Exclusive California Song magazine interview with Motley Crue founder Nikki Sixx, LA Guns own Tracii Guns and lead singer London LeGrand.
By Kevin McCarley

CALIFORNIA SONG - Steve Bruno is your producer. How do you like working with him?
NIKKI SIXX - He's the best, not only in terms of being a great producer, but also in terms of great songwriting ideas.

CSONG - Who does the majority of BOD songwriting?
TRACII GUNS - When it comes to songwriting, there are a

lot of ways this band does it. For instance, I bring a riff idea into rehearsal, we beat it around for a while and turn it into a nice arrangement; then either London or Sixx comes up with any lyric or melody ideas.

LONDON LeGRAND - So far Nikki and Tracii write the music. Some lyrics and melody lines were already completed finished songs, but they also hand me songs with no lyrics and melody lines and tell me to see what I come up with. Once done I come in and we take what's done and collaborate on it until the shit's bangin'.

TRACII - Another way is, Nikki and London get together and write complete songs, then bring them in and I twist them around and beef them up a bit. Another way we do is to get together with a friend of Nikki's, like James Michael who is a pro 'outside' writer, he and Nikki write songs together for other bands and artists, i.e. Meat Loaf.

CSONG - How did you decide on the BOD line-up?
NIKKI - John was a shoe-in because his style and vocal ability was totally congruent with the sound. John and Tracii compliment each other very well. Tracii brought in Kris, but he couldn't stay on the gig because he was busy with Adema, so we brought in Scot Cougan. Steve Bruno from Klown introduced Scot to us.

CSONG - With such talent spread smooth and evenly across the whole band, who amongst you sets the pace as the band's creative inspiration?
LONDON - I'd say from our past influences and we draw from one another. Maybe from what we experienced last night, or 15 minutes from when we entered the studio. Whatever is on our chest that needs to come off.

CSONG - When does BOD know when they're 'gettin it off' so to speak?
LONDON - I guess whatever is being felt at that moment, that a cigarette can't quench. I really don't think it's premeditated, each person has something to say; we each say what we feel.

TRACII - Inspiration for me comes from many places. Sometimes I can just pick up an unfamiliar guitar and new music just starts pouring out. Sometimes I sit down with a drum machine and just start jamming over something I wouldn't normally jam to. The ultimate is when you are just jamming with the guys in the band and the magic happens. When the inspiration comes from within the band that is the ultimate!

NIKKI - One plus one equals three.

LONDON - And in the end the five voices create one sentence.

CSONG - Does the band start with a riff or a chord progression?

LONDON - That's a structured way of thinking, if you ask me. I don't think any type of art should have any rules or regulations. That's not art, that's contrived safety. There are a million ways to skin a cat, and you're only giving me two choices on how we create. Who's to say what's right, who's to say what's wrong? After all those are just opinions. Opinions created by man. And man's never been perfect. We can think for ourselves! In a nutshell, we do it however we do it. I've waited my whole life to meet four other people that are rebellious enough to question why things MUST be… Thank God I finally feel I'm not alone.

CSONG - When first approaching a 'new' song idea as a band… does the vocal melody come first or the riff/chords or the beat/groove?
LONDON - It's not an assembly line, isn't it a shame when a musician becomes a pawn in the suit's game. Cookie cutting sells, but do you truly feel satisfied. I guess it doesn't matter when SOMEONE wants to buy their 13th home.

CSONG - London, you definitely have an iconoclast point of view. Does this mean you write the majority of the band lyrics?
LONDON - That's a tough one cause Nikki writes and I write. John has lyrical ability and will write and has songs he has written. I'd like to say it's too soon to determine.

TRACII - Nikki and London write all the lyrics so far. I would have to say that Nikki has written most of the lyrics, but London is a close second.

CSONG - How do you finish the songwork, each one on your side or during jam sessions and rehearsals?
TRACII - As far as writing, we all bring in riffs and ideas or we bring in outside songs and make them our own. Basically we just fuckin' rock out!

song, how many times have you seen a band with a singer you didn't like and came to the conclusion that the band sucked? The musicians were probably amazing, but they didn't get credit where credit was due. I'm happy to say that they're professional enough to give what will allow me to represent with integrity.

CSONG - What comes first, the chorus or the verse?
LONDON - Nikki IS a hook master. It's good to feed off, but my answer is either or, some may feel more comfortable one way, and others another.

CSONG - When does the band decide on the title of the tune, usually sung big time in the chorus?
LONDON - The tune decides the title of the song, words come from what you feel from the music.

CSONG - What if you're starting with a 'killer title' that you thought up first, does the title influence what style the song is going to be?
LONDON - Seems like it could be that way.

CSONG - So when writing the vocal, the melody, assorted riffs, jamming, choruses, harmonic structure etc. etc., how active is the BOD rhythm section (Nikki and Scot) in composing bass/drum (i.e. beat, tempo, syncopation) to compel those guitars and vocals?
TRACII - Oh man… The rhythm is everything! I don't care how cool the riff is, if the rhythm section is weak, it's all over.

LONDON - As important as a frame to a house, as important as the color green is to a gold-digger.

CSONG - Do bass and drums get the guitar and vocals into the right groove or the other way around?
LONDON - It can work either way.

CSONG - Does the band use key signature modulations?
LONDON - I hope what comes from the heart.

TRACII - Yes.

CSONG - Does the band use changing time signatures?
TRACII - Not a lot. But it is cool if done right.

LONDON - "Read the book"

CSONG - Well in 20 years lets say, I do read the book about BOD's enduring success and songwriting classics. What's the book gonna say about what the Brides of Destruction called music?
TRACII - The Brides I feel have a unique sound because we blend a lot of old school guitar solos with different kinds of heavier modern riffs and London has the ability to be in one song and then go… go from a sweet ballad type of voice to a New York street vender type of scat to a middle eastern trippy kinda vibe (he is very hip)… I think you bring that raw Crue/Guns kinda attitude and mix it up with new stuff and you have the Brides.

LONDON - No one knows what the final outcome will be. Especially not a hand full of punks I can think of right now that have allowed themselves to be arrogant enough to assume, this goes to any skeptics.