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

A Moment Like This

Oh, and another one!

I about wet myself last night when Joe Perry - my Joe Perry - performed with Sanjaya Malakar and Kelly Clarkson on the American Idol finale.

With Sanjaya, he performed The Kinks "You Really Got Me." A little later he performed as part of a Beatles medley, as Clarkson belted-out "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band."

I've decided for Joe this isn't selling out, but a genius form of marketing.

Here's the video of "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band" as performed by Joe Perry and Kelly Clarkson.

Hey, Mr. DJ

So, by an odd coincidence of events I'll be seeing Tommy Lee tonight.

No, he isn't with the Crue and he won't be playing drums (well, maybe he'll play the kit a little). Tommy is on tour with DJ Aero. Both DJs will perform tonight at Hammerjax, a nightclub in Dayton, Ohio.

Tommy plans on spinning something known as "groove electronica."

I am not familiar with groove electronica, plus the show is $25 at the door. That's a lot of cash for some music I doubt I'll like, but I'll pay the piper for a chance to meet Tommy Lee. I want my picture taken with the tattooed nut job and I'd like to ask him about the new Motley Crue album and plans for another tour.

You can hear samples of Tommy Lee's DJ work at www.myspace.com/tommyleetv.

Here's a video of Tommy Lee and DJ Aero performing  together in Dubai.  

Redemption for the Innocent

More good glam news from Sweden.

Innocent Rosie, a band I've been tracking online for awhile, just inked a deal with Swedmetal Records.

I should be working for this label.

Innocent Rosie formed after the dawn of the new millennium, and released a demo in 2006. Since that time the band has played several shows in their native Sweden, and even a few dates in Hollywood at the Whisky a Go-Go (naturally). They head back to the states in July for CrueFest  Hollywood.

Four very talented musicians comprise Innocent Rosie including singer O’Shannahan, guitarist Skid La'Russo, bassist Dave Pearl and drummer Ben Banks.

Visit them at www.myspace.com/innocentrosie.

As for Swedmetal Records, some great bands are on their roster including Loud n' Nasty, Crazy Lixx, Nasty Idols, Glorious Bankrobers, United Enemies and Bai Bang. Check out these artists at www.myspace.com/swedmetalrecords.

Here's a video of Innocent Rosie performing "Whiskey on the Rocks."

Life is Beautiful

Today, Nikki Sixx, DJ Ashba and James Michael will premiere the video for the first single from the Heroin Diaries soundtrack. They are known collectively as SIXX: A.M.

"Life is Beautiful" is posted on the Myspace pages of Nikki Sixx and the Heroin Diaries. So far, the song has been played nearly 400,000 times.

The Heroin Diaries soundtrack will be released on August 21 and the book to follow on September 25 (both are available for pre-order on www.amazon.com).

The video is set to premiere sometime today on www.ugo.com. As soon as this happens, I'll repost the video here and write a review.

Update on Tuesday, May 22, 2007 at 07:48PM by Allyson B. Crawford

The video for "Life is Beautiful" finally posted around 4 E.S.T., and smack-dab in the middle of the my show deadlines.

I watched the clip one time really quickly at work, and gave a better look just a moment ago.

Sadly, I don't like the video.

I would repost "Life is Beautiful" here, but www.ugo.com is a very non-user friendly site, so here's the link:

http://video.ugo.com/vplayer.aspx?articleID=21156

The entire video looks like The Heroin Diaries cover (pictured left). This drives me nuts because I hate videos/movies/television programs where you can't see the person performing.

Moreover, the song sounds annoying while watching the video.

The more times I watch the video, the less I like "Life is Beautiful." At first I thought I liked the track, but now, not so much.

To me, "Life is Beautiful"  is 100% nu-metal and my beloved Nikki following a trend. Dare I say this first single from the Heroin Diaries teeters on the edge of...emo?!?

While I don't expect SIXX: A.M. to sound completely like Motley Crue, it wouldn't hurt to at least sound 10% like the Crue. After all, Nikki Sixx is Motley Crue.

I waited all day for this video premiere. Like Hard Rock Hideout, I hope the clip gets a little airplay on MTV or VH1, but I'm not holding my breath.

Oh, Nikki where did you go so wrong?

Rocklahoma Rumors

As the Rocklahoma festival approaches, rumors continue to circle the Internet.

Will Nikki Sixx join Vince Neil on stage for an impromptu jam session? Will former Beautiful Creatures guitarist DJ Ashba travel with Nikki for a surprise performance of songs off the upcoming Heroin Diaries soundtrack? To this end, will Ashba join Bang Tango lead singer on stage to perform Beautiful Creatures songs?

While no one has definitive answers to these questions, I can bet there will be at least a few surprise appearances and extra special jam sessions.

More interesting to me right now is the side stages.

Some chatters on www.fevertalk.com say my Swedish boys Vains of Jenna are 99% booked to play a side stage. I've messaged VOJ several times with no reply. I'm currently trying to get a hold of the band's management to formally break this story one way or another.

This morning, flamenco-glam rockers The Gypsy Pistoleros sent an odd Myspace bulletin about upcoming shows. One of the shows mentioned was none other than Rocklahoma. The only problem is that this date isn't on the roster of either the official Rocklahoma website or the Gypsy Pistoleros website. I'm supposed to interview the band sometime after Wednesday, so I'll be able to get to the bottom of this matter soon.

By the way, if you're planning on heading to this big hair Woodstock, tickets are still available at www.rockfeverfest.com, but the entire front VIP section is sold out. Most hotels between Tulsa and Pryor, Oklahoma are booked solid but I'm sure there are a few rooms left somewhere in Tulsa. Camping at the festival is also an option.

Remember, the event is set for July 13-15 in Pryor, Oklahoma.

Just Push Play

Seriously, just hit the play button on the video below. It involves a goth warrior, some lobster and a baby eating a giant turnip.

Just. Push. Play.