- Tommy Lee
Infobox musical artist
Name = Tommy Lee
Img_size =
Landscape =
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Thomas Lee Bass
Alias =
Born = birth date and age|1962|10|3Athens ,Greece
Origin =
Instrument =Drum s,piano , vocals,guitar
Genre =Hard rock ,Glam metal ,Heavy metal ,Rap metal ,Nu metal ,Electronica
Occupation =Musician ,Drummer
Years_active = 1981–present
Label = Leathür, Elektra, MCA
Associated_acts =Mötley Crüe
Methods of Mayhem
Rock Star Supernova
Fuel
URL = [http://www.tommylee.tv TommyLee.tv]
Notable_instruments= DW Drums
Zildjian CymbalsAhead Sticks
Remo Drum HeadsTommy Lee (born Thomas Lee Bass;
October 3 ,1962 ) is an Americanmusician . He is known as thedrummer forglam metal bandMötley Crüe and ex husband of actressPamela Anderson .Biography
Early Life and Career
Lee was born in
Athens ,Greece . His mother, Vassiliki "Voula" Papadimitriou, was Miss Greece in 1957, and his father, David Lee Thomas Bass, was a US Army serviceman of Welsh descent. [cite web | title = Tommy Lee Bio | publisher = yuddy.com | url = http://www.yuddy.com/celebrity/tommy-lee/bio | accessdate = 2008-02-28] He has one younger sister,Athena Kottak (b. 1964), who is currently the drummer ofKottak . His family moved toCalifornia a year after his birth. Lee received his firstdrum when he was four. However he received his first real drum kit when he was ateenager . At that time, he was listening to Kiss,Deep Purple ,Led Zeppelin andJudas Priest . After transferring from South Hills High School; he joined the marching band atRoyal Oak High School in Covina, California, but dropped out of school in his senior year to focus on his musical career. His first successful band "Suite 19" played theSunset Strip inLos Angeles during the late 70s. At this time he met future bandmate,Nikki Sixx . Casually, Sixx was forming a theatrical band that would specialize in anthemic heavy metal, and was impressed by Lee's drumming. Sixx, Lee and Leon started jamming together, but Leon decided not to continue. At this time, he changed his name to Tommy Lee and earned the nickname "T-bone" from Sixx. He got this nickname due to his tall 6ft 2 ½ inch (189cm) skinny physique. Shortly, guitaristMick Mars joined the band. Mars recommended a singer Tommy had met while in high school,Vince Neil , who soon joined the group, and the famous Mötley Crüe was formed.Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe quickly built a strong fan base and they released their debut album, "
Too Fast for Love " in 1981, on their own independent label (Leathür Records ).Elektra Records decided to sign the band shortly thereafter, reissuing their debut in 1982. The band then began a string of hit releases throughout the decade -- 1983's "Shout at the Devil ", 1985's "Theatre of Pain ", 1987's "Girls, Girls, Girls", and 1989's "Dr. Feelgood" -- establishing the quartet as one of the biggesthard rock /metal bands of the '80s. During this time, Lee used several memorablegimmicks during his drum solo at concerts, such as having his entire kit revolving and spinning, or having the entire kit float above the crowd while he continued to play. He also was legendary for mooning the crowd at nearly every show. The band was known for their decadent behavior both on and off the stage, often dabbling in excessive amounts of hard drugs, such as cocaine, heroin and pills and drinking in excess. In 2004, Lee reunited with the originalMötley Crüe line-up to release the double-disc album of hits entitled "Red, White & Crüe " launched a monumental reunion tour to support it, "The Red, White & Crüe Tour 2005: Better Live Than Dead", the band's first in six years. They also finished the year number 8 on the top concert money earners list. They played 81 shows and grossed $33 million US (Billboard Boxscore).Drumheads
Remo Clear Pinstripes (toms), Coated Emperor X (snare), Coated Powerstroke 3(bass)Solo career
Tommy Lee decided to leave Mötley Crüe during his stay in jail in 1998, and stuck to his promise after the completion of the "Crüe's Greatest Hits" tour in 1999. With the popularity of
