Rock and roll has long been a breeding ground for conspiracy theories. These myths and conspiracies, whether born from fan obsession, media sensationalism, or the eccentric lives of rock stars themselves, have become a part of the genre’s allure. Matthew Trippe’s story involving Nikki Sixx is also a controversial chapter in rock history.
For years, a rumor claimed that Sixx had been replaced by Trippe. In the late 1980s, Trippe claimed that he had impersonated Nikki for a period during the early 1980s. According to Trippe, this impersonation occurred after Sixx was injured in a car accident in 1982.
Details Of Trippe’s Claim Of Impersonating Sixx During The 1980s
Matthew alleged that Mick Mars asked him to step in and perform with Mötley Crüe during Sixx’s recovery. He shared his story with the British magazine Kerrang, and it quickly spread among rock fans. Trippe spoke to Ryan Barton in 2012 and claimed:
“[They said], ‘We’re gonna take a chance on you.’ I was in front of contracts, and crap like that [was] thrown down. I didn’t have time to read it; I went to sign my name, they say, ‘No, we’re gonna give you a stage name, you’re now ‘Nikki Sixx,’ and you just sign it here, there’s no need to read it.’”
Matthew’s Life After Allegedly Impersonating Sixx
Trippe’s claims also included participating in the recording of parts of the band’s albums and appearing in public as Sixx. However, in 1984, Matthew said he was no longer needed to impersonate Sixx and that the real Nikki would return to the band. Following this, Trippe’s life worsened, leading to him being charged with armed robbery. Speaking to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in 1988, he noted:
“It was like I was rubbed out. When I tried to form bands, I’d tell people I used to be Nikki Sixx, and they’d say, ‘No way.’ I thought, ‘How can [Mötley Crüe] make it seem like I don’t exist?’ But unfortunately, they did a good job.”
Nikki Sixx Addresses The Hoax On Sixx Sense
Later, he even went as far as filing a lawsuit against the band in 1988, seeking recognition and financial compensation for his alleged contributions. After Trippe passed away in 2014, Sixx addressed the issue on his radio show, Sixx Sense, where he shared with his audience:
“I didn’t take it serious, but it actually started picking up steam. There was pictures in Kerrang! magazine of this guy and me, and they were actually the most ludicrous things I’ve ever seen. They compared our belly buttons. They were like, ‘Which belly button belonged to Nikki Sixx pre-1984 …’ I mean, it was so stupid. And this guy had my tattoos … but he had got them on the wrong arm. They were backwards. He must’ve looked … I don’t know how he did it.”
The story, however, is widely regarded as a hoax. Mötley Crüe and Nikki Sixx have denied Trippe’s claims. There is no concrete evidence supporting Trippe’s story, and many details in his account have been contradicted by known facts about the band’s history and Sixx’s life. Moreover, he had also been dealing with severe mental health issues.
