Mötley Crüe’s bassist Nikki Sixx has long been known for his ability to create powerful rhythms without drawing attention to himself. In a recent interview with Bass Player, Sixx explained why he always aimed to stay out of the spotlight during his time in the band, particularly on stage.

He shared, “I think my role in the band was to just lay in the groove. To grind the f*ck out of it and give it some real dirt. My intention has always been to be invisible and be part of the drums, and never really stand out. I just move things around enough to compliment what the guitars and vocals are doing. The bottom line is that it’s all about the song.” His humble approach to his role in Mötley Crüe speaks volumes about his mindset as a musician.

When asked about his bass playing, Sixx remarked, “I’ve never been one that talks about my bass playing because I’m a band member, but I really am proud of my bass playing on that album; it was the first time I was sober. But I’m proud of all 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?’”