Tom Werman talks Nikki Sixx bass on Motley Crue albums and Mick Mars Guitar Tone | Interview

The Jeremy White Show welcomes iconic 80's record producer Tom Werman!
Watch the FULL VIDEO INTERVIEW exclusively on Spotify and listen wherever you stream podcasts. linktr.ee/jeremywhiteshow
IN THIS CLIP: We talk all things Motley Crue. Did Nikki Sixx PLAY on the albums in the 80's? How important was Mick Mars to the sound of Motley Crue? How did Tommy get that drum sound?
ORDER his NEW BOOK Turn It Up!: My Time Making Hit Records In The Glory Days Of Rock Music (Featuring Mötley Crüe, Poison, Twisted Sister, Jeff Beck, Ted Nugent, Cheap Trick, And More) www.amazon.com...
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[@JeremyWhiteShow]

You can watch the entire interview VIDEO on Spotify and LISTEN to the full interview wherever you get podcasts! linktr.ee/jeremywhiteshow

[@kissdiaries]

Thanks, I will definitely check it out. an cheers for all the great Content!

[@kenairockband]

Mick’s playing has swagger and confidence. Always tuned a full step down gave him a unique voice at the time

[@55tmilam]

He’s badass! The most underrated guitar player!

[@greghoyt4061]

100%. I love tearing up a fretboard, but HOT DAMN, Mick didn’t need to to knock me out. No, he was never the fastest gun, but he didn’t need to be. Mick has so much POWER in his playing. It’s a kick in the face.

[@mooch514]

😂😂😂😅

[@dgenerated]

Most fail to realize that Mick was a 70's guitarist playing in an 80's rock band and that alone set him apart from the "shredders" of the day..

[@warriorv9359]

Mick was motley crue period without him there never was is or will ever be motley crue

[@paulmazzola398]

I second that one for sure.

[@humanactivated1017]

No way as a matter of fact mick is not in Motley Crüe right now

[@careful...Icarus]

So records full of Mick just soloing is your thing? I personally like actual songs. Btw Nikki wrote all of those. Ok he threw Tommy a bone now and then.

[@warriorv9359]

@@careful...Icarus come on dont be silly u what im saying That Motley crue sound is him those riffs that melodic than heavy sound is his he doesent fake playing like that tool sixx actually Micks the only respectable one that was in that band its like he was always too good for that band

[@floridapielady]

You’re incorrect. Nikki is Motley Crue. He is the sole songwriter and mastermind behind the Crüe. They never would have existed without him. Nikki is an amazing man. He always plays in the studio and live. This crap people are coming up with is ludicrous! Mick had to quit touring and the tour had to go on due to contracts. Mick loves John 5 and has always thought he was a great choice to replace him. Nikki is one of Mick’s biggest fans. No one gets an image of someone on their body unless they love them. This is a fact. So to the folks creating all this drama, unless you know Nikki personally keep your trap shut.

[@mr.logicpants2835]

Tom is a freaking LEGEND! I have heard multiple interviews with him, and he seems like a very down to earth guy.

[@JeremyWhiteShow]

He was super awesome to talk to! Check out the full interview wherever you get podcasts 🤟🏻

[@alexsandell8260]

​@@JeremyWhiteShowhow much longer is the full interview?

[@JeremyWhiteShow]

@@alexsandell8260 he talked for over an hour! It’s on the podcast feed 🤟🏻 linktr.ee/jeremywhiteshow

[@motleyfan7558]

I just finished reading Tom’s book. It’s a great journey and behind the scenes look at the music business in the 70s and 80s. Highly recommended

[@nunodarrell6606]

Mick Mars or CC? 😅 what question was that? Mick is the man! Underrated as fook!

[@gunnarjordan6980]

CC is my fave guitarist. Fave and Best are two different things.

[@clausm2203]

Great interview i always love these interviews with the guys behind those great records

[@JeremyWhiteShow]

Thank you!!

