbed into the whole entire experience of the book. With all that being said i would most definitely recommend people picking up this book and reading it from cover to cover, and least i forget, i admire Nikki for a few things, 1 of them being that he's finally doing something that he enjoys throughly which is photography and i think that it takes guts and a spine of steel to photograph things that some people might regard as twisted/sick/demented or just straight out preverse, but to them i say this....IF YOU HONESTLY THINK THAT...THEN YOU HONESTLY DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT NIKKI SIXX ...more

5

September 22, 2014

From the time I first started reading this book I couldn't put it down. Nikki has saved me from doing the absolute wrong to seeing life from a completely different angel. Him as an Author, Musician, Photographer have been all but an inspiration for me. This book is truely worth reading for any fan of Nikki and his work to really.see that there is a different side to our world and that we really can appreciate those who really are the beautiful people\m/

5

February 7, 2016

I have read most , if not all Nikki Sixx books and the more i read the more my respect and adoration for this old school rocker develops. Nikki is raw and open with all his writings and this book is no exception

5

Apr 13, 2011

I never read "The Heroin Diaries" or was even a Motley Crue fan, but I am well aware of who Nikki Sixx is and how far he has come in his life. I got "This is Gonna Hurt" in the mail yesterday and started reading it at 9pm. I was done by 11:45 pm that same night.

He tells you from the start that "This is Gonna Hurt". He lays it all on the line, from societies perception of what is deemed beautiful to his take on music royalties and love and life in general. The truth hurts but as you read this I never read "The Heroin Diaries" or was even a Motley Crue fan, but I am well aware of who Nikki Sixx is and how far he has come in his life. I got "This is Gonna Hurt" in the mail yesterday and started reading it at 9pm. I was done by 11:45 pm that same night.

He tells you from the start that "This is Gonna Hurt". He lays it all on the line, from societies perception of what is deemed beautiful to his take on music royalties and love and life in general. The truth hurts but as you read this book you know that whil it hurts, he speaks the truth.

Hie photographs are beautiful in a way I never expected. The book has inspired me and touched my heart and my mind. I know I will look at life, and people differently now.

Throughout the book are the lyrics to the songs that Nikki and his fellow Sixx:A.M. band members wrote for their upcoming album that goes along with this book. One of the songs is called "Skin". Paint yourself a picture of what you wish you looked like. Maybe then they just might feel an ounce of your pain. Come into focus. Step out of the shadows. It's a losing battle. There's no need to be ashamed.

They don't even know you. All they see is scars. They don't see the angel living in your heart. Let them find the real you buried deep within. And let them know with all you've got That you are not your skin.

When they start to judge you, Show them your true colors, and do unto others as you'd have done to you. Just rise above this, Kill them with your kindness. Ignorence is Blindness, they're the ones that stand to lose.

How many of us are guilty of what they talk about in the second verse? Judging people on their outward appearance? Nikki tries to show us that beauty is eveywhere and even more so in the people deemed "ugly" by society because they are not perfect.

This is definitely a book I will recommend to others and that I will share with my kids who are 22 and 18. I've tried to raise to love everyone and to be tolerant and to never judge, but you can never teach that enough.

Nikki writes in a way that you feel like you are sitting down and having a conversation with him. You can feel his pain and you pray for him to find the happiness and peace he is looking for. ...more

