With the band's 100th gig quickly approaching, we were able to pin down Nikita Seis of NYC's Girls Girls Girls, The World's First and Best All-Girl Tribute to Mötley Crüe.  As one of the founding members of the band, Nikita relegated herself to working behind the scenes for some time, but has recently rejoined the line-up along with drummer Tawny Lee, Mercedes Mars, and Elaine Tuttle to help carry the band into the new year and new gigs as they approach their self-proclaimed Decade of Decadence celebration.  Nikita answered many questions her band mates answered in a past interview for us, as well as a couple new ones...

Nikita Seis: It's pretty exciting to me! Not bad for a crazy little idea I had once!

Toddstar: I believe this is also a decade celebration of the band later this year – when this project kicked off and started playing out in 2007, did you ever see it getting this far?  To what do you attribute the staying power of the group?

Nikita Seis: I had no idea what I was getting myself into, honestly.  I met Tawny at a weekend ladies' rock camp.  I think we both envisioned playing a small NYC club for a bunch of our friends and not much beyond that.  But when we met Mercedes (Denise) we knew it was about to get serious.  Tawny and I both had serious careers outside the band, so we brought a similar work ethic, along with a desire to have something fun to look forward to outside of that world.  I think Mercedes (Denise) had a respect for that, because even though we were beginners, we worked really hard.  We had great chemistry, and through the five-month process of finding a singer, we built a solid foundation of friendship as well.

Toddstar: Tribute bands are all the rage over the last couple years.  What is it about Mötley Crüe, their legacy, and music that made forming Girls Girls Girls, managing, and returning to the lineup on bass,  a natural progression for you as a musician?

Nikita Seis: Mötley Crüe symbolized a rebellious spirit and a punk rock attitude.  Nikki built that band on pure desire - his own desire to be something larger than life, to do something exciting, and to escape whatever demons he was escaping from.  I realize that technically I am a musician because I play the bass, but it's that same desire, passion, drive to just do something and build something that I really identified with, more so than anything I play on bass.

Toddstar: Speaking of the Mötley Crüe legacy, their road antics are well documented.  What is your favorite road/tour story as a member of Girls Girls Girls?  What about as the driving force / manager/ publicist?

Nikita Seis: Our road antics are way more tame, though some guy friends of mine from my hometown showed up to a gig in Pittsburgh and got the hot tub "suite" next to our room at The Knights Inn in Pittsburgh (a Super 8 with a much more fancy name).  We also got upgraded to this HUGE suite in Albany one night, when another NYC band we were friends with also happened to be playing a show there.  We partied well into the morning – one of my favorite after parties of all time! My favorite moment as manager was at Rock Jam in Grand Junction, CO, getting to be on the main stage with my girls, even if it was behind a camera instead of on bass, and looking up and seeing their faces on the Jumbo Tron.  That was surreal, knowing that I got them there.  And seeing my band on the cover of the Village Voice actually brought tears to my eyes.  That is probably my greatest accomplishment.

Toddstar: Which characteristic or attribute of your Nikki Sixx do you feel you best portray once you get into your outfit and/or hit the stage as Nikita Seis?

Nikita Seis: We were never really *that kind of tribute band.  It's funny that sometimes people will show up at the show and say things like "you don't stand on the same side of the stage as Nikki," all incredulous that we got these miniscule details wrong.  I don't play with a pick.  I don't play a Thunderbird.  Personally, I like being Nikita, because she's a lot different from who I am during the day.  I think Nikki would like her, too.  Maybe that's the characteristic that I nail about Nikki Sixx the best - I really don't give a fuck.  I'm just there to play the songs I love.

Toddstar: When it comes to the Mötley catalog, are there any obscure songs you have been dying to get into your live show?  Conversely, are there any songs that you have had just about enough of?  The fans want to hear the hits, but what song(s) would you drop from the set list in favor of something less often played?  Anything special planned for the upcoming 100th show?

