DJ Ashba
Encyclopedia
Daren Jay "DJ" Ashba is an American
musician, producer, songwriter and CEO of Ashba Media. He is the lead guitarist in Guns N' Roses
and Sixx:A.M.
He is also known for his work with hard rock bands BulletBoys
and Beautiful Creatures
. Ashba has worked with various artists including Mötley Crüe
, Drowning Pool
, Marion Raven
, Aimee Allen
and Neil Diamond
.
For his 16th birthday, Ashba’s father took him to his first concert, the Mötley Crüe Girls, Girls, Girls tour and his life was forever changed. “The crowd, the music, the lights! It was the night I realized that no matter what it takes, I was gonna be on that stage one day.” At the age of 19, Dj packed up his possessions and set out for Hollywood to make it as a rockstar.
as part of the band's new lineup. It was during his time with the band that he met Joe Lesté of Bang Tango
. In 1999, he departed the group to start a new band with Lesté.
frontman Joe Lesté. They added former Shake The Faith and No. 9 bassist Kenny Kweens
and session drummer Anthony Focx, who performed in the 1992 film Wayne's World
appearing as the drummer in Tia Carrere
's club band. Focx became the group's second guitarist and Glen Sobel, another session drummer, was brought in to take over drums. This was the first lineup under the moniker Beautiful Creatures. Prior to naming, the band opened one show in Houston, Texas
for Kiss
during their reunion tour after Ted Nugent
pulled out. The band then signed with Warner Bros.
and released their self-titled debut Beautiful Creatures
, produced by Marilyn Manson
cohort Sean Beavan
, on August 14, 2001. Album track 1 A.M. was featured in the soundtrack for the 2001 horror film
Valentine
and tv series
Smallville
. Ride was featured on the soundtrack to the 2002 remake of Rollerball
. Despite appearing at Ozzfest
, the Rolling Rock Tour the band was dropped from their label due to poor album sales. On February 13, 2002, the band announced that Ashba had left the group and the band found a replacement and continued on.
guitarist Michael Thomas, who was Ashba's replacement in BC but left the group in 2003, bassist John Younger and drummer Bones Elias rounded out the groups lineup. Also in 2003, Ashba was invited to participate in the group Brides of Destruction
with Nikki Sixx
and Tracii Guns
but turned it down to focus on his solo project. In 2005, a small controversy was caused when it was suggested that neither Tommy nor Mick played on the new tracks for Mötley Crüe
's compilation album
Red, White & Crüe (duties were supposedly handled by Vandals drummer Josh Freese
and Ashba as well as Mick being replaced by Ashba on their reunion tour. Ashba hit back at the rumours:
A VH1 documentary of the band reuniting would later show that Lee did indeed play on some of the tracks.
In 2006 Ashba set up Funny Farms Studios with Nikki Sixx
. They began writing and producing, and performing music together which included collaborations with singer Marion Raven
, whom Sixx had worked with before, on her Heads Will Roll
EP
and album Set Me Free. James Michael
also is credited on the albums. In March 2007, Sixx penned Reason I'm Alive for Drowning Pool
's new album Full Circle
with both Sixx and Ashba co-producing the track.
bassist Nikki Sixx
and producer James Michael
under the name Sixx:A.M.
in August, 2007 serving as a soundtrack to Sixx's autobiography The Heroin Diaries: A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rock Star
. The single Life is Beautiful reached #2 on the Billboard
Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks. Originally the group stated they had no intention of touring. After constant support for the band and interest in a tour, they held a nationwide vote for tour dates. The tour was scheduled to start in spring 2008, but had been postponed to the summer due to unforeseeable circumstances. On April 15, 2008, Sixx:A.M. announced they would be touring as part of Mötley Crüe
's Crüe Fest
, along with Buckcherry
, Papa Roach
and Trapt
. The tour began on July 1, 2008, in West Palm Beach, Florida
. During Crüe Fest, Papa Roach
drummer Tony Palermo
served as a touring drummer for the band. A deluxe tour edition of The Heroin Diaries Soundtrack was released on November 25, 2008, which included a bonus live EP entitled Live Is Beautiful
which features recorded performances from the band's summer tour. In April 2009, both James Michael
and Nikki Sixx
confirmed that the band is currently in the studio, recording new material. Sixx added that the new material is "inspiring. it feels like we may have topped ourselves on this album coming up, and can't wait for you to hear what it sounds like."
