Lee Witnessed Keith Richards Blackout Drunk Transform Onstage in 1982
"Keith and Ronnie, dude, they were fucking walking on their lips. I'm talking shitty, like, hey, fucking right, just falling over with their guitars 20 minutes before they go on stage. And all of a sudden, we took a couple of photos and it was like, let's go to the stage. They get up there, fucking lights go out, boom. They fucking ripped it."
About this episode
Joe Rogan sat down with Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee for a wide-ranging conversation spanning Lee's five-decade music career, creative process, and surprising hobbies. Lee, now 62, reflected on the band's explosive rise in 1980 when he was just 18 years old, describing an era of total freedom before cell phones and the internet. He revealed intimate details about the band's early days, including how his mechanic father built their pyrotechnics and stage equipment in the family backyard, creating mushroom clouds that alarmed neighbors. The conversation explored Lee's extreme physical fitness regimen required for drumming, with Lee disclosing he burns the equivalent of 13.3 miles of movement during a typical two-hour show. He described the engineering challenges of his notorious upside-down roller coaster drum rig, explaining the modifications needed for pedals and cymbals to function inverted, and admitting he requires supplemental oxygen after the nine-minute performance. Lee also shared a memorable Halloween 1982 encounter opening for the Rolling Stones, witnessing Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood severely intoxicated 20 minutes before showtime yet performing flawlessly once onstage. Beyond music, Lee discussed his unexpected passion for bonsai cultivation over the past eight years, explaining the Zen philosophy behind Japanese garden design and how the practice helps him find peace. The episode touched on Lee's perspective on modern music oversaturation, with Spotify releasing 300,000 songs daily, and his concerns about authenticity in an era dominated by algorithms. Rogan and Lee bonded over classic muscle cars, debating the merits of Ferrari versus Lamborghini, and lamenting Ferrari's recent electric vehicle design. Lee expressed gratitude for surviving the chaotic 1980s rock scene and pride in his son's stable seven-year relationship, contrasting it with his own tumultuous past. The conversation concluded with Lee looking forward to Motley Crue's upcoming summer 2025 tour and reflecting on the joy of seeing multiple generations of fans at concerts.
Key takeaways
- Lee revealed his father built Motley Crue's early pyrotechnics in their backyard, creating explosive devices that produced mushroom clouds and alarmed neighbors in the early 1980s.
- Using a pedometer during performances, Lee discovered he travels the equivalent of 13.3 miles during a typical two-hour concert, explaining his lifelong weight stability.
- Lee described requiring supplemental oxygen after his nine-minute upside-down roller coaster drum performance, which demands three times more physical effort than normal drumming.
- When opening for the Rolling Stones on Halloween in Toronto, Lee witnessed Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood severely intoxicated 20 minutes before showtime yet performing flawlessly onstage.
- Lee has practiced bonsai cultivation for eight years, explaining the Zen philosophy that Japanese gardens intentionally use curved paths to slow visitors down and promote mindfulness.
- Lee criticized modern music oversaturation with Spotify releasing 300,000 songs daily, making it impossible for fans and industry professionals to keep up with quality content.
- The drummer emphasized that bands are only as good as their drummers, describing the role as the heartbeat responsible for making audiences physically move and maintaining pace.