The Heroin Diaries- A Year In the Life of a Shattered Rockstar Review

The Heroin Diaries: A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rock Star
By
Nikki Sixx

WOW!

When I picked this book up at the library, I was in no way ready for what I was about to read.  Nikki Sixx is open, honest and very candid in this book.  Most entries are from his journal that he kept at the darkest time of his life.   While reading you can tell, when he doesn't tell you, if he's high or sober. 

Follow through a year in the life of Motley Crue Bassist Nikki Sixx.  From alcohol to cocaine to heroin (his demon) to wild parties, many women and ultimately death.  Remember Vanity, former Prince backup singer and girlfriend turned Nikki Sixx girlfriend and junkie?  She's mentioned quite a bit.  Also is Slash from Guns N Rosesand quite some funny excerpts about the band WhiteSnake and Tawny Kitaen.

Some of the most surprising information for me was that the bandmates did not get along.  Tommy Lee and Nikki Sixx were buddies but otherwise there was a lot turmoil between the group.

Nikki SIxx was once declared dead from OD'ing.  Slash's (Guitarist for Guns N Roses) girlfriend at the time performed CPR on Nikki until the Ambulance could come.  When the ambulance gave up....hysterical screaming fans urged them on.  Luckily, Nikki was revived. 

So what does he do after he was brought back from the dead?  He leaves the hospital, goes home and gets high some more.  Wow.

Some events are hard to read and you just want to reach out and wonder why people didn't try harder to help their friend, bandmate, family member.  Many times, he had no one. 

In this memoir, Nikki reveals a troubled and abandoned childhood mostly being raised by his Grandparents, who he loved dearly.

My Viewpoint!
I read this book tonight....Sunday evening, in one setting. I couldn't put it down.  I wasn't a huge Motley Crue fan, they were a little to "hard" for me but I still liked their hit songs that had radio play.    This book was an eye opener to me.  We all THINK we know about Rock Stars and the drugs, sex and rock n roll. Until reading tonight, I never know the extent and how much it happened wow. 

According to Nikki Sixx, the song "Dude looks like a lady" by Aerosmith is about Motley Crue lead singer Vince Neil.  How funny is that?
And the song "Money for nothing and your chicks for free" is about the band Motley Crue.
Who Knew?

The only part I didn't like in this book was the part about Jon Bon Jovi.  I could have lived without hearing that tidbit.

Otherwise, I found The Heroin Diaries to be quite interesting and even read a few parts to my Husband, who hates reading.  He said "Wow, that might be a good book to read" and he never listened to Motley Crue.

So kudos to Nikki Sixx for being so honest and for turning your life around for your kids and your charitable foundation.  I am so glad that he has a happy ending to his story.