[@JeremyWhiteShow]

Check out the full interview, it’s over an hour! Available wherever you stream Podcasts. 📻

[@adamschwass8050]

Thank you fore this. I could listen to Tom's stories all day. Can't wait for the book.

[@toddmorrissey8372]

Will definitely pick up Tom's book. But for now, I'm mourning for all of us music lovers for having missed out on "Keith Moon with the Eagles". I've noticed that Tom almost always makes a point of giving major props to Tommy Lee in all of his interviews. Mentioning his being forward-thinking, willing to experiment and of course, being a powerhouse of a drummer.

[@bobc.5698]

The Shout album sonically to my ears is superior to all the Crue albums. How many great bands never made it and were lost to time because of bad engineering/production? Hundreds and hundreds probably.

[@yukonstriker1703]

Too Fast for Love is just as good, if not better sonically IMO

[@themadmattster9647]

it's a masterpiece..I like the songs maybe on Too Fast more but love the production on Shout. Goddamn meaty guitar tone and incredible drum sound

[@richiecunningham7968]

Jeremy this is awesome! Hearing Tom talk about Nikki, Mick and Tommy is lovely. I’ve preordered the book. Cheers - R

[@JeremyWhiteShow]

Thanks for watching brother!

[@h.d.mech.mortenson2098]

Great intro for Tom and I can’t wait to read the book. I love a lot of the bands he worked with. Great interview. Thank you.

[@TankerHawkSixx]

The bass on Too Fast has some intricate parts .. sounds like a completely different player on the rest of their 80s albums

[@mooch514]

Nikki suxx didnt play bass on the records

[@davedurand9483]

​@@mooch514did you listen to this video?

[@mooch514]

@@davedurand9483 i did, did you? Werman and bob rock both stated that nikki sixx was horrible. That they got ghost bass players to come in and play. Then , money or lawyers got involved and they changed their stories. Wake up.

[@briandaniels2126]

Tom you know that there are times the record company assigns the producer to the band and if the band wants to keep working they are going to do whatever the record company says.With a producer working for that record company it's the same way.

[@KnapfordMaster98]

Most of Girls Girls Girls actually has samples, if you listen to the extended version of Nona you can hear the sampled kick drum by itself. I think its the same snare sample as the rest of the album too, but usually its mixed much quieter.

[@bobmartino8073]

Niiki's job was pretty easy. He either rode the E string or he rode the A string.

[@geezberry8889]

this guy produced shout at the devil. motley's best album imo

[@darthtaylor513]

I never appreciated Mick as a guitarist when I was younger - in the 80s. Sure- I recognized the drive and catchiness of the riffs. But in the days of Rhodes, Lee, EVH, and Lynch he was overshadowed. However, the older I got- the more I appreciated Micks unique sound and tone. Mick is like Malcolm and Angus Young.

[@gunnarjordan6980]

Mick Mars is a Legend!!!

[@Jayhawk9]

Tommy hits the drums harder than most drummers

[@pal4597]

Forget about Tommy's reputation for a second, he is a solid, and creative drummer.

[@pal4597]

Can't argue with that.

[@nkmcfrln]

Love all of the mentions of Mr. Keith Moon : )

[@charleskletter8974]

A legend producer indeed

[@primetimejabroni903]

Pretty sure the Girls Girls Girls album has Roland R8 drum samples all over it. Layered with Tommy’s acoustic kit.

[@jamescon55]

NTM- "Bastard" off SHOUT (with Tommy actually being credited for Simmons Electronic DRUMS on the SHOUT credits) Definitely, LOTTA "layering". NOT ta mention, just LOOK at ALL those old live performances (pics and video) of Tommy Lee LIVE. He has HAD E-drums combined, on near ALL of his live kits, since darn near , day one. ROCK ON

[@primetimejabroni903]

@@jamescon55had no idea the Simmons machine was on bastard. I’ll have to listen to it again. And ya drummers in the 80’s had a lot of samples being triggered live

[@Stockholm.sweden]

Micks guitar tone on Shout At The Devil is the best he ever had. The sound on Girls Girls Girls and Theatre of Pain is not comparable. Going from the meanest tone ever to a typical terrible late '80's hair band guitar tone. Sad.