, who had left the band to rejoin Nine Inch Nails
. He first toured with the band as part of the Chinese Democracy Tour where on December 19, 2009 Guns N' Roses played its longest concert ever at Tokyo Dome - 3 hours, 37 minutes. He is currently on tour with the band as part of its 2011 North American and Latin American Tour.
. They also have other clients, such as Ovation guitars, Royal Underground and many more. Daren owns two corporations, Ashba Media, Inc. which handles the art side of things and Ashbaland, Inc. which handles the music side of things. Ashba contributed to Mötley Crüe
's latest album Saints of Los Angeles
penning all tracks with the exception of This Ain't a Love Song. The title track Saints of Los Angeles
was nominated for a Grammy the same year.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician, producer, songwriter and CEO of Ashba Media. He is the lead guitarist in Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band, formed in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, in 1985. The band has released six studio albums, three EPs, and one live album...
and Sixx:A.M.
Sixx:A.M.
Sixx:A.M. is a hard rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 2007 by Nikki Sixx, DJ Ashba, and James Michael, and is the side project of Sixx, who is also the bass guitarist for Mötley Crüe. The group is best known for their songs "Life Is Beautiful" and "Lies of the Beautiful People". The...
He is also known for his work with hard rock bands BulletBoys
BulletBoys
BulletBoys is an American hard rock group formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1987. The group's original lineup was composed of former Ratt guitarist/King Kobra lead vocalist Marq Torien , former King Kobra guitarist Mick Sweda, Lonnie Vencent and Jimmy D'Anda...
and Beautiful Creatures
Beautiful Creatures (band)
Beautiful Creatures are a hard rock band formed in 1999 by guitarist DJ Ashba, formerly of BulletBoys, and singer Joe Lesté of Bang Tango. The group's current lineup is composed of Lesté , Delta Starr , Anthony Focx , Lance Eric and Justin Sandler...
. Ashba has worked with various artists including Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1981. The group was founded by bass guitarist Nikki Sixx and drummer Tommy Lee, who were later joined by lead guitarist Mick Mars and lead singer Vince Neil...
, Drowning Pool
Drowning Pool
Drowning Pool is a four-piece alternative metal band from Dallas, Texas.-Early days :Drowning Pool rose to fame while playing along with Ozzy Osbourne during an Ozzfest tour. Their 2001 debut album, Sinner was certified platinum within six weeks...
, Marion Raven
Marion Raven
Marion Elise Ravn, born 25 May 1984 in Lørenskog, Norway, is a Norwegian singer-songwriter, and former child actress. Her surname is of Norse origin, with Ravn meaning Raven, which she adopted as her stage name Marion Raven as well as her trademark raven logo. She was one-half of the now defunct...
, Aimee Allen
Aimee Allen
Aimee Allen is an American pop/rock singer/songwriter based in Los Angeles, California. She is known for her work on the dance song "Cooties" made for the soundtrack of the 2007 version of the movie Hairspray...
and Neil Diamond
Neil Diamond
Neil Leslie Diamond is an American singer-songwriter with a career spanning over five decades from the 1960s until the present....
.
Early life
Ashba was born in Monticello, Indiana and was raised in rural Fairbury, Illinois by his religious single-mother, a classically trained pianist, who began teaching him about music as a toddler. Dj performed in his first piano recital at the age of five, where he played Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy.” Ashba’s next ambition was to learn the drums. He built kits out of garbage cans and pots and pans, until he finally acquired a real set at the age of six. When he was eight, Dj took a job detasseling corn in the fields in order to earn enough money to buy his first guitar out of the Sears catalog. He would ride to his job in the corn fields on the bus with a guitar player from a local band, who would teach him a new chord each day on a “fret” that they had carved into the back of a bus seat with a pocketknife. His friend would take the knife and make three holes in the fret and say, “That’s an A chord, go home and practice.” Dj sometimes spent 17 hours a day practicing guitar in his bedroom as a teenager.For his 16th birthday, Ashba’s father took him to his first concert, the Mötley Crüe Girls, Girls, Girls tour and his life was forever changed. “The crowd, the music, the lights! It was the night I realized that no matter what it takes, I was gonna be on that stage one day.” At the age of 19, Dj packed up his possessions and set out for Hollywood to make it as a rockstar.
