Nikki Sixx vs. Joey DeMaio – Greatest Metal Bassist, Round 1

These next two owners of the low end are loud and longtime heavy metal leaders. Both acting as creative leaders for their respective projects, Motley Crue's Nikki Sixx and Manowar's Joey DeMaio step up to battle in Round 1 of our Greatest Metal Bassist tournament.

Known as the heart of Motley Crue, bassist Nikki Sixx is one of heavy metal's most famous and beloved artists. Sixx is responsible for the bulk of Motley Crue's catalogue, having composed hits such as 'Shout at the Devil' and 'Kickstart My Heart' on his own. When you think of down-and-dirty heavy metal, one of the first names to come to mind is Nikki Sixx.

Joey DeMaio has been a 'Lord of Steel' for well over 30 years. Manowar is often regarded as the world's loudest band, which says something especially for the low end. DeMaio has likely sent out the longest (yes, longest) frequencies in metal history, writing a large amount of those very songs Manowar continue to play.

Nikki Sixx vs. Joey DeMaio? Vote for your favorite bassist in the poll below! Voting for this round closes on Sunday, Sept. 29 at 11:59PM ET. Fans can vote once per hour, so keep coming back to make sure that your favorite metal musician wins!