Kelly Nickels (French: Henri Perret; born January 5, 1962) is a French-born American bassist who has played in various bands including Sweet Pain, Faster Pussycat, and L.A. Guns.[1][2]
Perret started as a roadie and light man for the band Hotshot, early incarnation of Danger Danger. He take on the pseudonym "Kelly Nickels".
In 1981, Nickels briefly joined metal band Virgin Steele.
After that he joined the band Sweet Pain in New York as a bassist, and released one album with them in 1985.[4] Kelly and drummer Ronnie Taz quit Sweet Pain, and he was replaced by Victor Prestin.[5]
Nickels moved on to the band Faster Pussycat, but was badly injured in a motorcycle accident (at an intersection on the Sunset Strip in Hollywood, California) in October 1986. Due to this injury, his position in the band was replaced. His left leg was broken in seven different places. He was in the hospital for 3 months and had 10 different surgeries. He had to walk with a cane for many years afterwards.[4]
In mid-1987, he had joined L.A. Guns. Nickels remained with the group throughout their most commercially successful period. He also wrote the band's big hit "The Ballad of Jayne." In addition to playing bass throughout his tenure with the group, he also sang lead vocals on the L.A. Guns song "Nothing Better To Do," from their 1994 album, Vicious Circle. However, he left the band shortly after this album was released. By the end of the 1990s, he was back in L.A. Guns, only to leave again in 2000.
Personal life
Nickels is divorced from Kelly Cunningham, the mother of actress Emma Roberts.[6] Nickels has a daughter (Grace) with Cunningham, born in 2001.[7]
He is also the founder of the clothing line Montauk Salvage Company.[8][9]
^Elaine Lipworth (2005). "Recognise That Smile?". You Magazine (2005–07–24): 28–31. I'm definitely closer to my mom and stepdad and I don't see my real father much
