"Years ago an unauthorized biography called 'An Education in Rebellion' was written about me without my approval or support. It was never endorsed. In fact, I disapproved and considered legal action because I felt fans were getting ripped off by being sold a book without my involvement.
"I feel fans have bought it under the assumption that I approved of it because the writers have collected interviews from people that make it seem relevant. These people who were interviewed have told me afterwards that they had no idea that their conversations were being used for an unauthorized book.
"I want to say that I do not, now or ever, approve of people riding the coattails of other people's hard work and personal lives — this is criminal, in my opinion. This is no different than what the paparazzi does or the gossipy crap that perches like vultures on our newsstands with magazines like the National Enquirer.
"The writer and publisher are now 're-releasing' the book with updated information based on my success with MÖTLEY CRÜE, SIXX: A.M., 'The Heroin Diaries' and other ventures I'm involved in. It's scummy at best, to be honest. My attorneys have already sent them legal letters directing them to stop, but they know the loopholes and how to get around them.
"Believe it or not, the law allows anyone to write a book about anyone else without getting proper permission, which is really crazy, because my fans think this was endorsed or approved by me, and it's not.
"This is sad. These people are now partnering up with a company to sell ownership rights to the book's master rights, even though they are my life rights — again, bordering on scum.
"As a fan of music, I do not buy anything unauthorized, because I know, unless the artist signs off on it, it's hearsay, gossip, and made up to pad the pockets of the writers, publishers, etc.
"Their website gives people the false impression that these 'auctions' have the fans buying some portion of revenues that go to artists or songwriters. In my case, at least, nothing could be further from the truth. Nothing comes to me or my family. It's hurtful.
"It's this kind of thing that makes me even more excited to do the 'Sixx Sense' radio show.
"I look forward to shining a spotlight on issues like this one — issues that go unnoticed and issues that may otherwise slip through the cracks.
"In the end, I worry about the fans being ripped off. I cannot (nor can any of my friends in the public eye) stop these bottom feeders.
"If you want to know about MÖTLEY CRÜE, get 'The Dirt'. If you want to know about band members, get their individual books, but don't support this type of behavior on this or any artists....
"They say they're excited to share this with fans and that may be so, but if it's not about the money... then donate it to charity."
Sixx doesn't think that people should make money from writing about others, even calling suggesting that it "is criminal, in [his] opinion." That pretty much wipes out the field of biographies, as well as a great deal of news reporting.
Thank of any "unauthorized" biography you may have read. Should that book have been illegal?
When a writer reports on, say, the background of a political candidate, should that be illegal, unless it is approved by the subject?
My own nonfiction writing would be affected by such a law. In my first book, I wrote quite a bit about the lives of lighthouse keepers, their families, and associated figures. Some of these subjects were/are still alive. Should I have been prohibited about writing about these people without some sort of written permission and payment to them?
Let's keep in mind that most of us have some skeletons in our closets that are part of our history, and part of who we are, that we would not really like to see out in the public. Given the opportunity, many people would only approve or support a revisionist version of their own history. Is that the right thing to do? We need to be aware of the difference between non-fiction and PR.
You'll notice that Sixx did not make any specific claims regarding the truthfulness of the book in question. There are laws against libel, but he does not mention any such instances. I, personally, would not use information from someone who did not know their statements would be used in a book. article, etc., but what did the interviewees in question think they were being interviewed for?
Sixx says that "the law allows anyone to write a book about anyone else without getting proper permission, which is really crazy." Really? Freedom of information is crazy? Try to imagine a world where nothing was written without the approval of the subject. This would create a body of historical work that would basically make for a big press release to the future; a Disneyfied version of the real world. The word "Soviet" comes to mind.
This reminds me a bit of the Sedition Act of 1798, which is generally considered a black eye on the Adams presidency and would probably not have held up as constitutional had it been challenged in court before expiring in 1801. Part of it made the following illegal:
"...if any person shall write, print, utter or publish, or shall cause or procure to be written, printed, uttered or published, or shall knowingly and willingly assist or aid in writing, printing, uttering or publishing any false, scandalous and malicious writing or writings against the government of the United States, or either house of the Congress of the United States, or the President of the United States, with intent to defame the said government, or either house of the said Congress, or the said President, or to bring them, or either of them, into contempt or disrepute; or to excite against them, or either or any of them, the hatred of the good people of the United States..."
When we read between the lines of Sixx's blog, I think we see him frustrated by the lack of control and cash that an "unauthorized" biography affords him. Celebrity has its down sides, and this is one of them. When you become a public figure of any degree, your marketability can sometimes hurt your feelings. I have had half-truths -- and even some outright lies -- leveled against me in the newspaper and on the radio, but that's the way it goes.
I don't think that anyone, including Nikki Sixx, would suggest what he proposed once they had thought it through.
XXX
IMPORTANT DISCLOSURE: I should point out that I am somewhat of a Motley Crue fan. I have seen them in concert a few times and consider them to be a good rock band (not in the technical or innovation sense, but in the fun, rebellious rock 'n' roll sound and attitude sense). Had the blog in question been written by, say, Mariah Carey, I probably would not have been so nice.
No comments:
Post a Comment