3

Apr 18, 2011

Let's be honest, I would never have read this were he not my first crush. He comes across as intelligent and thoughtful as he does in all his books but I am not sure what to make of this book. It's part memoir and while he claims to be "over" his issues (one which is exactly the same as mine - NO NOT THE DRUGS!) he seems as over his a-hole dad as I am and I haven't even tried to get past the man I refer to nicely as my mom's ex-husband. He goes over old territory and then goes into self-help Let's be honest, I would never have read this were he not my first crush. He comes across as intelligent and thoughtful as he does in all his books but I am not sure what to make of this book. It's part memoir and while he claims to be "over" his issues (one which is exactly the same as mine - NO NOT THE DRUGS!) he seems as over his a-hole dad as I am and I haven't even tried to get past the man I refer to nicely as my mom's ex-husband. He goes over old territory and then goes into self-help positivity mode which can be amusing. I'm not sure how much of it he believes. The book also has a lot of dark, intentionally creepy photography influenced by Diane Arbus, Joel Peter Witkin and PT Barnum. Yes, I mean he has photographs of freaks, some real and some created by lighting and special effects make up. I personally prefer Photoshop - there are no collaborators involved. He only writes about one or two of the photographs which is disappointing because I am more or less aware of his issues. His saying he has been (or IS???) on Prozac and Zoloft is not news. It doesn't take a genius to figure it out, just a fellow nutjob with similar family issues. It would have been interesting to know why he chose to photograph these um.. freaks, why he chose to dress them up and light them in that PT Barnum kind of way - the photos have an old-fashioned kind of Steampunk feel to them - very 1800s medicine/Mutter Museum. I am also curious as to where the H he found these people (and where he got costumes in size "Unique" because I've never seen any of them on TLC (hence my "intimate knowledge" of the Mutter Museum LOL) nor have they ever featured costumes for the non-bodily conformist on TLC.

Anyway - its an easy read but its rather pointless - "yes, we should accept the beauty in oddities while *I* date a woman who looks like the vapid model-sized Denise Richards". Tell it to my eyes who like Bradley Cooper and not Zack Galapagosislands. I actually gave the book extra star for design and material quality. It *IS* a beautiful book in it's own warped little way. ...more

5

Jul 02, 2011

This book totally surprised me! I picked it up because of the sub-title "Music, Photography and Life through the distorted lens of Nikki Sixx" ...i thought GREAT! a not-your-usual photography book. I've heard there are a few great musicians that are equally talented behind the lens and Sixx piqued my interest. (ok, it helped MOTLEY CRUE is a legend!!) As i turned the first few pages, he sucked me right in. Sixx is SUCH A GREAT STORYTELLER!!! And sure, the man has a few stories to tell... but I This book totally surprised me! I picked it up because of the sub-title "Music, Photography and Life through the distorted lens of Nikki Sixx" ...i thought GREAT! a not-your-usual photography book. I've heard there are a few great musicians that are equally talented behind the lens and Sixx piqued my interest. (ok, it helped MOTLEY CRUE is a legend!!) As i turned the first few pages, he sucked me right in. Sixx is SUCH A GREAT STORYTELLER!!! And sure, the man has a few stories to tell... but I was pleasantly surprised how much I could relate to his thoughts, feelings and emotions as he evolved into the person he is today. He has creative juice running through his veins and it never shuts off- its evident is everything he is and touches. This book was a page-turner for me and it was done as quickly as it began- he left me inspired! I've made friends with my Nikon again and even want to write a little. I dont know if I just happened along to this book at the right time in my life or what, but I'll take the energy it radiated and run with it... ...more

5

Aug 26, 2019

Once again Nikki Sixx has wowed me! After having read and loved The Heroin Diaries I knew I had to read this book. It was fantastic! His life revelations and his photography are simply amazing! The lyrics to his song Skin was so emotional when paired with his photos. Wow!

Skin by Sixx A.M.

" Paint yourself a picture
Of what you wish you look like
Maybe then they just might feel an ounce of your pain
Come into focus
Step out of the shadows
It's a losing battle
There's no need to be ashamed

They don't even Once again Nikki Sixx has wowed me! After having read and loved The Heroin Diaries I knew I had to read this book. It was fantastic! His life revelations and his photography are simply amazing! The lyrics to his song Skin was so emotional when paired with his photos. Wow!

Skin by Sixx A.M.

" Paint yourself a picture
Of what you wish you look like
Maybe then they just might feel an ounce of your pain
Come into focus
Step out of the shadows
It's a losing battle
There's no need to be ashamed

They don't even know you
All they see is scars
They don't see the angel living in your heart
Let them find the real you buried deep within
And let them know with all you've got
That you are not your skin

When they start to judge you
Show them your true colors
And do unto others as you'd have done to you
Just rise above this
Kill them with your kindness
Ignorance is blindness
They're the ones that stand to lose" ...more

4

Apr 14, 2011

I wasn't sure what to expect with this one. At the recommendation a twitter friend - and a description involving music and photography, two of my most favorite things - I ordered it on a whim.

