Nikki Sixx isn’t convinced the traditional album format still makes sense for Mötley Crüe, with the bassist revealing he would rather the band release music as individual songs and shorter collections.
Speaking on the Joann Butler In Studio With… podcast, Sixx discussed Mötley Crüe‘s lengthy career and the changing landscape of the music industry before explaining why he no longer sees full-length records as the band’s priority (per Loudwire).
“I know fans don’t wanna hear this, but I don’t believe in making full-length records anymore at this time on the planet, for me.”
For Sixx, the amount of material required to create a traditional album doesn’t necessarily translate into listeners hearing the record as a complete body of work.
“The amount of work that goes into – if you’re doing 10 songs on a record, you gotta write 20, right? And you better hope five of ’em are stellar.”
He also pointed to the way radio and streaming have changed how audiences discover music, arguing that releasing individual songs could allow the band to put more attention behind each track.
“Radio’s changed, streaming is changing and evolving as we go. So, I’m really into the idea of lightning strikes, something comes down, [and] I call the guys.”
That approach is already reflected
The band’s 2024 Cancelled EP marked their first EP in three decades and featured three new songs, following the group’s 2019 The Dirt soundtrack, which also introduced fresh material.
Rather than waiting until enough songs have accumulated for another traditional album, Sixx appears more interested in capturing inspiration when it arrives.
“So, I think we’re just gonna keep going, like whenever something comes up, you feel something – heartbreak, joy, rebellion – let’s write a song about it and let’s go cut, you know, it in the studio.”
Mötley Crüe’s last conventional studio album remains 2008’s Saints of Los Angeles, meaning the band’s next major collection could ultimately look very different from a traditional LP.
For fans hoping for another full-length record, Sixx’s comments aren’t necessarily a definitive goodbye to the format. Instead, they point towards a release strategy built around singles and EPs, allowing the band to put their focus on individual songs rather than filling an album’s worth of material.
In an era dominated by streaming and constantly changing listening habits, Sixx believes that approach could give Mötley Crüe’s new music a better chance of making an impact.
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