Nikki Sixx – “This Is Gonna Hurt: Music, Photography and Life Through the Distorted Lens of Nikki Sixx” [Book Review]

This Is Gonna Hurt: Music, Photography and Life Through the Distorted Lens of Nikki Sixx is a collection of memoirs and photographs from one of the most recognizable musicians in all of hard rock. In his previous book, The Heroin Diaries, Sixx documented his decent into the depths of Hell and his longtime battle with drug and alcohol addiction. Now with many successful years of sobriety under his belt Sixx funnels all of his energy headfirst into his passions; music, photography and living life to the fullest surrounded by family.

Sixx bares his soul within these pages, exposing his innermost thoughts making him extremely vulnerable. What emerges at the end is a portrait of a flawed human being, (like the rest of us) who after years of addiction is truly trying to make the world a better place. Musings, memoirs and journal entries give the reader unparalleled access into Sixx’s world far from the studio and the stage where the priorities are now the importance of family, love and the acceptance of those on the fringes of society as well as ourselves.

His unique position as a writer/author and bass player for one of biggest bands in the world combined with his incredible passion for photography gives him a platform to draw attention to the plight of those living outside of the mainstream, in the alleys and the shadows; those most often overlooked by society. The photos are raw at times and they are as beautiful as they are haunting. Beautiful because I feel they capture the essence of the subjects in their natural state and haunting because you can sense the pain and sorrow hiding just below the surface.

At the end of the day I found this book riveting; it really documents the growth of one of the most intriguing men in rock n’ roll. At times it does come across a bit like a self-help book, but Sixx is so passionate about living a life full of love and respect that I think it cannot be helped; it just seems to pour out of him and really at the end of the day these are things that most of us can benefit from as well.

Written by: Nikki Sixx
Format/Length: Hardback, 224 pages.
Publisher: William Morrow; First Edition edition (April 12, 2011

Check out Nikki Sixx at a “This is Gonna Hurt” book signing