10 Questions with ... Nikki Sixx

1) While most Rock fans are familiar with your background as a founding member of Mötley Crüe and Sixx:A.M., when did you begin to entertain the idea of doing a radio show?

I've been a fan of radio since I was a kid. I remember sitting in my grandparents' house in Idaho, listening to the local radio station and being mesmerized by the DJs. I used to call in and request my favorite songs, and when they played them, I would feel like I had a special connection. After being interviewed on-air for years, I was presented with the opportunity to get on the other side of the mic and I jumped at the opportunity.

2) What radio stations and personalities did you listen to when you were growing up?

I moved around a lot as a kid, but Casey Kasem, Wolfman Jack, Jim Ladd and Bob Coburn all left lasting impressions.

3) Can you give us the specifics of how the Sixx Sense and The Side Show Countdown radio shows came together? How did you meet your co-host Kerri Kasem?

Once we decided the format and how the shows fit my personality, it was time to begin what I believed was going to be a really hard task of finding a female co-host. I truly believe that having a female point of view is important, so when we started the process, I met with a lot of possible co-hosts. When I met with Kerri, things really gelled.

4) Congratulations on Sixx Sense hitting over 100 affiliates. That's quite an accomplishment. What are some of the intangibles that make this show work?

It's the natural chemistry between myself and Kerri, and our love of music, that really makes the show work.

5) For those who haven't heard both shows, give us some highlights of special features and music you feature on the shows on a nightly basis?

The highlights of the shows are our takes on topical events, mixed with very personal interviews with artists from all walks of life. We dig deep to find the unique music that makes up our Sixx Picks and I also enjoy storytelling, while playing my blasts from the past.

6) I'm sure you have some juicy old Mötley Crüe stories that you share with your audience every night. How many stories aren't suitable for the radio?

99.99999999%

7) How is the music chosen on Sixx Sense and The Side Show Countdown? Do you have the final say on everything that's played?

We work closely with programmers to develop the best music for the format. At the heart of it all, music is what drives the show and our lives.

8) What's your take on current Rock music? Is it as good now as it was in the '80s and '90s?

Music is always evolving and you're always going to have copycats, which spur on new revolutions -- it's a cycle that will never change. Sometimes we're on top of the hill; sometimes we're in the valley. But, right now, I wish bands would grow some balls.

9) How do Sixx Sense and The Side Show use social media to interact with their listeners?

We are hands-on, up close, personal, and not afraid to get in your face. Social media should be an extension of your personality.

10) Okay...so I have to ask. Is there any new Mötley Crüe news you can share with us? Any other Nikki Sixx music we can look forward to hearing in the future?

I am constantly in writing mode. Right now, Sixx: AM is in the studio cutting our third record that we believe is our most adventurous. When the moment is right, the same will happen with Mötley Crüe, which has been my love for over 30 years.

What are some of your other hobbies and interests outside of radio and music?

Photography. Photography. Photography. Fast forward 30 years, and I see myself as an old man with a camera in my hand, lurking in the shadows, searching for that magic shot.

You're stuck on a deserted island and you only have five CDs with you. What are they?

The Stooges' "Fun House," Aerosmith's "Get Your Wings," Queen's "Sheer Heart Attack," Black Sabbath's "Vol. 4" and David Bowie's "Young Americans."