Nikita Seis: I've been itching to play "City Boy Blues" off Theater of Pain.  It's such a dark and groovy tune, though some of the lyrics are cheesy.  I could probably do without Looks that Kill, mainly because it was one of the first songs the three of us played.  Our first few rehearsals we only knew like three songs, and that was one of them.  And then I got food poisoning one night after a rehearsal where we played the song over and over, and the song was in my head all night while I was getting sick, so that probably adds to it!  As to whether there's anything special planned for #100, well, I guess people will just have to go to find out!

Toddstar: What are the odds 2016 will bring the band around once again through Detroit Rock City?  I know you weren’t part of the lineup that played here in September 2014.

Nikita Seis: That's a great question!  I've actually never been to Detroit and was kind of jealous when the band got to go there!  I wouldn't mind a Buffalo/Pittsburgh/Detroit run.  You never know...

Toddstar: Every band that sticks around goes through line-up changes… including Mötley Crüe.  You have returned to the fold in Girls Girls Girls, as well as retaining a new lead vocalist in Elaine Tuttle.  If you don’t mind sharing, what led to the recent changes?  How has the lineup responded to the return of you on bass and having a new front woman?

Nikita Seis: I won't go into what led to the decision, I'll just say that it's a decision that the three of us as founding members made together, and we haven't looked back.  It's kind of a scary thing to replace a singer, who's sometimes thought of as the face of the band, but Elaine has surpassed our expectations.  The first time I heard her nail the scream in Piece of Your Action I got chills!  She brings a lot to the table in terms of professionalism and a genuine gratefulness to be a part of our team that's really refreshing. When we got offered the Mötley Crüe after party this past August, which was on a Wednesday night at midnight, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to try her out, because if it didn't work out, maybe not too many people would see it.  But over 200 people showed up, many who'd seen us play before, and everyone raved about her, affirming to us all that we’d made the right decision.   Before the show I was thinking of giving her a cheeky Corabi stage name, but afterwards, I realized Corabi sort of symbolizes just a short-term replacement until Vince comes back, and that door is closed for us.  So she's just Elaine!  And we're thrilled to have her. As for me coming back, I don't think it was ever contemplated that I'd be gone forever.  The idea was mine, the dream was mine, and all the love and happiness that comes through when I'm on stage playing the songs that really meant something to me, that's what resonated with the people in the audience during the 47 shows I've played, and it's what resonated with my bandmates. No replacement bassist can ever replicate that.  Even a beginner bassist can learn the parts and emulate the look, but they can’t tap into a true, authentic love if it isn’t there. I had a great maternity leave, but I'm certainly glad to be back where I belong.

Toddstar: The band recently said goodbye to the world as a touring unit with “The Final Tour.”  What about Mötley Crüe will you miss the most now that they have retired as a touring group?

Nikita Seis: I'm glad they're hanging it up exactly the way that they are.  I certainly won't have a chance to miss the music!  And really, what more could they possibly do in the way of theatrics that they haven't done already?

Toddstar: Let’s talk about you individually for a moment.  What or whom in your life created the want or need to get on stage and be a rock star for a living?  Was there a defining moment or influence that stands out?

Nikita Seis: I never actually wanted to be a rock star for a living, but I've been a career fan of whatever band I decide is my favorite (and I've had a few favorites over the years).  When I saw the Crüe at Madison Square Garden in 2005, and they played Home Sweet Home, the entire arena sang the first verse before Vince even uttered a word.  It was one of those great rock'n'roll moments where all that matters is the song and the “right now.”  Both Tommy and Vince were visibly moved by it and I thought "I want to feel something like that."  I went home and told my husband I wanted a bass, and I got one for my birthday, with his famous parting words "Now you better actually play it..."  And there went the last ten years of my life!

Nikita Seis: A crimping iron and a big kiss from my kids.

Toddstar: What are some of the shows that stand out in your mind as memorable and for what reason?  You have referenced a love for Pittsburgh – what is so special about PA and are there any runner-ups regarding favorite cities to tour or play???