I didn't know much about Nikki Sixx prior to reading this. My knowledge of all things Crüe was limited to Behind the Music as background noise, the occasional trashy tabloid headline (thanks, Tommy!) and the one time my older brother dragged me to a show to ignore the divorce he found himself lost in the I wasn't sure what to expect with this one. At the recommendation a twitter friend - and a description involving music and photography, two of my most favorite things - I ordered it on a whim. 

I didn't know much about Nikki Sixx prior to reading this. My knowledge of all things Crüe was limited to Behind the Music as background noise, the occasional trashy tabloid headline (thanks, Tommy!) and the one time my older brother dragged me to a show to ignore the divorce he found himself lost in the midst of. 

This isn't a book about Motley Crüe. I think thats the biggest thing to note. You don't have to like or really even know much about the band to enjoy this book and take from it lessons or ideas. 

Starting off focusing primarily on his photography, it doesn't take Sixx long to switch from the inspiration of his photos to his inspirations in life. He stays there, touching on his past and present - childhood, the effect of absent parents, addiction, touring - without delving too much into any one area. It's not an autobiography. I haven't read The Heroin Diaries (I will now) but would guess from its mentions in this book that it's more of a memoir than this piece, if that is what you're looking for. More than anything, This Is Gonna Hurt focuses on the personal philosophies that guide his life and decision making in all areas - music, photography, career, family, and love. Just enough of each to the wet pallette. 

His writing style is easy and conversational, as if he was sitting across the table sipping coffee and telling tales, and allows for a quick read. I read the first 200 pages in a single sitting and the rest the very next day. 

All in all, I was impressed with the honesty of the book,  as if we got to peek into the private journals of an aging, and more importantly -maturing, rock star.  
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4

May 21, 2011

I think it's pretty obvious to most people now that Nikki Sixx is not your average run of the mill kinda guy. This book, as did his previous, The Heroin Diaries, proves this without a doubt. Gone are the days of drink, drugs and the hedonistic rock and roll lifestyle to which he was once accustomed (or technically still is, but only the good bits!). In its place, as demonstrated within these pages, is a man with a new addiction, with a new buzz - images, photos and life.
Looking at the images I think it's pretty obvious to most people now that Nikki Sixx is not your average run of the mill kinda guy. This book, as did his previous, The Heroin Diaries, proves this without a doubt. Gone are the days of drink, drugs and the hedonistic rock and roll lifestyle to which he was once accustomed (or technically still is, but only the good bits!). In its place, as demonstrated within these pages, is a man with a new addiction, with a new buzz - images, photos and life.
Looking at the images throughout the book, I couldn't help but me amazed at the shots Sixx has been able to capture and arrange while on his travels around the world. He sees life now through a lens, quite literally in many cases, and the results are amazing.
What's so great about this book is that, throughout it, Sixx delivers little snippets of advice, or things he has come to realize as he has gotten older. Things like the idea that only you can do what you really want to, know one else may really know so show them.. One of my favourite quotes is this:

"Get off your ass + change what you don't like about your life"

Every now and again, I think we all need something or someone to help us open our eyes to the changes we CAN make, to the fact that we CAN make our lives better..and in this book, through his words and his images, Sixx proves this time and time again. Photography has changed him for the better, and I think this book will help many others change themselves too.

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4

Aug 11, 2012

You either love him or you hate him. The same can be said about the band that made him famous, Motley Crue, but in this book, more so than anything else he's done, Nikki exposes himself openly, and through this process, he finds the good among the bad, and truly inspires optimism and hope. I found myself relating personally to so many varied things discussed within the book that I couldn't put it down. Maybe I was looking for answers to my own issues. I'd recommend this to anyone who likes You either love him or you hate him. The same can be said about the band that made him famous, Motley Crue, but in this book, more so than anything else he's done, Nikki exposes himself openly, and through this process, he finds the good among the bad, and truly inspires optimism and hope. I found myself relating personally to so many varied things discussed within the book that I couldn't put it down. Maybe I was looking for answers to my own issues. I'd recommend this to anyone who likes photography or rock and roll, and I'd certainly recommend it to anyone struggling with their own personal demons, just so they can see how somone else struggled with theirs... ...more

4

Jan 22, 2016

this is a must read for fans of nikki sixx or motley crue. mesmerizing and turbulent, this is not a book to be passed up. if you read 'the dirt' or 'the heroine dairies' this will grab you just the same. nikki is so much more then the 'bad boy' rock musician (with rad hair) so many have come to see him as.

