Nikki Sixx recently opened up about the intense yet rewarding process of recording Dr. Feelgood, emphasizing how producer Bob Rock challenged every member of Mötley Crüe to push their boundaries.
Known as one of the hardest-partying bands of their era, Mötley Crüe built a reputation on excess and hedonism. However, ironically, they recorded what is widely regarded as their most significant album while living a clean lifestyle. In a recent interview with Classic Rock, Sixx reflected on how their manager, Doc McGhee, enforced sobriety for the band during the making of their fifth studio album. Released in 1989, Dr. Feelgood featured iconic tracks like “Kickstart My Heart” and its title song.
During the recording sessions at Vancouver’s Little Mountain Studios, the Crüe worked alongside Aerosmith, who were also committed to sobriety at the time. Sixx recalled the structured routine they followed:
“Aerosmith would be in the gym too. Then we’d be outside, taking in nature, jump on our motorcycles, drive over to the studio. Be there by eleven-thirty or noon, be creative all day, and then go back to our apartment to listen to mix-down tapes and rewrite lyrics.”
The result of their disciplined approach was Dr. Feelgood, which became their first No. 1 album in the United States. Achieving that milestone required immense effort, driven by the meticulous and demanding Bob Rock. Sixx detailed how Rock’s relentless pursuit of perfection transformed the band:
“He pushed Vince [Neil] to sing better—nobody had done that before. He pushed Tommy [Lee] to change up the beat. He pushed Mick [Mars]: ‘I want to re-do the guitars, double them, triple them, quadruple them.’ Bob focused on the little things. You do enough little things right, and you make a big change.”
Rock’s constructive criticism extended to Sixx’s own songwriting. The bassist described his process of rewriting lyrics under Rock’s guidance:
“I had a little room I’d go into and sit on the floor. No computer to pull information from, just books and magazines. I’d work on lyrics, then come out and show Bob, who’d say: ‘I think you could do better.’ I’d go back in, come back out again, and Bob would say: ‘You’re halfway there.’”
Sixx rewrote one song eight times under Rock’s direction, drawing inspiration from Bruce Springsteen and Ian Hunter.
The hard work paid off. The album’s title track became their highest-charting single in the U.S., peaking at No. 6, while the album itself topped the Billboard 200. Reflecting on the experience, Sixx shared:
“It was a special experience, which then turned into a special album. We learned something we still apply today: ignore everything else, forget whatever’s going on outside the studio, follow the creativity, and let magic moments happen.”
