An Open Letter to Tommy Lee

Dear Tommy Lee,

I've loved you for years and I honestly believe you are one of the best rock n' roll drummers to ever jump behind the kit. You have raw talent and boundless energy. You know how to create rhythm in unique ways and that insight helped make Motley Crue one of America's greatest rock bands.

To this end, dear Tommy, why are you wasting your time making electronica and touring the world to "perform" for fans who have no idea of your true musical legacy? No one says you have to be Motley Crue 100% of the time and I honestly believe you should enjoy other pursuits, but sometimes outside interests can become career suicide.

Drummer God Tommy, I saw your show last night at Hammerjax in Dayton, Ohio.

Oh, what a nightmare that was.

A $30 entry fee and so much security no chance to even get a good look at you, let alone ask you any questions.

Tommy, did your contract rider specify no cameras in the club, or was this a Hammerjax rule? I know you claim to love your fans Tommy. True fans want to take your picture and get a chance to shake your hand. While we're on the subject of true fans, let me tell you how many honest fans you had in that club: about six. Those six included me, bring back glam conspirator Heather, my husband Eric, and three random women wearing Motley Crue shirts.

While you pandered to the college crowd Tommy, I wonder if you realized that no one - save for myself and those five other people I mentioned - could name one Motley Crue song. Does this bother you, Tommy or do you not care about Motley Crue or the true fans that gave you a multi-million dollar estate, the ability to marry Pam Anderson and enough cash to travel around the world until the end of time?

In the nearly five hours I was inside the club, Tommy, I waited for something good to happen. As my business associate Heather put it so eloquently, the whole evening was a "beautiful disaster."

How is it, Tommy, that you played air drums when you can play the real drums? Why is it that hitting a few buttons on your computer is performing music? Jumping up and down and whistling does not a frontman make.

As I watched you perform on your DJ platform Tommy, I couldn't help but wonder how we've gotten here. After all, you are one quarter of the band that gave the world Shout at the Devil and Dr. Feelgood. How is it that this skinny man who once cruised the Sunset Strip with sky-high hair and a lust for life ended up spinning electronica music in Dayton, Ohio?

To be fair, you had a partner in crime.

DJ Aero was standing beside you all night, running the mixer and jumping up and down in your unison. To this end, I have no fault with DJ Aero. After all, he's never been a world-renowned drummer.

Time for some stone-cold career advice Tommy: step away from the laptop, call Nikki Sixx, write a new Motley Crue album.

That is all.

With Love,
The Glam Mistress

Comments

[Heather]

Oh.. there is so much to add.. I don't even know where to start!
Not only did Tommy Lee not "perform" for his fans, he didn't even speak. Not a word. Didn't even have a mic. Then again, nobody spoke. The club never announced him. He just appeared on stage, pointed at the crowd and started bouncing around. Throw in a few claps and whistles.. and that was pretty much it. At the very least, he could have thanked us for our $30 bucks.. because let's be honest.. that's the only reason he was there. He wasn't there because he loves to perform (obviously!). He was there to make money for doing absolutely nothing.
At one point Allyson and Eric wanted to go.. but I was still hoping to get my money's worth. I felt sure that something would happen at some point. Boy was I wrong!
Now, to be fair, some people did get an extra treat.. as Tommy passed his Jager bottle down to the fans in front of the stage. Those are some brave people.
Perhaps, being a glam fan, I just don't get techno music. Help me out folks.. am I missing something? It sounds like a loud nightmare.. and I swear we were listening to the same tune with some different sound effects for the entire 5 hours we were at the club.
Now, this is normally where I would talk about the crowd.. but in the spirit of trying to be less judgemental, I'll let that go. Let's just say the better show was not on the dj platform, but on the dance floor. Sad.. just sad.

[Hard Rock Hideout]

Oh man, what a friggin nightmare. Sounds like there were as many fans there, as there were at any of the Rockstar Supernova shows (just pick a date).

Tommy needs to stick with what he is best at, and that is drumming for the Crue.

[bob_vinyl]

It's too bad you didn't at least get something out of the show. The thing with a lot of electronic music is that it's subtle. If you don't pay attention, it just sounds like repetitive, but if it's good, there is really a lot going with layers coming in and out. I didn't get it for a long time, but I have a friend who's really into it (he can explain the difference between trance and house and deep house) and he had me listen to to a Timo Maas CD and kind of explained it. Now that I get it a little, I like (in limited doses at least). The difference between good and bad electronica is usually subtle things that you may or may not be able to put your finger on. The bad stuff usually is just repetitive and the layers come and go abruptly. Another thing that's weird is thinking of the record they're playing as an instrument. The DJ uses it in the same way a guitar is used in a traditional rock band. You really didn't exposed to anything good at your show though. Based on his stuff on myspace, Tommy Lee may be as bad at DJing as he is good at drumming.

[Allyson]

Bob,

I agree that electronica is a subtle, if loud, artform. I could hear a difference in tracks between the house DJ and when Tommy Lee performed, but the differences were minute.

It's sad really, because I was hoping to enjoy the show. I guess we live and learn.

Allyson

[aXe mAn]

I'm sorry that you had a bad time Allyson. Very well written letter, and I agree, the best thing that Tommy Lee could do is be a part of a new Motley Crue album! No that would be the way to go!

[Christian Graus]

I thought you were brave going in the first place, it always looked like a disaster to me.

I'd go so far as to say that Tommy is hands down the best musician in Motley Crue, arguably the only one at a level consistent with his peers. For him to do this electronic crap makes no sense. I think it goes back to Pam insisting that he leave Crue, and now he just keeps it going. It's not THAT different to Vince having to do his solo tours ( and playing almost all Crue songs ), although that's a little more forgivable, it's probably artistically less relevant.

[Rhodeislandrock]

On the last Crue tour, Tommy did his DJ thing as his solo. I never saw the Providence Civic Center crowd disappear like that! A bulk of the people left for the bathrooms and concessions while Tommy tried to get the crowd going with his schtick. It was boring to say the least. This was not the crowd for that kind of music and he was impressing only himself. The crowd was a mix of applause and loud boos.

[Crue Fan]

I understand the promoters lost over $16,000.00 on this show. Tommy was paid a guarantee of $25K to be there, and the venue brought in less than $4K in ticket sales.

Live and learn, guys.

[Crue Fan]

It is almost like he slaps his fans in the face when you watch him Dj. Sorry we are no longer 19 with are hats turned sideways cheering you on the way you want. Making fun of the crowd taking pics of you while your on stage is fucked up Tommy. We are what made you what you are today. Maybe this is the first time you have been on stage not getting the rection you want .... what does that tell you .... get back behing your drum kit!

[dirty angel]

I love tommys music. Ill admit id rather see him play his drums but he has always said the reason he takes such a liking to rap r&b and techno is the rythm. When it comes down to it he loves rythm. Its really hard for a musician to play the same thing forever. Im a guitar player and honestley i can only play glam for so long before i have to take a break. Tommys been doing this for way longer then me so i can imagine how he feels. I will admit though Motley is much better then any techno.

[Some Dude]

Electronic music rocks. You really need to be exposed to it for a while before you really appreciate it. It's not the simple repetitive stuff that most people make it out to be - it can be very deep and moving.

But I can understand you not liking that he didn't perform.