Exclusive: Joe Perry, Sarah McLachlan & Nikki Sixx on Pumping Up!

TheArnoldFans had some recent opportunities to speak to a few famous rock stars and accomplished musicians while they’ve been out promoting their new projects so naturally we asked them all about fitness and pumping iron. We chatted with Joe Perry, Sarah McLachlan & Nikki Sixx (formerly of Mötley Crüe).

First up, Aerosmith guitarist, Joe Perry, spoke with TheArnoldFans while he was out promoting his autobiography 'ROCKS: MY LIFE IN AND OUT OF AEROSMITH'. 

TheArnoldFans: How do you stay in shape? Do you ever pump iron?

Joe Perry: Oh, um, well I used to go to the gym a lot. When I first got sober, I kind of- we got into going to the gym, it was also a great way to get out of the hotel and just to get out and see a little bit of the town. Because back then, not a lot of hotels had a gym, now every hotel has one. But more importantly, I learned a lot more about fitness. I was always aware of it - my mom was a Phys Ed teacher - I was always aware of fitness and that kind of thing, but in the 1970s, it kind of fell by the wayside, but when we changed our lifestyle, so to speak, and the band got back together, it became like a hobby and kind of a sport - I mean, it's one of the few sports you can do all year round, doesn't matter if it's raining out, and it just... anyway it just worked out that when I was in my late 30's I worked out quite a bit, but then I adjusted things and learned how to take care of the ol' body, you know, in a way that was less stressful, and I really - right now, my boys are really into fitness, and I learn a lot from them. Other than that, it's just been a matter of trying to eat as good as I can. And again, eat as well as I can? I don't know what the best english is there, but i believe so many of the health problems that people have can be attributed to what they eat. I don't think I've eaten a french fry in 30 years. It's just one of those things. And when I'm on the road, being onstage for 2 hours, that's all the exercise I need!

TheArnoldFans: Aerosmith is on my favorite movie soundtrack (Last Action Hero), do you have any plans for your rockin' tunes to be in any more upcoming movies, TV series, commercials or video games?

Joe Perry: Well, when I first moved out to Los Angeles three years ago, I wanted to get into doing more soundtrack work because I was hearing so much - really inventive rock music being used on TV shows and in a way, sometimes I was hearing heavier stuff than I would hear on the radio! It's become a great outlet for that kind of music, I mean, it's amazing how mainstream that kind of music has become. And also, it shows the effect that it has on people when they use it in the right way, it's really fascinating how all the different arts are kind of melding together - where you have great actors doing a car commercial, and you can't tell if it's a movie or not, and then there's also great music going on! So it's really tough to find that kind of work in Boston, but I wanted to get into it when we moved to LA, and I just haven't had enough time - between writing the book and touring and finishing the Aerosmith record to really dig into it. Between doing my solo stuff, and trying to re-gain some kind of relation with reality after all this running around, I would also like to get into doing more soundtrack work.

We also chatted briefly with Sarah McLachlan and Nikki Sixx (now in the band SIXX A.M.). 

TheArnoldFans:  Sarah, What kind of exercise do you do to stay fit and what music do you like at the gym?

 Sarah McLachlan: I surf. I trail run. I do yoga. Pilates. I hike. This is all when I have time. And I don't tend to listen to music as I have music going on in my head all the time.

TheArnoldFans: Nikki, decades ago, exercise was not important or part of the rock scene (thin was in)...but do you think you guys find yourself wanting to pump iron, exercise and stay fit more these days than you did in the 80s and 90s? How do you stay pumped and/or fit?

Nikki Sixx: "I am addicted to the gym....Stronger makes you last longer...I am in this for the lonnnnnnnnnnng run."