rap metal , Lee formed a band calledMethods of Mayhem . The band released a self-titled album the same year and toured in support of it. Although Lee distanced himself from Mötley Crüe after splitting, he agreed to take part in their 2001autobiography , "The Dirt". In addition to Mötley Crüe andMethods of Mayhem , Lee has made guest appearances on albums by other artists, such asStuart Hamm ,Nine Inch Nails andRob Zombie . He also contributed a song, "Planet Boom" (originally on Mötley Crüe's Quaternary EP) to the soundtrack of then-wifePamela Anderson 's 1996 movie, "Barb Wire", and produced an album for the pre-Goldfinger project fromJohn Feldmann and Simon Williams, the Electric Love Hogs. Lee parted ways withMethods of Mayhem partner Tilo and began recording with members of Incubus. He then released his first solo album. Thealbum , 2002's "Never a Dull Moment", has tones ofrap metal andelectronica . The song "Blue" features guest vocalistRodleen Getsic (the credits read: "Rolleen"). In August of 2002, Tommy Lee and his solo band joinedOzzfest , mainstage. He formed a new band called Rock Star Supernova withJason Newsted (Voivod, ex-Metallica ) andGilby Clarke (ex-Guns N' Roses ). The 2006 of "Rock Star" selectedLukas Rossi as the lead singer for Supernova.Dilana , the runner-up, accepted an offer to go on tour with Supernova along with assistance in producing an album of her own.Rock Star Supernova released their debut album on November 21st, 2006.Lee released his autobiography "Tommyland" in 2004. In 2004, Lee briefly attended, but did not enroll in, the
University of Nebraska for a few weeks in the fall of 2004, while filming areality television show forNBC called "Tommy Lee Goes to College ." The show featured a "fish-out-of-water " premise as it followed Lee's effort to fit into the collegiate experience, including trying out for the marching band (as a drummer), taking courses inhorticulture ,chemistry , andliterature , and receiving constant support from a sexy and smart tutor. Lee was also one of the producers of the reality TV show. At the same time, he released his new solo album, "Tommyland: The Ride" in August 2005. The CD featured the single, "Good Times". His new single is "Hello, Again". This featuresAndrew McMahon fromSomething Corporate andJack's Mannequin . Tommy Lee was also a guest DJ at WXRK "K-Rock" inNew York during the Fourth of July Monster Metal Meltdown in 2005.Lee also recorded drum tracks for the alternative rock band
Jack's Mannequin , which has released the album "Everything in Transit ". Tommy Lee is a supporter ofanimal rights andPETA . [ [http://www.peta.org.uk/feat/inknotmink.asp Tommy Lee: "Ink, Not Mink"] ] He recently donated autographed drumsticks to supportPETA 's campaign againstKentucky Fried Chicken . In 2006, Tommy launched his own clothing line with apparel manufacturerPeople's Liberation , to produce jeans, T-shirts and other products featuring graphics inspired by his tattoos. The line is carried by high-end retailers, includingBloomingdale's ,Saks Fifth Avenue ,Nordstrom , and other boutiques and chains. People's Liberation brand clothing is marketed and manufactured byVersatile Entertainment , which also produces the William Rast brand, inspired byJustin Timberlake .In November 2007, it was announced by Nikki Sixx that Tommy Lee was no longer a member of Mötley Crüe. Lee reportedly quit after the rest of the band sued his manager, Carl Stubner, for forcing Tommy to take part in reality tv shows, thus forcing the cancellation of a lengthy leg of Crue tourdates in 2006. Lee already quit once in 2007 in September before returning to the band. Vince Neil refuted the claims that Tommy Lee resigned from the band and that the band will be going into the studio in January to start recording their newest studio album.
Tommy Lee's current artistic endeavors include touring as an electronic dance music DJ with his Methods Of Mayhem DJ/production partner, DJ Aero (birth name: Chester Deitz). As DJs, they are also known as Electro Mayhem and have clocked over 60 club dates as DJs throughout North America (with stops in the Bahamas and Central America) in 2007 alone, with more international dates planned for 2008 (including a stop in Iceland). Lee and Aero debuted as DJs on the mainstage at Ultra Music Festival during Winter Music Conference (WMC) in 2004. Lee and Aero have been DJing together since 2000, and they will again have a major presence at Miami's WMC in 2008.