Solo, BulletBoys (1991-2002)
Eventually, he joined the group Barracuda and toured with the band for two years. In 1996, he released his debut instrumental album titled, Addiction to the Friction. In 1998, Ashba joined BulletBoysBulletBoys
BulletBoys is an American hard rock group formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1987. The group's original lineup was composed of former Ratt guitarist/King Kobra lead vocalist Marq Torien , former King Kobra guitarist Mick Sweda, Lonnie Vencent and Jimmy D'Anda...
as part of the band's new lineup. It was during his time with the band that he met Joe Lesté of Bang Tango
Bang Tango
Bang Tango is an American funk-infused hard rock and glam metal band.-Biography:The band formed in 1987 in Los Angeles, California and were signed to MCA Records that same year. The band's line-up has fluctuated since its inception, with the one mainstay of the group being frontman Joe Lesté...
. In 1999, he departed the group to start a new band with Lesté.
Beautiful Creatures (1999-2002)
In 1999, Ashba began piecing together the band that would become Beautiful Creatures with Bang TangoBang Tango
Bang Tango is an American funk-infused hard rock and glam metal band.-Biography:The band formed in 1987 in Los Angeles, California and were signed to MCA Records that same year. The band's line-up has fluctuated since its inception, with the one mainstay of the group being frontman Joe Lesté...
frontman Joe Lesté. They added former Shake The Faith and No. 9 bassist Kenny Kweens
Kenny Kweens
Kenny Kweens is an American musician who is best known for his nine-year tenure as bassist in the hard rock band Beautiful Creatures. In 2009, Kweens left the group and joined L.A. Guns , replacing previous bassist Scott Griffin. However, in 2011, Kweens departed, replaced by Griffin.Prior to...
and session drummer Anthony Focx, who performed in the 1992 film Wayne's World
Wayne's World (film)
Wayne's World is a 1992 American comedy film directed by Penelope Spheeris and starring Mike Myers in his film debut as Wayne Campbell and Dana Carvey as Garth Algar, hosts of the Aurora, Illinois-based Public-access television cable TV show Wayne's World...
appearing as the drummer in Tia Carrere
Tia Carrere
Tia Carrere is an American actress, model, voice artist, and singer, perhaps most widely known for her role as Cassandra Wong in the feature films Wayne's World and Wayne's World 2, Queen Tyr'ahnee in Duck Dodgers, and as Sydney Fox in the TV series Relic Hunter.-Early life:Carrere was born in...
's club band. Focx became the group's second guitarist and Glen Sobel, another session drummer, was brought in to take over drums. This was the first lineup under the moniker Beautiful Creatures. Prior to naming, the band opened one show in Houston, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
for Kiss
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
during their reunion tour after Ted Nugent
Ted Nugent
Theodore Anthony "Ted" Nugent is an American guitarist, musician, singer, author, reserve police officer, and activist. From Detroit, Michigan, he originally gained fame as the lead guitarist of The Amboy Dukes, before embarking on a lengthy solo career...
pulled out. The band then signed with Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
and released their self-titled debut Beautiful Creatures
Beautiful Creatures (album)
Beautiful Creatures is the first album released by the band Beautiful Creatures. It was released in 2001 under the Warner Bros. label.-Track listing:# "1 A.M."# "Wasted"# "Step Back"# "Ride"# "Wish"# "Kick Out"# "Blacklist"# "Kickin' For Days"...
, produced by Marilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson (band)
Marilyn Manson is an American metal band from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Formed in 1989 by Brian Warner and Scott Putesky, the group was originally named Marilyn Manson & the Spooky Kids with their uniquely theatrical performances gathering a local cult following in the early '90s. This attention...
cohort Sean Beavan
Sean Beavan
Sean Beavan is a musician, record producer, and audio engineer best known for his work with Guns N Roses, Marilyn Manson, Nine Inch Nails, God Lives Underwater, and Slayer...
, on August 14, 2001. Album track 1 A.M. was featured in the soundtrack for the 2001 horror film
Horror film
Horror films seek to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's most primal fears. They often feature scenes that startle the viewer through the means of macabre and the supernatural, thus frequently overlapping with the fantasy and science fiction genres...
Valentine
Valentine (film)
Valentine is a 2001 horror film directed by Jamie Blanks, and starring Denise Richards, David Boreanaz, Marley Shelton, Jessica Capshaw, Hedy Burress, and Katherine Heigl. It is a slasher film with a Valentine's Day theme...
and tv series
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
Smallville
Smallville
Smallville is the hometown of Superman in comic books published by DC Comics. While growing up in Smallville, the young Clark Kent attended Smallville High with best friends Lana Lang, Chloe Sullivan and Pete Ross...