5

October 22, 2014

From the time I first started reading this book I couldn't put it down. Nikki has saved me from doing the absolute wrong to seeing life from a completely different angel. Him as an Author, Musician, Photographer have been all but an inspiration for me. This book is truely worth reading for any fan o...Full Review

5

January 6, 2016

Basically it's a unabridged journey down the path of rock and roll with Nikki Sixx all the ins and outs family eros friends love hates got it covered

2

Oct 09, 2016

I have owned this book for 5 years and just got around to reading it now.

I really enjoyed the heroin diaries and the dirt but this book just didn’t do anything for me. it came across as very pretentious and insincere to me, but the overall message that he is trying to convey, that there is beauty in the different, the downtrodden and the rejects of society is really great, I just think it got a little lost with everything else.

I was expecting a book primarily about his photography and reading I have owned this book for 5 years and just got around to reading it now.

I really enjoyed the heroin diaries and the dirt but this book just didn’t do anything for me. it came across as very pretentious and insincere to me, but the overall message that he is trying to convey, that there is beauty in the different, the downtrodden and the rejects of society is really great, I just think it got a little lost with everything else.

I was expecting a book primarily about his photography and reading what inspired the images, who the people he is photographing are, why he picked that shot etc, instead it is part memoir, part self help, part tour diary, its very confused and it is definitely the nikki show, having read his other books re-reading about his heroin overdose 20 years ago, which he claims to have moved on from but can’t write a book without mentioning it at least twice or his family issues was tedious. perhaps if you don’t know anything about nikki and haven’t read the other books it would have more of an impact but for me it was just a re-hash of the other books with his current life situations added in, (sixx am, Kat von D, motley crue tour, sobriety etc) which made the book feel very self centered especially because the photos are used for their visual aesthetics rather than telling the stories about the individuals, which I think would have helped his ideal that beauty is everywhere more if he had of had some commentary to make the people in his pictures more than just props for his ‘dark edgy imagery’ having said that there a couple of stories about the subjects in his photos, which were interesting but icky, one of him degrading a prostitute to try and capture an emotion from her, and another of his travels in russia, paying people to let him take their picture, even if they say nyet, and another of him going to an alley filled with heroin addicts, it makes nikki seem like he objectifies people for the sake of his art and is more interested in capturing the photograph than actually helping them.

Saying all that I didn’t like most of his photos. I am not a fan of overly photo shopped, darkened images that are supposed to be dark and edgy or high concept photos like the one with the 7ft dunce and the midget teacher. I REALLY did not like the photos of the people with physical disabilities that had them depicted in circus themes, its very contrived and was obviously meant to depict a ‘freak show’ which isn’t helpful to anyone and is very cliche’ There is a photo of the woman with a burnt face, shes wearing a peacock headpiece and it has a plain background, which I found to be beautiful, then there is another picture of the same woman holding a whip behind a red and yellow striped background which I found cliche and degrading, I think his ideal of beauty is portrayed very unevenly in the book, half his images are cliche ‘dark’ images that you can find with thousands of others on deviant art and then some images are very beautiful. My favorite image was the one of the Cambodian children, which is funny because it is in colour, hasn’t been photoshopped and didn’t seem to fit with the rest of the book.

