As
Found at the Motley Crue news and history website Chronilogical Crue
Matthew John Trippe claimed Mötley Crüe's managers Doc McGhee and Doug Thaler decided to bring him in as a new Nikki Sixx, after he was unable to continue after a serious car crash in mid '83. In January 1988, he filed a lawsuit against McGhee Enterprises, Inc. citing civil theft and other relief, claiming royalties that were never paid for songs he said he wrote. These included Danger, Knock 'Em Dead Kid, Girls Girls Girls, You're All I Need, Dancing on Glass, and Wild Side. Mötley Crüe demoed a song called Say Yeah about Trippe in March 1989 for their #1 album Dr. Feelgood. On the 10th December 1993, Matthew Trippe finally dropped his lawsuit.
On the 25th August 1998, Chronological Crue caught up with his former band member Roger Hemond, to gain this interesting insight into the Nikki Sixx impostor Matthew Trippe.
Please note: Roger has stated, "I would prefer to use initials instead of full names of the other people involved."
Chronological Crue: Tell me how you hooked up with Matthew Trippe.
Roger Hemond: Back in the summer of 1987, I had just moved to Florida. At the time I was trying to establish myself in the local music scene in Tampa. After making friends with some of the people at my new place of residence, The Abbey Apartments in Tampa, I began hearing a wide variety of rumours from a variety of people that a guy that used to live at the apartments claimed to have been used as a stand-in for Nikki Sixx while Frank Feranna [the real Nikki Sixx as per his birth name] was recovering from a car accident. Also that he had written music for a bunch of Mötley Crüe's music, and was planning to sue them for royalties. After hearing all these rumours, I was curious to say the least, and as time went on I met some people who knew Matthew Trippe. I urged these people to introduce me to this flake so I could once and for all dispel the curiosity. We made a few trips (pardon the pun) to Matt's house, but he was never home. More time passed and a gentleman by the name of Carl F came to my apartment looking for Matt. Someone had apparently told Carl that I knew how to get a hold of Matt, when I had only been to his house, never actually meeting him. Carl had met Matt while incarcerated (big surprise huh). Matt had told Carl his whole story about being used and abused by Doc [McGhee], Doug [Thaler], and the rest of the gang. That he was in Mötley Crüe until he got arrested in South Florida in 1986. He said that the band and management used his going to jail as an opportunity to slip Frankie back in the band and leave him for dead, in a jail cell, with no money, no way home, and no identity. WWHHHHAAAAA!!!
CC: So why was Carl looking for Matt?
RH: Carl happened to be very good, life long friends with a guy in Tampa who at the time was managing major professional wrestlers, owned a large night club, as well as dabbled in some things of an illegal nature, which was the reason Carl was incarcerated to begin with. Anyway, Carl convinced his friend, (who will remain nameless for my own protection) to invest in Matt. They hired a private investigator named Jerry Oglsbie, they hired lawyers, and planned to hire a band for Matt to record and possibly tour.
CC: What did you tell Carl when he showed at your apartment looking for Trippe then?
RH: I knew where Matt lived, but some of the things I heard were that people had actually made attempts on Matt's life as a result of his claims, so I didn't want to just tell this person I had never met or been where Matt lived, for fear that I might be jeopardizing his family. I was also very curious by this time and didn't want to wash myself from the situation by sending this guy on his way with directions to Matt's house. I told Carl that I would go over to Matt's house personally (who at this time I still had not met) with a note to get a hold of me, so I could relay the message ... NEXT • 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5
Matthew John Trippe claimed Mötley Crüe's managers Doc McGhee and Doug Thaler decided to bring him in as a new Nikki Sixx, after he was unable to continue after a serious car crash in mid '83. In January 1988, he filed a lawsuit against McGhee Enterprises, Inc. citing civil theft and other relief, claiming royalties that were never paid for songs he said he wrote. These included Danger, Knock 'Em Dead Kid, Girls Girls Girls, You're All I Need, Dancing on Glass, and Wild Side. Mötley Crüe demoed a song called Say Yeah about Trippe in March 1989 for their #1 album Dr. Feelgood. On the 10th December 1993, Matthew Trippe finally dropped his lawsuit.
On the 25th August 1998, Chronological Crue caught up with his former band member Roger Hemond, to gain this interesting insight into the Nikki Sixx impostor Matthew Trippe.
Please note: Roger has stated, "I would prefer to use initials instead of full names of the other people involved."
Chronological Crue: Tell me how you hooked up with Matthew Trippe.
Roger Hemond: Back in the summer of 1987, I had just moved to Florida. At the time I was trying to establish myself in the local music scene in Tampa. After making friends with some of the people at my new place of residence, The Abbey Apartments in Tampa, I began hearing a wide variety of rumours from a variety of people that a guy that used to live at the apartments claimed to have been used as a stand-in for Nikki Sixx while Frank Feranna [the real Nikki Sixx as per his birth name] was recovering from a car accident. Also that he had written music for a bunch of Mötley Crüe's music, and was planning to sue them for royalties. After hearing all these rumours, I was curious to say the least, and as time went on I met some people who knew Matthew Trippe. I urged these people to introduce me to this flake so I could once and for all dispel the curiosity. We made a few trips (pardon the pun) to Matt's house, but he was never home. More time passed and a gentleman by the name of Carl F came to my apartment looking for Matt. Someone had apparently told Carl that I knew how to get a hold of Matt, when I had only been to his house, never actually meeting him. Carl had met Matt while incarcerated (big surprise huh). Matt had told Carl his whole story about being used and abused by Doc [McGhee], Doug [Thaler], and the rest of the gang. That he was in Mötley Crüe until he got arrested in South Florida in 1986. He said that the band and management used his going to jail as an opportunity to slip Frankie back in the band and leave him for dead, in a jail cell, with no money, no way home, and no identity. WWHHHHAAAAA!!!
CC: So why was Carl looking for Matt?
RH: Carl happened to be very good, life long friends with a guy in Tampa who at the time was managing major professional wrestlers, owned a large night club, as well as dabbled in some things of an illegal nature, which was the reason Carl was incarcerated to begin with. Anyway, Carl convinced his friend, (who will remain nameless for my own protection) to invest in Matt. They hired a private investigator named Jerry Oglsbie, they hired lawyers, and planned to hire a band for Matt to record and possibly tour.
CC: What did you tell Carl when he showed at your apartment looking for Trippe then?
RH: I knew where Matt lived, but some of the things I heard were that people had actually made attempts on Matt's life as a result of his claims, so I didn't want to just tell this person I had never met or been where Matt lived, for fear that I might be jeopardizing his family. I was also very curious by this time and didn't want to wash myself from the situation by sending this guy on his way with directions to Matt's house. I told Carl that I would go over to Matt's house personally (who at this time I still had not met) with a note to get a hold of me, so I could relay the message ... NEXT • 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5
| The Mojo Seafish pioneered the concept of Live Stock in Tampa Bay. As BlindSight, TMJSF had the idea for an outdoor Rock & Roll show at Festival Park and presented it to 98 Rock in Tampa but were turneddown... MORE | Behind The Mojo Seafish is a true rock and roll drama that has involved success, scandal and heart break. The Mojo Seafish was formed at the core of a major music industry "who dunnit" but now enjoy a chemistry that ...MORE | The Mojo Seafish are among Tampa Bay's most talented acts.The musicianship and absolute compatibility have led to material that has been blowing minds for over a decade... MORE |