Nikki Sixx said health issues were the reason Mötley Crüe did not partake in Ozzy Osbourne’s farewell show in Birmingham, England, earlier this month.
The band’s presence wouldn’t have been out of the question, as the Back to the Beginning show featured a bevy of rock legends, including Metallica, Slayer, and the Crüe’s fellow hair metal legends, Guns N’ Roses. When a fan asked Sixx on X if the band would’ve liked to have been there, the bassist replied, “We have been having health issues within the band…”
While Sixx didn’t offer any specific details, in a follow-up post he wrote about the care he puts into his own health. While Sixx noted that the results of some recent medical tests suggested “this 66 year old pirate ship looks ready to back to see” (despite “some misadventures in the past,” he quipped), at his age, he was approaching work with caution.
“I work HARD and I’m not interested in dying form work and BS STRESS,” he wrote, adding, “I have a wonderful wife, 5 golden children and a beautiful granddaughter. Do you think any part of my past indulgences Is worth destroying the beautiful life I built? Never. This is it. Either get your shit tighter or die a slow death crawl. We all die, some just give up sooner….I’m planning on cracking 100. That will piss off the critics.”
It’s possible Sixx could’ve also been referring to a recent vocal ailment suffered by singer Vince Neil. Back in March, the Crüe was forced to postpone their Las Vegas residency so Neil could undergo a vocal procedure, though no specifics were given.
“My health is my top priority so I can bring you the awesome shows you deserve, and I can’t wait to return to the stage,” Neil wrote at the time. “Thank you for all the well wishes that keep reaching me. Your support means more than you know.”
A rep for Mötley Crüe didn’t immediately return Rolling Stone’s request for comment.
Mötley Crüe released a new version of their hit “Home Sweet Home” with Dolly Parton earlier this year. They are set to belatedly kick off their Vegas residency soon, too, with shows scheduled to start Sept. 12 and wrap Oct. 3.