The whole thing just seemed very self indulgent and pretentious, everything is centered around nikki, his advice is filled with how it has affected him and the way he writes makes me roll my eyes, for example:

“when I see the mainstream marketing imagery of beauty and love, I see a lie, some people look at a rose and see romance and love. I see thorns and droplets of blood and heartbreak”

ugh its so ‘special snowflake’ and fake deep. he goes on about how people are brainwashed by the kardashians and peoples hot 100 and yeah he’s not wrong but the way he writes, like he is a better person than ‘the masses’ because he doesn’t buy into it and ‘sees beauty in the ugly’ is the height of pretentiousness, which is not helped by motley crues songs, infamy or nikki exclusively marrying models. every time he’d be like oh i saw an amputee and thought they were beautiful, i just kept thinking ok but you would only see them as something to photograph, not get to know or romance or anything, which is why i found the book insincere. I don’t know the dude and am being very harsh but it just doesn’t seem genuine to me. Oh yeah, He also compares his tattooed skin and how he is judged against how a black man is judged for his skin, YIKES.

I’m glad nikki got so much peace out of writing this book because I certainly didn’t, the writing was very all over the place and wasn’t anything that resonated with me. the photos are pretty run of the mill dark images and the book is all about him, it wasn’t what i was expecting, I would have liked more writing on the photography instead of reading his life story again.
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5

Jun 21, 2017

Many things hurt me when I was young and of those those things this is the one that helped me live a little longer instead of die a little faster. The photos are breathtaking and the diary-like entries hit me hard. But sometimes you need it. I almost never recommended this book, it's so close to me it feels like ripping off a scab and handing it to stranger but if I had more steal in my back and armor in my chest I would. It was entirely lovely.

5

Aug 02, 2015

I’m on a Nikki Sixx kick. I mean, what a dude! The more I read, the more impressed I am with his commitment to self-discovery and to consistently working to become a new and better version of himself, even when that means diligently sorting through a whole pile of pain and confusion and inner turmoil. His evolution as a human being is extraordinary and unbelievably admirable. If only we could all be so enlightened and open to growth.

Of Sixx’s books, this one is by far my favorite. It represents I’m on a Nikki Sixx kick. I mean, what a dude! The more I read, the more impressed I am with his commitment to self-discovery and to consistently working to become a new and better version of himself, even when that means diligently sorting through a whole pile of pain and confusion and inner turmoil. His evolution as a human being is extraordinary and unbelievably admirable. If only we could all be so enlightened and open to growth.

Of Sixx’s books, this one is by far my favorite. It represents the culmination of all he’s learned throughout his journey (thus far, at least– he makes it abundantly clear that he’s nowhere near the end of his path) and it is, finally, peaceful. Beneath the chaos (or maybe alongside it?), he has discovered his Zen, and it is remarkable.

And, as is his way, he’s used the physical book as a bonus medium for his creativity. His dark-yet-beautiful photography and artistic formatting grace the book with a unique sense of personality. Indeed, it seems that Nikki Sixx has never been one to color inside the lines; his books, his looks, his life are all born outside the conventional box and the results are magnificent, to say the least.

Safe to say I’m inspired by and enamored with Sixx’s take on life. In the middle of an uncomfortable growth spurt of my own, this book was right on time. (Have I not said there’s a right time for every book?) I needed a little encouragement, and that’s just what I got.
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5

Jul 27, 2017

I've owned this book for years, but it was never the right time to read it.
Until now.
I have learned to love Nikki Sixx with The Heroin Diaries and The Dirt and, even before those books, with his music. I've loved everything, because... let's face it: he's such a wonderful soul! Maybe scarred, maybe insane, but wonderful nonetheless.
This book hasn't failed me. It was the right time to read it, I needed to read it. And it has been a blast.
Every single word is something to learn from, every single I've owned this book for years, but it was never the right time to read it.
Until now.
I have learned to love Nikki Sixx with The Heroin Diaries and The Dirt and, even before those books, with his music. I've loved everything, because... let's face it: he's such a wonderful soul! Maybe scarred, maybe insane, but wonderful nonetheless.
This book hasn't failed me. It was the right time to read it, I needed to read it. And it has been a blast.
Every single word is something to learn from, every single experience is a life lesson. Everything is worth the time.

