Bass player Nikki Sixx of MÖTLEY CRÜE recently spoke to Boston-based writer Deb Rao about his favorite Metal Moment of 2006, New Years Resolution and his new Clothing line Royal Underground. On October 30, 2006, Sixx, along with former St. John CEO Kelly Gray of the St. John clothing line, launched the male clothing line called Royal Underground. Royal Underground features a very upscale, and classy line of male attire that targets the 20 - 40 year old male age bracket. The Royal Underground clothing line will be available at Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale's, Nordstrom and select boutiques.

Deb Rao: What is your favorite Metal Moment of 2006?

Sixx: "Well I'd have to say it was the return of Slayer, and their huge comeback with The Unholy Alliance Tour. Some people might find it strange that I like Slayer, but I do. Sure they're a death-metal/thrash/hardcore band, but I like that sort of music."

Deb Rao: Do you have any New Year Resolutions?

Sixx: "Yeah, I got one. Don't fuck up with my relationships."

Deb Rao: How did Royal Underground transpire? What goal did you have in mind launching the Royal Underground Line?

Sixx: "Kelly's history in the fashion world is phenomenal. When I first spoke to her I can remember her asking me some very direct, honest questions coming from a person, who has been in this her whole life. One of her questions was, 'Is it your fantasy to create very cool clothes and do you want to push this?' Kelly is part of this huge corporation. We both had the same answer, if we are involved in it, it has to be cool! We like cool things. We don't sit there and say let's make a line that is rock star oriented. I dress the way I dress, Kelly dresses the way she dresses, we design the way we design based on what we like. It is unique to our own individual tastes. It is the mixing of lots of different ingredients, and being able to take her education and my raw way of looking at the same thing and coming up with something unique to this line. The Royal Underground line is all across the country. We have been going to different stores. We get to the retail stores, we go in, and we walk the stores. We talk to the sales people. We ask them, what is working and not working and why they feel that our clothing line is valid. We asked them, where do you see us? They say we see you sitting in there with Dolce. When we were a young band, and we would get out there face to face with people, it helped to confirm what we were doing, what we were passionate about and what was real. We are finding that now when we walk into the retail stores, they say, 'We can't wait for your stuff. It is going to be perfect.' The managers at the retail stores are telling us, that they are excited about it, and that is how we know that Kelly and I are doing the right thing. When you love something enough to go head to toe over it, you know that it is going to come out really good."

Deb Rao: How would you describe the Royal Underground clothing line?

Sixx: "Well you know that it is interesting because you do what you do from your heart. You don't really sit there and go, we are going to sell only to this age bracket. But at the same time, it is a fine line with a price point that reflects that the materials are a higher end, because we really have a higher end, which includes elaborate construction, elaborate leathers, and cashmere tops. Our jeans are phenomenal, the construction of them, the washes, and the designs are elaborate. So we don't belong on Melrose. We realize that we fit into a certain niche. Neiman Marcus has been extremely supportive, as well as Bloomingdale's, Nordstrom, Fredericks in Los Angeles. There is an age bracket that goes there that I wasn't necessarily aware of that skews as young as it does, and also surpasses the age limit that I thought would wear cool clothes. They are looking for cool, hip, and comfortable clothes. The men's market is growing faster than any other market there is right now. I think men are getting to the point, where they are comfortable accepting themselves a little bit outside the box, but at the same time, not wanting to be outside the box to the extent that it doesn't really feel comfortable to walk down the street. For us as designers, Kelly and I are constantly using that strategy in men's wear."