. Ride was featured on the soundtrack to the 2002 remake of Rollerball
Rollerball (2002 film)
Rollerball is a 2002 remake of the 1975 science-fiction film of the same name. This updated version stars Chris Klein, LL Cool J, Rebecca Romijn and Jean Reno, was directed by John McTiernan and has a much greater concentration on action with more muted social and political overtones...
. Despite appearing at Ozzfest
Ozzfest
Ozzfest is an annual festival tour of the United States featuring performances by many heavy metal and hard rock musical groups. It was founded by Ozzy Osbourne and his wife Sharon Osbourne, both of whom also organize each yearly tour with their son Jack Osbourne...
, the Rolling Rock Tour the band was dropped from their label due to poor album sales. On February 13, 2002, the band announced that Ashba had left the group and the band found a replacement and continued on.
Solo (2002-2007)
He formed another solo band, simply titled ASHBA after his departure from Beautiful Creatures where he added former TuffTuff (band)
Tuff is an American glam metal band formed in 1985 in Phoenix, Arizona, by guitarist Jorge DeSaint and bassist Todd Chase . The band was completed with the arrival of drummer Michael Lean and short-lived vocalist Terry Fox, who left the band shortly afterwards to pursue an ice skating career...
guitarist Michael Thomas, who was Ashba's replacement in BC but left the group in 2003, bassist John Younger and drummer Bones Elias rounded out the groups lineup. Also in 2003, Ashba was invited to participate in the group Brides of Destruction
Brides of Destruction
Brides of Destruction were an American hard rock supergroup from Los Angeles, California, formed in 2002. The band's last lineup consisted of singer London LeGrand , Tracii Guns and Scot Coogan...
with Nikki Sixx
Nikki Sixx
Nikki Sixx is an American musician, songwriter, author, fashion designer, radio host, and photographer, best known as the co-founder and bassist of the band Mötley Crüe. Prior to forming Mötley Crüe, Sixx was a member of Sister before going on to form London with his Sister band mate Lizzie Grey...
and Tracii Guns
Tracii Guns
Tracii Guns is an American guitarist best known as the founder of glam metal group L.A. Guns as well as the supergroups Brides of Destruction and Contraband. He was also involved in the formation of the first lineup of Guns N' Roses but eventually left the group and was replaced by guitarist...
but turned it down to focus on his solo project. In 2005, a small controversy was caused when it was suggested that neither Tommy nor Mick played on the new tracks for Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1981. The group was founded by bass guitarist Nikki Sixx and drummer Tommy Lee, who were later joined by lead guitarist Mick Mars and lead singer Vince Neil...
's compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
Red, White & Crüe (duties were supposedly handled by Vandals drummer Josh Freese
Josh Freese
Josh Freese is an American session drummer and songwriter. He is a permanent member of A Perfect Circle, The Vandals, and Devo, having formerly played drums for Nine Inch Nails from late 2005 until late 2008, and for Guns N' Roses from mid-1998 to 2001. Freese has appeared on close to 300 records....
and Ashba as well as Mick being replaced by Ashba on their reunion tour. Ashba hit back at the rumours:
A VH1 documentary of the band reuniting would later show that Lee did indeed play on some of the tracks.
In 2006 Ashba set up Funny Farms Studios with Nikki Sixx
Nikki Sixx
Nikki Sixx is an American musician, songwriter, author, fashion designer, radio host, and photographer, best known as the co-founder and bassist of the band Mötley Crüe. Prior to forming Mötley Crüe, Sixx was a member of Sister before going on to form London with his Sister band mate Lizzie Grey...
. They began writing and producing, and performing music together which included collaborations with singer Marion Raven
Marion Raven
Marion Elise Ravn, born 25 May 1984 in Lørenskog, Norway, is a Norwegian singer-songwriter, and former child actress. Her surname is of Norse origin, with Ravn meaning Raven, which she adopted as her stage name Marion Raven as well as her trademark raven logo. She was one-half of the now defunct...
, whom Sixx had worked with before, on her Heads Will Roll
Heads Will Roll
Heads Will Roll EP is Marion Raven's first EP that was released on October 31, 2006. All of the songs were written by Raven in collaboration with numerous artists including Nikki Sixx , Scott Stevens and Freddy Herrera , Keith Nelson and Xavier Muriel , and Raine Maida...
EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
and album Set Me Free. James Michael
James Michael
James Andrew Michael is an American record producer, songwriter, engineer, mixer, vocalist and musician. He is currently the lead singer of the rock band Sixx:A.M.-Early life:...
also is credited on the albums. In March 2007, Sixx penned Reason I'm Alive for Drowning Pool
Drowning Pool
Drowning Pool is a four-piece alternative metal band from Dallas, Texas.-Early days :Drowning Pool rose to fame while playing along with Ozzy Osbourne during an Ozzfest tour. Their 2001 debut album, Sinner was certified platinum within six weeks...
's new album Full Circle
Full Circle (Drowning Pool album)
-Personnel:Drowning Pool* Ryan McCombs - Vocals* Stevie Benton - Bass* C. J. Pierce - Guitar* Mike Luce - Drums-Chart positions:-Singles charts:Production* Produced by Ben Schigel, Except "Reason I'm Alive" Produced by Nikki Sixx and DJ Ashba...
with both Sixx and Ashba co-producing the track.
Sixx:A.M. (2007-present)
Ashba released the critically acclaimed album The Heroin Diaries Soundtrack after collaborating with Mötley CrüeMötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1981. The group was founded by bass guitarist Nikki Sixx and drummer Tommy Lee, who were later joined by lead guitarist Mick Mars and lead singer Vince Neil...
bassist Nikki Sixx
Nikki Sixx
Nikki Sixx is an American musician, songwriter, author, fashion designer, radio host, and photographer, best known as the co-founder and bassist of the band Mötley Crüe. Prior to forming Mötley Crüe, Sixx was a member of Sister before going on to form London with his Sister band mate Lizzie Grey...
and producer James Michael
James Michael
James Andrew Michael is an American record producer, songwriter, engineer, mixer, vocalist and musician. He is currently the lead singer of the rock band Sixx:A.M.-Early life:...
under the name Sixx:A.M.
Sixx:A.M.
Sixx:A.M. is a hard rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 2007 by Nikki Sixx, DJ Ashba, and James Michael, and is the side project of Sixx, who is also the bass guitarist for Mötley Crüe. The group is best known for their songs "Life Is Beautiful" and "Lies of the Beautiful People". The...
in August, 2007 serving as a soundtrack to Sixx's autobiography The Heroin Diaries: A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rock Star
The Heroin Diaries: A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rock Star
The Heroin Diaries: A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rock Star is a book co-written by Nikki Sixx, bassist of the rock band Mötley Crüe, and Ian Gittins. Additional reflections on the period from Sixx and others are interspersed throughout the book. The book also includes many black-and-white...
. The single Life is Beautiful reached #2 on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks. Originally the group stated they had no intention of touring. After constant support for the band and interest in a tour, they held a nationwide vote for tour dates. The tour was scheduled to start in spring 2008, but had been postponed to the summer due to unforeseeable circumstances. On April 15, 2008, Sixx:A.M. announced they would be touring as part of Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1981. The group was founded by bass guitarist Nikki Sixx and drummer Tommy Lee, who were later joined by lead guitarist Mick Mars and lead singer Vince Neil...
's Crüe Fest
Crüe Fest
Crüe Fest was a summer 2008 tour by Mötley Crüe, which commenced on July 1, 2008 and concluded on August 31, 2008. It featured Mötley Crüe themselves, Buckcherry, Papa Roach, Sixx:A.M., and Trapt. Crüe Fest was said to be "the Loudest Show on Earth"...
, along with Buckcherry
Buckcherry
Buckcherry is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California formed in 1995. The band released two albums, Buckcherry and Time Bomb , before partially dissolving in the summer of 2002. In 2005, lead vocalist Josh Todd and lead guitarist Keith Nelson reformed Buckcherry and released a new album...
, Papa Roach
Papa Roach
Papa Roach is an American rock band from Vacaville, California. Their first major-label release was the triple-platinum album Infest . The group's success continued with their gold album Lovehatetragedy , their platinum album Getting Away with Murder , The Paramour Sessions , and Metamorphosis...
and Trapt
Trapt
Trapt is an American rock band that formed in Los Gatos, California in August 1997. The group is composed of lead singer Chris Taylor Brown, lead guitarist Robb Torres, bass guitarist Peter Charell, and drummer Aaron "Monty" Montgomery...