[@alexsandell8260]

Asking if CC or Mick is the better guitarist is like asking if Fisher-Price or Harman kardon produces better audio.

[@motleyfan7558]

I’ll be getting this book

[@TheBrettWilson]

Good interview Jeremy. Tom produced Stryper's best album (IMO) Against the Law, certainly their best sounding album. Any hard rock fan should check it out before writing it off because they're Christian.

[@fmbighair]

That album is criminally underrated!!!! All killer no filler. It’s a sin(no pun intended) that Agaunst The Law is not as well known

[@TheBrettWilson]

@@fmbighair You're bang on!

[@72seasonsofwither]

I actually liked A.J. Pero's drum sound on TS's Stay Hungry album. It was huge in its own way, and the snare had a loud crack to it. The kit may have sounded like it was about to fall apart, but that's what worked for that record.

[@Nightwinflyer]

Too many people are latching on to what Mick has said as gospel truth. There are always two sides with infighting in bands. Healthier to not let this stuff sway your opinion. Just love the music. It will still be around when all this bickering is lost in the wind.

[@RobSchauland1911]

When I went to buy a record, and I was unsure about the contents, if I saw Tom's name on the back, it was the deciding factor.

[@ThePrettyUglys]

Bun e Carlos .. is a VERY good drummer. Talk about underrated.. his “big band” swing style thing is just killer vintage stuff! Tommy Lee? Come on .. 80’s drumming .. hitting hard playing bigger sized drums.. isn’t hard. All you guys that haven’t seen a Buddy Rich or Ed Slaughnessy or even Sammy Davis Jr. drum solo.. go watch now!

[@deedubs602]

Nikki might’ve played bass on the recordings and back when Tom produced them but like he said himself “Things Change”!

[@lewasil]

Because you can't hear the bass on quite a few songs, other songs, yes, it's there and good! But I remember when I listened to Shout atbthe Devil and Too Fast for Love when I was a kid (on my SONY Walkman yes!) the bass never stood out to me. The guitar and drums sure did, and well as the singer obviously. I never really questioned it or thought about it til I was oldler. But Nikki writes the songs, so I will give him that!

[@jamescon55]

Nikki might of wrote lyrics, but Mick wrote a majority of the Crue's music.

[@lewasil]

@jamescon55 yeah, Mick really is an amazing player. An ICON!! XOXOXO

[@user-ee6jm3wu4q]

Thats not true- he worte some of them. In the early days it was almost all Nikki@@jamescon55

[@jamescon55]

@@user-ee6jm3wu4q Nikki couldn't even tune his bass guitar, less KNOW HOW to play an actual guitar 🎸 🫤, and STILL, AIN'T NUTTIN special on the bass. HOW is that guy GONNA BE CAPABLE of , WRITING MUSIC then?....Ohhh, 🤔 cuz he SAID "HE DID". 😏 That's right 👍. I forgot about THAT.......🤘🔥🤘

[@user-ee6jm3wu4q]

because you were there, you know right? he can play- he just isn't very good. Everybody that has worked with him has confirmed his writing contributions-- thats what made him valuable@@jamescon55

[@user-br4pb3mq8c]

I have a question for Tom was stay hungry or parts done at westlake Audio in the sliding glass drum room ??

[@scottwhite2757]

Nice Interview ..

[@pal4597]

Can't wait for the book Tom! You look great.

[@JeremyWhiteShow]

It’s a GREAT book!

[@24theMoney]

Great interview! Glad you didn't ask if Tom knows Mutt! LOL

[@ShadowWolf3030]

Maybe back in the day sixx played, but times change and back tracking is now the new norm, for over the hill bands like crue,

[@TheVinylLoungeMtl]

Another successful interview, very interesting Jeremy Tks 👌🏼😎🎶

[@JeremyWhiteShow]

Thanks man!!

