MÖTLEY CRÜE Drummer TOMMY LEE Says He's 'Over' Rock Music

Clubplanet.com recently conducted an interview with MÖTLEY CRÜE drummer Tommy Lee. A few excerpts from the chat follow:

Clubplanet.com: Tommy, was there a moment where you first fell in love with electronic music, and is there a split between rock and dance fans who come to see you DJ?

Tommy Lee: At our L.A. Forum gig, there were 6,000 people, and everyone was dancing their asses off! I've always loved dance music, even back in the disco era.

Clubplanet.com: Which DJs do you like?

Lee: I like Benny Benassi, Adam Freeland, Erick Morillo…Erick and I've done a couple of things together. I can't believe it's such a shock that I like dance music, because any time I've done anything with drums, I've always incorporated electro shit, always, always, always! When I'm at home, dance music is all I listen to! I'm actually kinda over rock music…

Clubplanet.com: Tommy, did you just say you're over rock?

Lee: I really am! If I sit-down to write a song, it's definitely gonna have beats…but, just the old drum sound or cheesy rock guitars…I'm just like, ugh! I'm just tired of the same-ole.

Clubplanet.com: If electronic music producers can incorporate rock guitars and other rock-inspired sounds into their dance music, why can't a rock star play electronic music, right?

Lee: Totally! You know what I just heard today? It's a band from Australia called SILVERCHAIR; they're a rock band and I heard it from radio. They have a track called "Straight Lines", and it's a remix waiting to happen!

Clubplanet.com: When did you first become inspired to dabble in electronic dance music?

Lee: I think working on the METHODS OF MAYHEM project, which was a hybrid, rock-techno-industrial-metal thing…I wanted to combine all of those styles and put them on one record. I had everyone from Snoop Dogg to the guy from the CRYSTAL METHOD, to Kid Rock, to George Clinton, to the WU-TANG CLAN! That project was in '99-2000. I didn't just wanna be this one-dimensional "rock guy."

Clubplanet.com: Tommy, is there an aspect of DJing that satisfies you as a musician, whereas you don't find the same fulfillment playing in a band?

Lee: Yeah, it's the sounds. You sit there and you play a rock concert, and it's loud 'n' banging. But the electronic sound hits so much harder and there's something about the bass [in electronic music] that freaks me out! If you go to a club, you'll find me standing in front of the sub-woofers! [laughs] That's something that comes from DJing that I don't get from playing rock music, that big bass and gorgeous analog sound. Those sounds don't come from drums or guitars…those sounds only come from electronic drums or synthesizers! It's a whole new set of sounds you can't get with a rock band. Listen, I love rock. But with electronic, I get to taste all the flavors.

Clubplanet.com: I never would've thought Tommy Lee was such an electronic music enthusiast. Do you mind being called a "celebrity DJ?"

Lee: [moans] I fucking hate the celeb-DJ shit. My feelings get hurt. Some stupid tabloid mentioned me and Lindsay Lohan as being "celebrity DJs." Don't even put her with me in the same sentence.

Clubplanet.com: Tommy, do you ever feel as though people doubt your sincerity as a DJ?

Lee: I'm not DJing for any other reason than because I love it! When I'm sitting at a drum machine making beats, I'm in my happiest state ever. I could literally die. My close friends who come see us DJ, they're like, "Dude, when you DJ, you go into your own world!" That's true.

Clubplanet.com: Is there a downside to your fame when you're DJing?

Lee: Well, you've got the MÖTLEY fans, you've got the Tommy Lee fans, and the dance kids in there. I like it, because it's been my goal to get everyone to have fun together. I'd be so much happier if all the cameras were put away, though. Sometimes, the lighting guys are like, "What kind of lights do you want?" I'm like, "Please do not put a spotlight on me!" If I don't get a chance to tell them before the show and they put a bright spotlight on me, I ask [my tour manager] to put the spotlight on the kids.

Read the entire interview at Clubplanet.com.