Sixx AM: Global 'crisis' inspired Prayers For The Damned

DJ Ashba, James Michael and Nikki Sixx
DJ Ashba, James Michael and Nikki Sixx

Sixx AM say that writing sessions for their latest album were inspired by the current global “crisis.”

The trio of Nikki Sixx, DJ Ashba and James Michael released Prayers For The Damned last month. And Michael says they couldn’t ignore issues currently affecting the world while writing and recording the follow-up to 2014 Modern Vintage.

The frontman tells Star FM Berlin: “There’s no denying that right now, globally, there’s a sense of crisis. And I think that speaks to our first single off this record, Rise, which really addresses that.

“We’re not a political band by any stretch of the imagination, but we are certainly a very socially conscious band. Things that matter to us on a personal level are happening on a global level.

“We found that during the writing and the recording, we were so inundated by things going on around the world that really require some attention. And I think it’s safe to say that the world feels kind of wounded right now and is need of repair.

He continues: “Rise really is talking about how this is a crucial time for us to set our differences aside and come together and rise up and try to start changing things for the better.”

Michael points to the current political situation in the US where he says it’s “been the most vicious, loudest, most aggressive election year any of us have ever experienced in our lifetimes.”

He adds: “People feel desperate, people feel scared, people feel angry, people are dissatisfied with leadership, and so if you’re an artist, you cannot be creating art and just ignore that element to it.”

Sixx AM are currently on the road in support of their new album. Their next scheduled show is on May 10 at Baltimore’s Rams Head Live.

Sixx AM 2016 tour dates

May 10: Baltimore Rams Head Live, MD
May 11: Norfolk The Norva, VA
May 13: Ft Wayne Piere’s Entertainment Center, IN
May 14: Kansas City KQRC Rockfest, MO
May 15: Somerset Northern Invasion, WI
May 17: Chicago Concord Music Hall, IL
May 18: Pittsburgh Stage AE, PA
May 20: Columbus Rock On The Range, OH
May 21: Camden Susquehanna Bank Center, NJ
May 22: Albany Rock En Derby, NY
May 24: Sayreville Starland Ballroom, NJ
May 27: Pryor Rocklahoma, OK
May 29: San Antonio River City Rockfest, TX
Jun 02: Monza Gods Of Metal, Italy
Jun 03: Nuremberg Rock Im Park, Germany
Jun 05: Mendig Rock Am Ring, Germany
Jun 07: Lodz The Power Festival, Poland
Jun 09: Solvesborg Sweden Rock Festival, Sweden
Jun 11: Download Festival, UK
Jun 12: Isle of Wright Festival, UK
Jun 16: Pratteln Konzertfabrik Z7, Switzerland
Jun 17: Graspop Festival, Belgium
Jun 18: Hellfest, France
Jun 19: Grasspop Festival, Belgium
Jun 22: Stockholm Grona Lund, Sweden
Jun 23: Copenhagen Copenhell, Denmark
Jun 24: Halden Tons of Rock, Norway
Jul 30: Alberta Sturgis Alberta Motorcycle Rally, CA

Scott Munro
Louder e-commerce editor

Scott has spent more than 30 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in the summer of 2014 before moving to the e-commerce team in 2020. Scott maintains Louder’s buyer’s guides, scouts out the best deals for music fans and reviews headphones, speakers, books and more. He's written more than 11,000 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog and has previous written for publications including IGN, the Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald, covering everything from daily news and weekly features, to video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, Marillion and Rush.