[@macberkseth8540]

Mars kicks ass.

[@internetmoney221]

Lippi Synxx 🤘

[@ronaldfauver1469]

😂

[@denesisdelcorockschool3074]

It is a fact that Steve Bailey played bass on a lot of Motley Cruel albums.

[@samcypress]

MY BOY TOM IM COPPING THE BOOK IMMEDIATELY

[@kennethhacker3014]

I hope mick is enjoying his retirement and staying healthy.,john 5 was the perfect pick.great presentation

[@lewasil]

No, he's not happy about it at all, apparently.

[@bobc.5698]

It would be nice if you could get Alex Van Halen and talk about his sound and playing style and evolution.

[@JeremyWhiteShow]

I’d slay a AVH interview!! I’m the man for it!!

[@pal4597]

Would love that for you Jeremy. You would be a legend if you could get Alex to talk. Sadly, I think Alex is too cool for school.

[@keithballard5395]

You can tell. Werman put the work in. He can barely remember all the shit he recorded an produced over the years. It seemshe be jumping from record to record. Memories roll into each other, when your sniffing 80'S china white on the SSL mixing console.

[@warriorv9359]

Girls girls girls sucked the first two were the only good ones but Mr MM has always kicked ass no matter what albums

[@paulmazzola398]

Too fast for love, shout at the devil and Dr feelgood were their best albums to date. Theater of pain and girls had some great stuff and not so great stuff on them. People also should give New tattoo a listen also it was a good album.

[@alexsandell8260]

​@@paulmazzola398WG QB

[@voxpathfinder15r]

You could put Ringo’s son in The Who….just sayin’

[@JacksonAxe]

15:22 Steve Jordon always sounds like a million bucks, but the new Stones song sounds like Charlie Watts on sleeping pills. Watts, Copeland and Van Halen are 3 great examples of how a drummer can push the beat and create a forward-motion feeling.

[@fedupfaces]

Even If Nikki Sixx played bass on those albums it isn’t anything to write home about like most bass lines of that genre …..8th note wonders

[@lewasil]

Agreed!

[@aaronbickford8725]

Lol…and how many albums have you sold? Why should anyone even begin to care about your questionable (at best) need to hate on Nikki Sixx? I tell you what…come back when you’ve sold several multi-platinum albums, headlined stadiums around the world, and then maybe I’ll care about your judgments…rock and roll isn’t solely about technical ability…particularly with a band like Motley Crue.

[@lobotomyscam1051]

​@@aaronbickford8725But, he didn't even play live or on the albums.

[@yukonstriker1703]

​@@lobotomyscam1051Tom says otherwise. Did you even watch the interview lmao

[@michaelwills1926]

@@yukonstriker1703I watched the one where Mick Mars says they’re a bunch of backing track posers who “didn’t play a note” on the last tour.

[@gunnarjordan6980]

To hell with Motley Crue now. They’ve become a joke. #TeamMick

[@gunnarjordan6980]

True!! I wouldn’t walk across the street to see those idiots! They’re worse than a joke of a band! #TeamMick

[@gunnarjordan6980]

They’re worse than a joke!!! #TeamMick

[@cheaptrickfanatic3496]

Wait... WHO played lead on the studio version of I Want You to Want Me, and WHY?? Someone should have chased that down! Like, Rick wasn't fully capable!? We gotta know!

[@kissdiaries]

Very interesting Interview!

[@JeremyWhiteShow]

Glad you enjoyed it! Check out the full interview, it’s over an hour! Available wherever you stream Podcasts. 📻

[@kissdiaries]

hanks, I will definitely check it out. an cheers for all the great Content!@@JeremyWhiteShow

[@TheLordGoat]

It's not a new concept that Nikki never played on the records, even that he also didn't write those early songs alone. Seems like Werman signed a NDA back then.