So... thank you, Nikki. Again.
Thank you for showing us a unique perspective through your distorted lens. Thank you for trusting us with your heart. Thank you for the truth, because you were right: this is gonna hurt. ...more

4

Feb 12, 2015

I bought this book because I wanted to read about Nikki Sixx's photography. I am not interested in hearing stories about 80s rock debauchery and because of the description I got it for the photography. I figured the book would be a bit raw. I expected his photography to be off the wall and yes, much of his photography really disturbed me. However, I would have been more concerned if he photographed bunnies and turtles and frolicking children so I was ready for gritty stuff. Although his style of I bought this book because I wanted to read about Nikki Sixx's photography. I am not interested in hearing stories about 80s rock debauchery and because of the description I got it for the photography. I figured the book would be a bit raw. I expected his photography to be off the wall and yes, much of his photography really disturbed me. However, I would have been more concerned if he photographed bunnies and turtles and frolicking children so I was ready for gritty stuff. Although his style of shooting and editing isn't exactly my cup of tea I can appreciate what he is trying to do as an artist. I also see beauty in what others may deem ugly and discarded. I have been wanting to shoot street photography and tried to in Philly last summer. I ticked off a morbidly obese homeless woman who scared the heck out of me. The way she yelled at me made me realize I was not ready and I took it too lightly. Also, I need a really great telephoto lens to avoid another encounter...... The take away from this book is 1) create the art you want to create. Someone will get it, maybe not everyone but someone will appreciate it. (I could relate to Nikki's conversation with Tommy Lee. How Tommy thought Nikki was really messed up because of his style of photography. 2) treat everyone with dignity. 3) see beauty in the unexpected and allow your art to give a voice to people who seem to have no voice. Draw attention to things that have been discarded. ...more

5

May 31, 2011

TIGH is what happens to Nikki after he died! Nikki Sixx is one of the most iconic rock & roll figures ever to have come along. He's been in the game for more than 30 years now & has lived to tell us about his years of heroin addiction (yes, he died from an OD), alcohol & every other nasty detail of his rock & roll life style. That was Heroin Diaries. In This is Gonna Hurt Nikki reveals his new addiction: photography. It is the "drug" that helped him get over & get past the TIGH is what happens to Nikki after he died! Nikki Sixx is one of the most iconic rock & roll figures ever to have come along. He's been in the game for more than 30 years now & has lived to tell us about his years of heroin addiction (yes, he died from an OD), alcohol & every other nasty detail of his rock & roll life style. That was Heroin Diaries. In This is Gonna Hurt Nikki reveals his new addiction: photography. It is the "drug" that helped him get over & get past the demons that haunted him for so long (& perhaps still do, but he's working on that). Nikki's photography reveals the ugliness, as deemed by society, as things of beauty in his eyes. He disdains the images shoved down our throats & sold to us as beauty by the media & society. Nikki's artistry & message can be found in his music (Sixx:AM), his fashion (Royal Underground), his radio program (SixxSense), his writing (Heroin Diaries & This is Gonna Hurt) & his photography (posted on Tumblr). Nikki Sixx will not go down in history as a recovering addict, instead he will go down in history as a true artist in every sense of the word, a loving father of four and, in my humble opinion, a strong & beautiful soul giving back to people his art & philosophy. Nikki Sixx is my hero & I respect him immensely for his strength & courage. ...more

3

Nov 28, 2011

I downloaded a bunch of ebooks from the library to tide me over the long Thanksgiving weekend. "Dirt" was one of my favorite guilty pleasures. Talk about a study in narcissistic personality disorder!! I thought I'd just thumb through this and laugh, but it actually turned out to be engaging and relatively humble. The basic purpose of this book (probably 12th-step work on his part) was to describe what he does in sobriety and how he has changed his life (art, meditation, gratitude). There is I downloaded a bunch of ebooks from the library to tide me over the long Thanksgiving weekend. "Dirt" was one of my favorite guilty pleasures. Talk about a study in narcissistic personality disorder!! I thought I'd just thumb through this and laugh, but it actually turned out to be engaging and relatively humble. The basic purpose of this book (probably 12th-step work on his part) was to describe what he does in sobriety and how he has changed his life (art, meditation, gratitude). There is something inspirational about that. I wouldn't spend money on this book, but it is enjoyable for what it is. It was an interesting counterpoint to the other book I read also dealing with the aftermath of addiction--Cocaine's Son--written by a NY Times journalist about his addict father. Obviously that memoir was well written with an attempt to be profound. Interestingly, it came up short and lacking compared to this book that you might expect would be inferior. Just goes to show you, don't judge a book by its cover. ...more

5

Nov 07, 2011

This Is Gonna Hurt. and it does. but isn't it part of the beauty?

