Sixx was born on December 11, 1958 in San Jose, California. He was partially raised by his single mother, Deana Richards, and by his grandparents after his father left the family. He moved in with his grandparents while his mother toured with bands as a backup singer. Sixx relocated several times while living with his grandparents.
While living in Jerome, Idaho, Sixx became a teenage vandal, breaking into neighbors' homes, shoplifting, and being expelled from school for selling drugs. His grandparents sent him to live with his mother, who had moved to Seattle. He lived there for a short time and learned how to play the bass guitar, having bought his first instrument with money earned from selling a guitar he had stolen.
At the age of 17, he struck out on his own, moving to Los Angeles and working jobs at a liquor store and selling vacuums over the phone while he auditioned for bands. He unsuccessfully auditioned for the Randy Rhoads version of Quiet Riot, as well as the band Sister with Blackie Lawless of W.A.S.P., before joining London, a local glam outfit whose lineup saw numerous changes and whose major claim to fame was that its singer, Nigel Benjamin, had sung with a late version of Mott the Hoople. Sixx soon left the band.
For two years, Sixx was in a relationship with tattoo artist Kat Von D, specialist in black and white portraits, which led him to choose her to tattoo a portrait of Mick Mars on his right leg. Nikki and Kat broke up in January 2010.
Sixx famously died on December 23, 1987, from a heroin overdose in Los Angeles. Paramedics revived him with two shots of adrenaline to the heart. He was pronounced dead for two minutes before being brought back. This harrowing experience inspired the Mötley Crüe classic "Kickstart My Heart" and became a defining moment in rock history.
Despite the chaos of the 80s and 90s, Sixx got sober in 2001 and has remained clean ever since, over 20 years and counting. He has become one of rock's most vocal advocates for recovery, frequently sharing his journey and helping others battling addiction through his platform and interviews.
In 2007, Sixx formed the supergroup Sixx:A.M. with vocalist/producer James Michael and guitarist DJ Ashba. The band released several albums including The Heroin Diaries Soundtrack (2007), This Is Gonna Hurt (2011), and the two-part Prayers for the Damned/Prayers for the Blessed (2016). Their single "Life Is Beautiful" became an anthem for survival.
Sixx married model Courtney Bingham in March 2014. The couple welcomed their daughter Ruby in 2019, making Nikki a father of five. The family relocated from Los Angeles to Wyoming, where Sixx now enjoys a quieter life away from the spotlight, focusing on photography, family, and outdoor pursuits.
In 2024, Sixx released the single "Dogs of War" followed by the "Cancelled" EP, marking his return to solo work. In 2026, Mötley Crüe announced the Carnival of Sins tour, proving the band's legacy continues to thrive nearly four decades after their formation.
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