[@TheNiteinjail]

I never thought Nikki cannot play ... But it is obvious multiple times that live he doesn't play every note.

[@lewasil]

And the bass doesn't stand out on Shout at the Devil, like you can't hear it. It didn't for me anyway. I will have to go back and listen to it again. But I remember as a kid, the bass not really standing out.

[@mickobrien3156]

If you need a session musician to play Nikki's supremely simple bass parts.... wow! That's how you know the theory is dumb. Strumming an open string? I mean, that's basically all there is to a Motley bass line.

[@dbdb703]

Tom can say what he likes, but videos dont lie, and i would take Mick's word over Tom's.

[@bjrnsjohnsen1278]

AJ Pero was a hard hitter, dont tell me that the weak drums on that album was due to him not hitting as hard as Tommy Lee. That’s BS, there are other reasons like samples and triggers that Werman won’t admit here.

[@JeremyWhiteShow]

We talked about samples in the full interview! You can watch it on Spotify in full or listen wherever you get podcasts. linktr.ee/jeremywhiteshow

[@Music-qt3ok]

It was probably the engineer who he fired.

[@ronzeller1647]

Also drum tuning ….

[@mikeb.7183]

Weak drums can be a result of lots of things. Bohnam sounded huge not only because he beat the crap out of the drums but also when he hit them. Page pushed the beat, and Jones laid back so Bohnam was right in the pocket all by himself. You also have how the eq works with the band. Again a band like Motley with Mik’s and Nikki’s low tuned guitars Tommy had his drums a little tighter than you would expect and they will stand out by themselves. Twisted always sounded muddy to me with to many things trying to to occupy the same space of the eq

[@sspbrazil]

Maybe he played bass back then, but that changed.

[@rythymsection7335]

Tom: Jeremy you’re right! Jeremy: I know I’m fukin right! But remains a pro and says nada!😂

[@kikiki4592]

Great, respectful view on the drummers by Tom, Ringo and A.J. are good, solid beat keepers, while Moon and Tommy are solid, yet over the top in a great way.

[@JeremyWhiteShow]

Well said!

[@aceeg69]

Cool so Niki played all bass

[@JeremyWhiteShow]

I think we all knew he did but it’s nice to get the confirmation from the producer that was there!

[@joefilipelli3867]

Don't forget about that little thing called a NDA...

[@LarryFleetwood8675]

Just think of Kiss, yes.

[@TheVinylLoungeMtl]

@@JeremyWhiteShowJust saw that LIVE it’s all tracks and he does not play, how do they even manage to keep that in sync with the rest…

[@JeremyWhiteShow]

It’s a mix of live and tracks… but since the controversy they’ve toned down the tracks and are playing very live! I saw em with Def Leppard in Syracuse a few months ago and it was very live and BELIEVE ME, I was WATCHING and LISTENING for it! 🤟🏻

[@cancelbubble6535]

The recent Nikki Sixx doesn't play bass is in relation to not playing bass live (using backing tracks).

[@bigpoppa5732]

What's he going to say, he's still on their payroll

[@marvinmartin3438]

He did play bass on those recordings but he's not playing bass live anymore. It's all prerecorded. Just sayin

[@TheVinylLoungeMtl]

Really?

[@pinehawk9600]

Any real proof

[@Baldmelon]

50 videos of him with his arms off of bass as the line plays🤯

[@TheVinylLoungeMtl]

@@Baldmelon Am digging in 😎🤘🏼

[@chrisstaff5870]

There’s no proof because he is actually playing. If you are a professional player you’ll see it. Notes can be easily sustained by volume. 😏. Stop being keyboard warriors.

[@ctrockstar7168]

Nikki isn’t playing live

[@SouledOut357]

Mic Mars admitted that he, recorded bass backing tracks for Nikki. so...are you telling us- that Mic Mars is a Liar?