Television
In spring 2008, Lee commenced filming of a reality TV show with rapper
Ludacris forPlanet Green (Discovery Channel 's 24-hour eco-friendly network) titled,"Battleground Earth ". The show focuses on environmental challenges between Lee andLudacris to raise awareness for green causes. The Planet Green program is currently airing and will air through September 2008. New episodes premier Sunday nights at 10 PM ET onPlanet Green and Thursdays at 8 PM ET onTLC (TV channel) .Personal life
Infobox actor
imagesize =
birthdate = birth date and age|1962|10|3
birthplace =Athens, Greece
birthname = Thomas Lee Bass
spouse = Elaine Irwin Bergen
(1984-1984)Heather Locklear
(1986-1993)Pamela Anderson
(1995-1998)
domesticpartner =Bobbie Brown
(1993-1994)Pamela Anderson
(1999-2000, 2008-Present)
Mayte Garcia
(2000-2002) Lee was married the first time in April 1984 to Elaine Irwin Bergen. They divorced after just one month in May 1984. In 1986, Lee married actressHeather Locklear . The couple divorced in 1993. Subsequent to their divorce, Lee dated and lived with model/actressBobbie Brown . In 1995, he married actress/pinupPamela Anderson (1995-98). They have two children, Brandon Thomas, bornJune 6 ,1996 , and Dylan Jagger, bornDecember 29 ,1997 . Anderson and Lee married only a month after meeting, after Lee pursued her while she was on holiday with a friend. They wed on a beach, Anderson wearing only a white bikini. It was with Anderson that one of Lee's most famous incidents arose when one of their private videos was stolen in 1995. The couple had videotaped their sexual activities while on holiday. The tape was widely circulated, and was one of the first examplesFact|date=November 2007 of celebrity pornography. The couple divorced in 1998, and soon after Lee was diagnosed withhepatitis c and served four months in prison after pleading no contest to kicking Anderson while she was holding their baby son Dylan. Although divorced, the couple reunited briefly upon his release from jail but eventually split for good.Lee suffered a further 1998 lawsuit when he exposed a
swastika tattoo on his arm to public scrutiny. In 1996, Lee had pled no contest to criminal charges of battery against a Jewish photographer after Lee attacked the man outside the famousViper Room , in LA. When the photographer sued Lee, the swastika tattoo (which Lee has since removed) was said to be visible and Lee’s lawyer argued it would inflame the jury and create unfair prejudice against Lee. [ [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1432392/19980402/lee_tommy.jhtml News - Articles - 1432392 - 19980402 ] ] Shortly after claiming that the introduction of the tattoo into the court record would produce prejudice, Lee denied its existence. [ [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1432391/19980406/lee_tommy.jhtml News - Articles - 1432391 - 19980406 ] ] Lee’s attorney reported the swastika was a “stupid tattoo obtained several years ago.” [ [http://www.thefreelibrary.com/NEWS+LITE+:+JUDGE+BACKS+JURY+IN+SPELLING+CASE-a083817255 News Lite : Judge Backs Jury In Spelling Case. - Free Online Library ] ]Lee dated
Mayte Garcia , the ex-wife of Prince, and the two lived together and were briefly engaged in 2001. In 2008 it was announced that he andPamela Anderson were indeed back together and living with each other and their kids. [cite web | url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20206681,00.html | title="Pamela Anderson & Tommy Lee Back Together Again, but mostly for the chlidren" | author=Wells, Melody S. | publisher=People | date=2008-06-13 | accessdate=2008-06-16]Bandography
*
Mötley Crüe (1981-1998, 2004-present)
*Methods of Mayhem (1999-2000)
* Solo (2001-present)
*Supernova (2006-2007)
*Electro Mayhem (Tommy Lee & DJ Aero, 2000-present)
*WTF? (Tommy Lee, Deadmau5, Steve Duda, DJ Aero, 2007-present)Discography
Mötley Crüe
* "
Too Fast for Love " (1981)
* "Shout at the Devil " (1983)
* "Theatre of Pain " (1985)
* "Girls, Girls, Girls" (1987)
* "Dr. Feelgood" (1989)
* "Decade of Decadence " (1991)
* "Mötley Crüe" (1994)
* "Quaternary (EP) " (1994)
* "Generation Swine " (1997)
* "Greatest Hits" (1998)
* "Supersonic and Demonic Relics " (1999)
* "" (1999)
* "Millennium Collection" (2003)
* "Music To Crash Your Car To, Volume 1" (2003)
* "Music To Crash Your Car To, Volume 2" (2004)
* "Red, White & Crüe " (2005)
* "Carnival of Sins Live, Vol. 1" (2006)
* "Carnival of Sins Live, Vol. 2" (2006)
* "Saints of Los Angeles " (2008)Methods of Mayhem
* "Methods of Mayhem" (1999)
olo
* "Never a Dull Moment" (2002)
* "" (2005)Jack's Mannequin
* "
Everything in Transit " (2005)Rock Star Supernova
* "
Rock Star Supernova (album) " (2006)Richard Marx * "Rush Street" (1991) (appears as guest drummer)
Fuel
* "
Angels & Devils " (2007) (appears as guest drummer)ingles
Filmography
* "10th & Wolf" Henchman in front of stripclub
References
External links
* [http://planetgreen.discovery.com/tv/battleground-earth/ Tommy Lee co-hosts Battleground Earth on Planet Green]
* [http://www.alistnews.com/category/tommy-lee/ Hollywood A-List News: Tommy Lee]
* [http://www.tommylee.tv/ Official Web site of Tommy Lee]
* [http://www.rockstar.msn.com/ Rock Star SuperNova Official Site]
* [http://www.intothesupernova.com/ Rock Star SuperNova Official Site on SonyBMG]
*imdb name|id=0005136|name=Tommy Lee
* [http://www.peta.org.uk/feat/inknotmink.asp Ink Not Mink] Interview withPETA
* [http://www.clubplanet.com/Articles/1837/Tommy-Lee-and-DJ-Aero-Talk-to-CP Tommy Lee Interview] DJ Interview Clubplanet
* [http://www.tommylee.tv] Official Tommy Lee Biography
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