Published by Cel Manero from Global One Media Inc.
Nikki Sixx Says Mötley Crüe Has Moved Beyond the Traditional Full-Length Album
Mötley Crüe bassist and principal songwriter Nikki Sixx believes the traditional full-length album no longer makes sense for the band in today’s music industry.
The glam metal group last released a complete studio album in 2008 with Saints of Los Angeles. Their ninth album could ultimately remain their most recent full-length project, as Sixx appears more interested in releasing individual songs and shorter collections such as EPs.
Mötley Crüe took that approach in 2024 with the release of Cancelled, a three-track EP that also marked the band’s first release featuring guitarist John 5 following Mick Mars’ departure.
In a recent interview, Sixx acknowledged that some longtime fans may be disappointed by the idea but explained why he no longer favors making traditional albums.
According to Sixx, creating a 10-track record requires writing considerably more material, which means spending significant amounts of time developing songs, recording them and producing the final album.
He also questioned whether that amount of work receives enough attention in an industry increasingly dominated by individual tracks and streaming. In his view, listeners may focus heavily on a single song even when an artist has invested substantial effort into an entire album.
Sixx pointed to the changing landscape of radio and streaming as another reason for his preference for shorter releases. Instead of planning an entire album in advance, he likes the idea of creating music when inspiration strikes and immediately bringing the band together to develop it.
He cited Mötley Crüe’s previous projects, including the five-song material created for The Dirt and the band’s recent Cancelled EP, as examples of the direction he would like to continue pursuing.
For Sixx, the approach would allow the group to capture different emotions and experiences as they happen. Whether the inspiration comes from heartbreak, happiness or rebellion, he would rather turn those moments into individual songs and record them without waiting to assemble a conventional full-length album.