. The tour began on July 1, 2008, in West Palm Beach, Florida
West Palm Beach, Florida
West Palm Beach, is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and is the most populous city in and county seat of Palm Beach County, the third most populous county in Florida with a 2010 population of 1,320,134. The city is also the oldest incorporated municipality in South Florida...
. During Crüe Fest, Papa Roach
Papa Roach
Papa Roach is an American rock band from Vacaville, California. Their first major-label release was the triple-platinum album Infest . The group's success continued with their gold album Lovehatetragedy , their platinum album Getting Away with Murder , The Paramour Sessions , and Metamorphosis...
drummer Tony Palermo
Tony Palermo
Anthony "Tony" Joseph Palermo is the current drummer of Californian rock band Papa Roach and punk rock band Pulley and is the former drummer of the band Unwritten Law, and was also a touring drummer for Sixx:A.M. in summer 2008....
served as a touring drummer for the band. A deluxe tour edition of The Heroin Diaries Soundtrack was released on November 25, 2008, which included a bonus live EP entitled Live Is Beautiful
Live Is Beautiful
Live Is Beautiful is a live EP by Sixx:A.M., side project of Mötley Crüe's Nikki Sixx, released both with the deluxe edition of The Heroin Diaries Soundtrack and separately, on November 25, 2008...
which features recorded performances from the band's summer tour. In April 2009, both James Michael
James Michael
James Andrew Michael is an American record producer, songwriter, engineer, mixer, vocalist and musician. He is currently the lead singer of the rock band Sixx:A.M.-Early life:...
and Nikki Sixx
Nikki Sixx
Nikki Sixx is an American musician, songwriter, author, fashion designer, radio host, and photographer, best known as the co-founder and bassist of the band Mötley Crüe. Prior to forming Mötley Crüe, Sixx was a member of Sister before going on to form London with his Sister band mate Lizzie Grey...
confirmed that the band is currently in the studio, recording new material. Sixx added that the new material is "inspiring. it feels like we may have topped ourselves on this album coming up, and can't wait for you to hear what it sounds like."
Guns N' Roses (2009-present)
On March 23, 2009 Ashba was announced the new lead guitarist of Guns N' Roses replacing Robin FinckRobin Finck
Robin Finck is an American guitarist of Nine Inch Nails and former lead guitarist of Guns N' Roses. He is one of only a few artists who has played in two different bands listed on VH1's "100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock"; Nine Inch Nails and Guns N' Roses .-Career:Finck grew up in Marietta,...
, who had left the band to rejoin Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails is an American industrial rock project, founded in 1988 by Trent Reznor in Cleveland, Ohio. As its main producer, singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist, Reznor is the only official member of Nine Inch Nails and remains solely responsible for its direction...
. He first toured with the band as part of the Chinese Democracy Tour where on December 19, 2009 Guns N' Roses played its longest concert ever at Tokyo Dome - 3 hours, 37 minutes. He is currently on tour with the band as part of its 2011 North American and Latin American Tour.
Other work
In 2003 Ashba founded Ashba Media, Inc. The creative Agency. Ashba Media was announced the Agency of Record for Virgin Entertainment. AMI designs the look and feel of every Virgin MegastoreVirgin Megastore
Virgin Megastores is an international chain of record shops, founded by Sir Richard Branson on London's Oxford Street in early 1971. Virgin Megastores are best described today as entertainment retailers....
. They also have other clients, such as Ovation guitars, Royal Underground and many more. Daren owns two corporations, Ashba Media, Inc. which handles the art side of things and Ashbaland, Inc. which handles the music side of things. Ashba contributed to Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1981. The group was founded by bass guitarist Nikki Sixx and drummer Tommy Lee, who were later joined by lead guitarist Mick Mars and lead singer Vince Neil...
's latest album Saints of Los Angeles
Saints of Los Angeles
-"Saints of Los Angeles":The first single, "Saints of Los Angeles", was released on April 11 and started airing on radio stations on April 15, 2008. The song was given further promotion through the music video game Rock Band, being released as downloadable content on the Xbox Live Marketplace and...
penning all tracks with the exception of This Ain't a Love Song. The title track Saints of Los Angeles
Saints of Los Angeles (song)
"Saints of Los Angeles" is the Grammy-nominated first single from Mötley Crüe's album of the same name. It was released on April 11, 2008, and started airing on radio stations on April 15 and charted at #5 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks. In the original Gang Vocal version, found on the album,...
was nominated for a Grammy the same year.
with Beautiful Creatures
- Beautiful CreaturesBeautiful Creatures (album)Beautiful Creatures is the first album released by the band Beautiful Creatures. It was released in 2001 under the Warner Bros. label.-Track listing:# "1 A.M."# "Wasted"# "Step Back"# "Ride"# "Wish"# "Kick Out"# "Blacklist"# "Kickin' For Days"...
