In the latest issue of Classic Rock, Nikki Sixx opens up about the demanding approach Bob Rock took while working with Mötley Crüe on their 1989 album Dr. Feelgood. This marked a turning point for the band as it was their first record created in sobriety, following Sixx’s overdose scare. Under Rock’s guidance, the band underwent significant changes, with the producer pushing them harder than anyone had before.

Sixx recalled Rock’s insistence on improving Vince Neil’s vocals, saying, “He’s pushing Vince to sing better. Nobody had done that before.” But it wasn’t just Neil who felt the heat from Rock. The producer challenged the entire band, including drummer Tommy Lee, whom he urged to alter his rhythms. Guitarist Mick Mars was also pushed to rework his guitar parts, with Rock requesting multiple takes to “double, triple, and quadruple” the guitars. Sixx noted, “Bob focused on the little things. You do enough little things right and you make big change.”

However, it wasn’t just the rest of the band who had to meet Rock’s high expectations. Sixx himself had to rise to the challenge when the producer asked him to rewrite lyrics for a new song that Mars had created a powerful riff for. Sixx explained, “I had a little room that I’d go in and sit on the floor. No computer to pull information from, just books and magazines.”

The writing process wasn’t easy. Every time Sixx presented his work to Rock, the producer was quick to demand more. “I’d work on lyrics then come out and show Bob, who would be like: ‘I think you could do better.’ I’d go back in the room, come back out again. Bob would go: ‘You’re halfway there.’ Eight times I rewrote that song,” Sixx revealed. Rock pushed him to draw inspiration from legends like Bruce Springsteen and Ian Hunter, saying, “More Springsteen! More Ian Hunter! You know how to do this. You’re a storyteller!”

Ultimately, the hard work paid off. The song Rock encouraged Sixx to rewrite became the album’s title track, “Dr. Feelgood,” which tells the story of a drug dealer and his shady entourage. Reflecting on the album, Sixx expressed his pride: “I love the ‘Dr. Feelgood’ album. It was the first time I was sober.”

He continued, “I really am proud of my bass playing; I’m proud of the albums we’ve made; I’m proud of the tones. I’m proud of the fact that I wrote those songs, and I was able to go, ‘What does this song need?’ Not, ‘What do I need?’ but ‘What does the song need?’” The album, born from both personal and professional challenges, remains one of Mötley Crüe’s most iconic releases.