Rise of the Melancholy Empire

Album: Prayers for the Damned, Vol. 1 (2016)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The lyrics for this song were inspired by the November 2015 Paris terrorist attacks after DJ Ashba and James Michael sent a Motley-touring Nikki Sixx some music they'd been "tinkering with."

    Sixx was told the news by Motley's tour manager "[ I] heard about the Paris attacks," he recalled to Jam! Music. "Our merch guy that had been with us was the merch guy who was killed. There was Paris record company people that I had just met with who were killed... So even though I wasn't there, all of us were like devastated."

    Sixx headed back to his hotel and started writing. "I remember sitting there, looking out the window and it was this bleak, cold, fall, snowy night in Germany with just this one white light outside and I just wrote the lyrics to Rise of the Melancholy Empire... And very much like all Sixx: A.M. songs, the chorus is revealing that there is hope."

    Michael added: "It was just a perfect way to address such a tragic thing. And also to focus on getting through it."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Spooner Oldham

Spooner OldhamSongwriter Interviews

His keyboard work helped define the Muscle Shoals sound and make him an integral part of many Neil Young recordings. Spooner is also an accomplished songwriter, whose hits include "I'm Your Puppet" and "Cry Like A Baby."

Hawksley Workman

Hawksley WorkmanSongwriter Interviews

One of Canada's most popular and eclectic performers, Hawksley tells stories about his oldest songs, his plentiful side projects, and the ways that he keeps his songwriting fresh.

Wherefore Art Thou Romeo Lyric

Wherefore Art Thou Romeo LyricMusic Quiz

In this quiz, spot the artist who put Romeo into a song lyric.

Jon Anderson of Yes

Jon Anderson of YesSongwriter Interviews

From the lake in "Roundabout" to Sister Bluebird in "Starship Trooper," Jon Anderson talks about how nature and spirituality play into his lyrics for Yes.

Stan Ridgway

Stan RidgwaySongwriter Interviews

Go beyond the Wall of Voodoo with this cinematic songwriter.

The Real Nick Drake

The Real Nick DrakeSong Writing

The head of Drake's estate shares his insights on the late folk singer's life and music.