The Heroin Diaries Soundtrack

The Heroin Diaries Soundtrack
Studio album by Sixx:A.M.
Released	August 21, 2007 November 25, 2008 (Deluxe edition)
Recorded	2007
Genre	Hard rock
Length	51:01
Label	Eleven Seven Music
Producer	Sixx:A.M.
Sixx:A.M. chronology
The Heroin Diaries Soundtrack (2007) Live Is Beautiful (2008) Singles from The Heroin Diaries Soundtrack "Life Is Beautiful" Released: 2007 "Pray for Me" Released: 2008 "Tomorrow" Released: 2008 "Accidents Can Happen" Released: 2008

The Heroin Diaries Soundtrack, often referred to as simply The Heroin Diaries, is the debut studio album by Sixx:A.M., a side project of Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx. The band also features lead vocalist James Michael and current Guns N' Roses guitarist DJ Ashba. The concept album^[1] serves as the companion soundtrack to Sixx's autobiography, The Heroin Diaries: A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rock Star, and is about Sixx's severe heroin addiction in 1987. The first single, "Life Is Beautiful," debuted at #26 on the Billboard charts. Their second album This Is Gonna Hurt was released in 2011.^[2]

Concept

Designed to be an accompaniment to The Heroin Diaries: A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rock Star, the autobiography of Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx co-written by Sixx and Ian Gittens that details his severe heroin addiction in 1987, The Heroin Diaries Soundtrack is a concept album that captures Sixx's basic story of his life during that time, although the album can stand alone. The story begins with the reasons for Sixx starting his diary, followed by his first (albeit temporary) abstinence from heroin, his relapse and mental and physical decline, his near-fatal overdose and out-of-body experience, and finally, his emotional recovery, which eventually led to long-term sobriety. The 13 tracks on the album each correspond to one month of his diary, which he kept from December 1986 to December 1987. Because a story is told, the album is best understood by listening to the tracks in their original order.

Release

"Life Is Beautiful", the first single off the album, was originally posted on Sixx's MySpace page; after "[picking] up momentum,"^[3] it debuted at #26 on the Billboard rock singles chart.^[4] It peaked at #2 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.^[2] The album was released on August 21, 2007. It has sold 344,000 copies to date in the U.S. as of May 2011.^[5]

Deluxe edition

A deluxe edition of The Heroin Diaries was released on November 25, 2008, exclusively on sale through Best Buy. The deluxe edition features the original album and a bonus live EP, entitled Live Is Beautiful. This EP was recorded from several performances over their summer 2008 tour on Crüe Fest. The EP is also sold separately for those who already have the original album.

Track listing

All lyrics written by James Michael, DJ Ashba and Nikki Sixx. 

No.	Title	Music	Length
1.	"X-Mas in Hell"	Nikki Sixx, DJ Ashba	2:10
2.	"Van Nuys"	James Michael	3:52
3.	"Life Is Beautiful"	Ashba, Michael, Sixx	3:36
4.	"Pray for Me"	Ashba, Sixx, Michael	4:14
5.	"Tomorrow"	Sixx, Michael, Ashba, Scott Stevens	4:05
6.	"Accidents Can Happen"	Sixx, Michael, Ashba	4:07
7.	"Intermission"	Sixx, Ashba	2:20
8.	"Dead Man's Ballet"	Michael	5:25
9.	"Heart Failure"	Sixx, Michael, Ashba	4:58
10.	"Girl with Golden Eyes"	Sixx, Michael, Ashba	4:20
11.	"Courtesy Call"	Michael	4:41
12.	"Permission"	Michael	4:14
13.	"Life After Death"	Sixx, Ashba	3:00
Total length:			51:01

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic
The Gauntlet
Sputnikmusic
About.com
IGN.com

The Heroin Diaries Soundtrack, noted by many for showcasing a more emotional sound than, and a musical departure from, Sixx's other band, Mötley Crüe, has been received very positively. Jim Kaz of IGN, praising the emotional lyrics of the album, called it "not really an album but rather a musical book, it is almost impossible to recommend any specific songs over others."^[6]

Personnel

• Nikki Sixx – bass guitar, backing vocals
• James Michael – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards, drums, programming
• DJ Ashba – lead guitar, backing vocals

References

1. ^ "Nikki Sixx - ARTISTdirect NEWS". artistdirect.com. 2007-08-28. http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/news/article/0,,4400841,00.html. Retrieved 2007-08-28. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks". Billboard.com. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/chart_display.jsp?g=Singles&f=Hot+Mainstream+Rock+Tracks. Retrieved 2007-10-23. 
3. ^ "Interview with Nikki Sixx". About.com. http://heavymetal.about.com/od/interviews/a/nikkisixx_2.htm. Retrieved 2007-10-23. 
4. ^ "Heroin Diaries Soundtrack Review". Sputnikmusic. http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?reviewid=13214&page=1. Retrieved 2007-10-23. 
5. ^ Titus, Christa. "Sixx:A.M. Redefines Beauty on 'This Is Gonna Hurt'". billboard.com. May 7, 2011.
6. ^ Jim Kaz date=August 31, 2007. "Sixx: A.M. - The Heroin Diaries Soundtrack Review". http://music.ign.com/articles/817/817320p1.html.