Mötley Crüe’s Nikki Sixx looks back at lean, driving years

By MARK KENNEDY
AP Entertainment Writer

NEW YORK, N.Y. (AP) — Before he was a rock god, he sold lightbulbs.

Before he shouted at the devil, he shouted at his mom.

Before he was Nikki Sixx, he was Franklin Feranna.

The Mötley Crüe co-founder and bassist looks back at his formative years in his new autobiography “The First 21: How I Became Nikki Sixx,” revealing family secrets and the origins of his drive to succeed.

Sixx was mostly raised by his grandparents, and they instilled in him a fierce work ethic.

He worked hard — on potato farms, in steel manufacturing, rug cleaning, being a janitor, selling light bulbs.

The book is out Tuesday.