Nikita Seis: I'm just a really nostalgic person, and my favorite Gramma lived in Pittsburgh.  She actually got us our first out-of-state gig and brought a bunch of people from the old folks' home.  I grew up near Buffalo, so our Western NY gigs (Buffalo, Rochester) were always fun, because then I was actually living out the "playing for a few friends" scenario that I had in my head when I started the band. Our Webster Hall gig with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs was really special, because I was actually a fan of the band and had tried to buy tickets the day they went on sale, but it sold out in like 30 seconds.  Fast-forward to about a week before the show and I get an email from their manager telling me that Nick Zinner saw one of our fliers and was a big Crüe fan, and would we be interested in opening for them?  Webster Hall holds I think around 1,500 people.  This was only the sixth time I'd ever even been on a stage at all.  When we came out, after we played our first song, the sound of the audience was louder than I'd ever imagined it.  I just couldn't believe any of it was happening to me.  And we were playing to this crowd of 20-something hipsters who had no idea what to make of us.  They didn't have any clue who Mötley Crüe were and were just looking at us like "WTF are we watching?"  But by the end of the show, they were kind of smiling and clapping like, okay, this is all right, and looking around to see if other people thought it was cool, too.  And then the YYYs came on and totally killed it.  And then I went to work the next day with a smile on my face, bags under my eyes and a big blood blister on my finger, because I played harder than I ever had.

Toddstar: If you were to leave your phone or iPod behind at a venue, like The Grammercy where you will be playing the bands 100th show on January 30th, what musical selection(s) might a fan of the band find to be odd on your device?

Nikita Seis: I lived in the Bahamas for a while, so I grew to like some Soca and Dancehall Reggae.  I'm also a sucker for soft rock hits of the '70s and '80s.  "Sailing" by Christopher Cross is my jam.

Toddstar: If you were given the opportunity to go back through the history of time, what piece of music do you wish you could put your stamp on musically or just be a part of the process?

Nikita Seis: I don't have much of a musical stamp - I like to say I don't know how to play bass; I know how to play Mötley Crüe songs on bass.  But the single greatest song in the history of songs is "The Rain Song" by Led Zeppelin.  There's nothing anyone could do to make that song better.  So maybe I could try to paint it.

Toddstar: If you could use one Mötley Crüe song name to describe your life, what would it be?

Nikita Seis: "All In The Name Of Rock'n'Roll"... (just talking song TITLES, not the part about sleeping with the 15-year-old girl)

Toddstar: Three of the four members of Mötley Crüe have released books, in addition to the band’s book The Dirt – if you were to write your memoirs, what would the title of your book be?

Nikita Seis: I'll have to save my good title so no one steals it when I actually get around to really writing it!  But I've always liked the saying "The World is Yours."

Toddstar: What was the first disc, LP, cassette, 8-track (or whatever mode of music you were into at the time) that you remember owning or purchasing for yourself?

Nikita Seis: Paul McCartney's Tug of War in first grade was my first LP.  My grandpa owned a vending machine business, though, so I got to go to his warehouse and go through all of the records that went in jukeboxes and always got to take a bunch home for free.  So I was always getting free 45s from the time I was able to read the titles.  But that was the first one I actually asked my mom to buy.  When tapes came out, my first tape was George Michael's Faith.  And when CDs came out I got Neil Young's Live Rust.

Toddstar: A final thought from you personally, at this point in your career and life, with everything going on, what is the meaning of life for you?

Nikita Seis: I feel like I've lived a million mini-lives, sometimes within the course of the day.  I'm just grateful for all of it, every silly little facet of my crazy life.  Oh - and learning to love yourself is the greatest love of all.

Toddstar: Nikita, thank you for taking time for us – we know you are busy with everything else you have going on.  We wish we were closer to New York to be a part of such a special moment in the bands history – the 100th gig on January 30, 2016.

OFFICIAL SITE

FACEBOOK

TWITTER