Nikki talks about his life, music, addictions, inspirations, life principles and love. He isn't afraid to shock, as Heroin Diaries proved, and even yearns for this reaction. He certainly got one from me. Not in the form of "oh my god, his life and work is so scandalous" but "whoa, Nikki, you dared to share this story with us".

Between all his stories there are some of his photographs, which couldn't be called anything else than This Is Gonna Hurt. and it does. but isn't it part of the beauty?

Nikki talks about his life, music, addictions, inspirations, life principles and love. He isn't afraid to shock, as Heroin Diaries proved, and even yearns for this reaction. He certainly got one from me. Not in the form of "oh my god, his life and work is so scandalous" but "whoa, Nikki, you dared to share this story with us".

Between all his stories there are some of his photographs, which couldn't be called anything else than beautiful, especially while not particularly being the kind that majority of society would like. I have been wanting to take on photography for a long time, and Nikki's work finally inspired me to do so.

If I had to sum up this whole book in one word, it would be - inspirational. From dealing with my addictions, to setting my life straight and taking on photography, it inspired me to become a better person, no matter how cheesy or worn-out it may sound. This Is Gonna Hurt is one of those few books that I would recommend for everyone to read at one point in their lives. ...more

4

Jan 16, 2015

My hardcover copy of this has a slightly different cover than this. The painting of Nikki on the cover is more zoomed in and is cut off just above his navel.

1st Read: March 8, 2016 - March 10, 2016

I don't know what it is about Mötley Crüe that I just absorb completely when I am reading about them. I rarely listen to their music anymore.

Nikki Sixx isn't the greatest writer by any means, but I understand his words like they were written from my own hand or spoken with my own voice. This was a
My hardcover copy of this has a slightly different cover than this. The painting of Nikki on the cover is more zoomed in and is cut off just above his navel.

1st Read: March 8, 2016 - March 10, 2016

I don't know what it is about Mötley Crüe that I just absorb completely when I am reading about them. I rarely listen to their music anymore.

Nikki Sixx isn't the greatest writer by any means, but I understand his words like they were written from my own hand or spoken with my own voice. This was a great book of how we as a society judge others before knowing anything of that individual, other than appearance. I love Nikki's truthful attitude about the ugliness of we, "the beautiful people".

His photography is really good and I love his use of light on his subjects. I am happy for him as he found another form of self expression he can convey to others away from the rock star that he is.
This is a keeper for my collection. ...more

3

Jan 12, 2016

Nikki Sixx is a tormented guy. When reading this 'intensely personal by his account' book I couldn't help but feel like I was reading something penned by someone's kid brother trying to find himself at a 20-something age and everyone reading his prose would be sitting around and saying, "Oh he'll understand some day..." However, Nikki Sixx is in his 50s, so that is honestly a little perplexing. As best I can tell, from the countless books and stories I've read about him (I'm a lover of his Nikki Sixx is a tormented guy. When reading this 'intensely personal by his account' book I couldn't help but feel like I was reading something penned by someone's kid brother trying to find himself at a 20-something age and everyone reading his prose would be sitting around and saying, "Oh he'll understand some day..." However, Nikki Sixx is in his 50s, so that is honestly a little perplexing. As best I can tell, from the countless books and stories I've read about him (I'm a lover of his music), he spent so many years in a drug-induced haze that he didn't actually process his emotions or really feel anything that was real for 20 plus years. So, it kind of makes sense that he, newly clean, would be blathering on like a college student in his first ever Philosophy class. His photographs were interesting, dark and artistic. Very Diane Arbus-ish. I think Nikki/Frank will experience some personal and spiritual growth as long as he manages to remain sober. Overall, not a bad read. ...more