[@stevew6910]

Mick and Tommy are the sound of Crue, And he is right. Bass players can be easily switched, But there are few that are not easily switched. Flea and Cliff Burton, Both are a big part of the bands sound, RHCP was not the same without Flea. And in my opinion neither was Metallica , The only band that no member could have been replaced was the Beatles

[@isaiahmarquez9717]

Pete Best was literally replaced by Ringo Starr.

[@metal-keyboard-player]

Great interview and awesome productions Tom Werman

[@markpegues915]

Just stop! We all know he didn't!

[@elisacastellani4054]

We? Who? Are you saying Tom is a lyar??

[@shannonbiggers3312]

Sure?...'cause cocaine. Luke on what?

[@scottforste4668]

Lol hmm something fishy with this interview

[@doreencharlie6694]

Thing is, Nikki doesn’t play bass live for the fans and that’s FRAUD! He should be ashamed with the price of tickets🤬

[@floridapielady]

That’s bullshit! Nikki has always played live! Always. Unless you know him personally stop saying crap that isn’t true.

[@doreencharlie6694]

@@floridapielady umm, pie lady, shut your pie hole. Nikki even admitted to Bob Rock he didn’t play on any of the albums up to Dr Feel good. Pretty hard to be rolling around the stage while strung out on H and drunk on Jack D. Don’t you agree?

[@otisdriftwood8469]

Dr feelgood sucks. Two good songs,the rest is total garbage. Theater is better than feelgood. Imo. The production was good, the songs suck. Ive been a fan since 83 and own all their records, feelgood never gets played.

[@robgen06]

mick marrs ,mick marks wtf bro

[@JeremyWhiteShow]

Typo from my editor lol one R btw in mars 🤣

[@MayweatherjrWONandsoTrump]

I stopped listening to Crue after Shout of the Devil.., can’t stand the pop music they play, theater of pain was a huge let down, I wanted in front of the store bought both the vinyl and the cassette and simply sold them the next day, guitar riffs tea of pain were so repetitive and boring, solos were also short. Everyone feels sorry for mick for his sickness but I don’t, karma is bad, he was disrespectful and racist vs real guitar God Jake E Lee and now Mars can’t even wipe himself. Life is brutal

[@briandaniels2126]

The fishyness with the interview is Werman is looking down practically the whole time because he's lying or he can't read the devil's cues correctly.He's answering as if no one has any idea how things work or don't work in the music business.Pathetic.

[@dusty3913]

Nobody suspects Nikki Six didn’t play on the albums. It’s his live stuff…and we know that a-hole will try to get away with whatever he can.

[@captainkirk70]

Motley's first two albums are by far their best. So whoever changed Mick's LP into a Marshall really did a disservice to the band. I never understood all the gear he started using later on. All that crap can't compare to a LP into a Marshall. He even dropped the ball when GnR hit. Still playing Kramers etc. I can understand the switch to a Strat for his back but I dont have to like it. He could have sat down in the studio and still used a LP.

[@johndillinger8482]

this guy cant let go of the past.sour grapes.

[@normcrainie5018]

Yo Tom.... Tell Nikki... I will give Him some Lessons on how to play the Bass....

[@ralphhicks3322]

Motley Who????

[@Terk131]

We will never get the truth about Sixx and his playing on the albums. But whatever, any press is good press is good press. I was never a fan of Motley.

[@floridapielady]

Nikki has and always had played on the albums and live. The part with Bob Rock was Nikki’s sarcasm about people saying he didn’t play. He played and will always play. That is a fact. He loves playing and does it all the time. It’s his whole life.

[@Terk131]

@@floridapielady Actually no. He plays to a pre recorded track. I have personally seen it. He is not a good musician, just an entertainer.

[@floridapielady]

@@Terk131 I know him personally and many of his bass techs including his current one. He plays live because he loves it! Nikki is an amazing musician. Always will be.

[@Terk131]

@@floridapielady okay. But I have heard the base thumping and he wasn’t playing. He may play but he definitely has pre recorded track and that’s a fact.