(2001) - DeuceDeuce (Beautiful Creatures Album)Deuce is the second album released by the band Beautiful Creatures. It was released in 2005 under the Spitfire label.-Track listing:All tracks by Beautiful Creatures#"Anyone" – 2:40#"Freedom" – 2:56#"Unforgiven" – 3:53#"Save Me" – 3:28...
(2005) Note: He only appears on 3 demos that were recorded pre-debut album that were added as bonus tracks
with Sixx:A.M.
- The Heroin Diaries Soundtrack (2007)
- This Is Gonna HurtThis Is Gonna HurtThis Is Gonna Hurt is the second studio album by Sixx:A.M., a side project of Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx, released on May 3, 2011. The band also features lead vocalist James Michael and current Guns N' Roses guitarist DJ Ashba....
(2011)
Production, songwriting and guest credits
| Year | Album Title | Band | Record Label | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | I'd Start a Revolution If I Could Get Up in the Morning I'd Start a Revolution If I Could Get Up in the Morning I'd Start a Revolution is the first studio album by pop/rock singer-songwriter Aimee Allen. Originally recorded under Elektra Records in 2002, I'd Start A Revolution was dropped and never released when the company merged with Atlantic Records later that year... |
Aimee Allen Aimee Allen Aimee Allen is an American pop/rock singer/songwriter based in Los Angeles, California. She is known for her work on the dance song "Cooties" made for the soundtrack of the 2007 version of the movie Hairspray... |
Elektra Elektra Records Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009.... Unreleased |
Guitars on "Revolution" |
| 2005 | Heads Will Roll EP Heads Will Roll Heads Will Roll EP is Marion Raven's first EP that was released on October 31, 2006. All of the songs were written by Raven in collaboration with numerous artists including Nikki Sixx , Scott Stevens and Freddy Herrera , Keith Nelson and Xavier Muriel , and Raine Maida... |
Marion Raven Marion Raven Marion Elise Ravn, born 25 May 1984 in Lørenskog, Norway, is a Norwegian singer-songwriter, and former child actress. Her surname is of Norse origin, with Ravn meaning Raven, which she adopted as her stage name Marion Raven as well as her trademark raven logo. She was one-half of the now defunct... |
Eleven Seven Eleven seven music Eleven Seven Music is a record label founded by Allen Kovac, who is the CEO of 10th Street Entertainment.Eleven Seven has recently enjoyed success with the rejuvenated Buckcherry, whose label debut has been certified Platinum by the RIAA. Nikki Sixx of Mötley Crüe and Sixx:A.M... |
Co-writer "Spit You Out" |
| 2007 | Set Me Free | Marion Raven Marion Raven Marion Elise Ravn, born 25 May 1984 in Lørenskog, Norway, is a Norwegian singer-songwriter, and former child actress. Her surname is of Norse origin, with Ravn meaning Raven, which she adopted as her stage name Marion Raven as well as her trademark raven logo. She was one-half of the now defunct... |
Eleven Seven Eleven seven music Eleven Seven Music is a record label founded by Allen Kovac, who is the CEO of 10th Street Entertainment.Eleven Seven has recently enjoyed success with the rejuvenated Buckcherry, whose label debut has been certified Platinum by the RIAA. Nikki Sixx of Mötley Crüe and Sixx:A.M... /Warner Bros. Warner Bros. Records Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies... |
Co-writer "Set Me Free" and "Thank You For Loving Me" |
| 2007 | Full Circle Full Circle (Drowning Pool album) -Personnel:Drowning Pool* Ryan McCombs - Vocals* Stevie Benton - Bass* C. J. Pierce - Guitar* Mike Luce - Drums-Chart positions:-Singles charts:Production* Produced by Ben Schigel, Except "Reason I'm Alive" Produced by Nikki Sixx and DJ Ashba... |
Drowning Pool Drowning Pool Drowning Pool is a four-piece alternative metal band from Dallas, Texas.-Early days :Drowning Pool rose to fame while playing along with Ozzy Osbourne during an Ozzfest tour. Their 2001 debut album, Sinner was certified platinum within six weeks... |
Eleven Seven Eleven seven music Eleven Seven Music is a record label founded by Allen Kovac, who is the CEO of 10th Street Entertainment.Eleven Seven has recently enjoyed success with the rejuvenated Buckcherry, whose label debut has been certified Platinum by the RIAA. Nikki Sixx of Mötley Crüe and Sixx:A.M... |
Co-producer on "Reason I'm Alive" |
| 2007 | The Heroin Diaries Soundtrack | Sixx:A.M. Sixx:A.M. Sixx:A.M. is a hard rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 2007 by Nikki Sixx, DJ Ashba, and James Michael, and is the side project of Sixx, who is also the bass guitarist for Mötley Crüe. The group is best known for their songs "Life Is Beautiful" and "Lies of the Beautiful People". The... |
Eleven Seven Eleven seven music Eleven Seven Music is a record label founded by Allen Kovac, who is the CEO of 10th Street Entertainment.Eleven Seven has recently enjoyed success with the rejuvenated Buckcherry, whose label debut has been certified Platinum by the RIAA. Nikki Sixx of Mötley Crüe and Sixx:A.M... |
Co-writer and producer |
| 2007 | Saints of Los Angeles Saints of Los Angeles -"Saints of Los Angeles":The first single, "Saints of Los Angeles", was released on April 11 and started airing on radio stations on April 15, 2008. The song was given further promotion through the music video game Rock Band, being released as downloadable content on the Xbox Live Marketplace and... |
Mötley Crüe Mötley Crüe Mötley Crüe is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1981. The group was founded by bass guitarist Nikki Sixx and drummer Tommy Lee, who were later joined by lead guitarist Mick Mars and lead singer Vince Neil... |
Eleven Seven Eleven seven music Eleven Seven Music is a record label founded by Allen Kovac, who is the CEO of 10th Street Entertainment.Eleven Seven has recently enjoyed success with the rejuvenated Buckcherry, whose label debut has been certified Platinum by the RIAA. Nikki Sixx of Mötley Crüe and Sixx:A.M... /Universal Music Group Universal Music Group Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations... |
Co-writer on all tracks except "This Ain't a Love Song" |
| 2009 | A Cherry Cherry Christmas A Cherry Cherry Christmas - Promotion :A was also released for the song "The Chanukah Song".- External links :* *... |
Neil Diamond Neil Diamond Neil Leslie Diamond is an American singer-songwriter with a career spanning over five decades from the 1960s until the present.... |
American, Columbia Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company... |
Writer on "Meditations on a Winter (instrumental)" |
| 2009 | Whatever Gets You Off Whatever Gets You Off -Personnel:*Chad Cherry – lead vocals*Adam Arling – guitar*Johnny Wator – guitar*Danny Smash – bass*Nate Arling – drums, percussion... |
The Last Vegas The Last Vegas The Last Vegas are a hard rock band from Chicago whose style draws from glam, punk, and sleaze metal. Composed of Chad Cherry , John Wator , Adam Arling , Danny Smash , and Nate Arling , the band released the album Whatever Gets You Off, in April 2009, on Eleven Seven Music. The album was produced... |
Eleven Seven Eleven seven music Eleven Seven Music is a record label founded by Allen Kovac, who is the CEO of 10th Street Entertainment.Eleven Seven has recently enjoyed success with the rejuvenated Buckcherry, whose label debut has been certified Platinum by the RIAA. Nikki Sixx of Mötley Crüe and Sixx:A.M... |
Co-producer |
| 2011 | This Is Gonna Hurt This Is Gonna Hurt This Is Gonna Hurt is the second studio album by Sixx:A.M., a side project of Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx, released on May 3, 2011. The band also features lead vocalist James Michael and current Guns N' Roses guitarist DJ Ashba.... |
Sixx:A.M. Sixx:A.M. Sixx:A.M. is a hard rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 2007 by Nikki Sixx, DJ Ashba, and James Michael, and is the side project of Sixx, who is also the bass guitarist for Mötley Crüe. The group is best known for their songs "Life Is Beautiful" and "Lies of the Beautiful People". The... |
Eleven Seven Eleven seven music Eleven Seven Music is a record label founded by Allen Kovac, who is the CEO of 10th Street Entertainment.Eleven Seven has recently enjoyed success with the rejuvenated Buckcherry, whose label debut has been certified Platinum by the RIAA. Nikki Sixx of Mötley Crüe and Sixx:A.M... |
Co-writer and producer |