*This episode contains some adult language*
For people on the outside looking in, the allure of stardom is captivating. It is a drug that feeds our desire to be loved. However, to be loved but not known is merely superficial. In the end, the void is never filled.
As the iconic drummer of Mötley Crüe, one of rock’s most notorious bands, Tommy Lee’s life took him around the world and to the top of the charts. Screaming fans, millions of albums sold, paparazzi, opulence and fame, he had it all. Yet the demands of that fame drove him to the brink.
Behind the persona of Tommy Lee though is a voice that sees unlimited creative possibilities and self expression. A voice of reflection and thought. A voice fighting through the noise to know what it means to be human.
Although one phase of his career might be done, Tommy knows the golden years are still ahead. And he’s certainly not done yet.
This is Tommy’s story.
Hello, I’m Ben, creator of Why I Create. If you’re interested in supporting, sponsoring, or partnering with us on future films, I’d love to talk about how we can make that happen.
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Thank you for the years, the memories that are forever branded in my brain and THE MUSIC that paved my youth and THE MUSIC that takes me back to my youth. 🖤
Just Be You…Thanks for the great Memories….🤟
Dear Tommy,
I’m 50 raising my almost 4 and 2.5 yr old. I had a great time in previous years and now enjoying my marriage and children. It is time to enjoy life. We’ve been riding the wave so long we forgot to wade in the shallows. I’ve enjoyed my youth with you and now I’m glad were both really focusing on spiritual and family life with a sprinkle of business in there. Actually I work pretty hard in the trades but I still am very much focused on family and self growth. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Your friend Jeremy SC Vancouver BC
Mahalo Tommy for sharing this side of you. This new journey is only the beginning. You have many more roads ahead left undiscovered and Many rivers to cross. Life itself is always a mystery worth looking forward too. Thank you for sharing your gifted talent in music with the world. It has touched many lives one way or another. And also impact our souls. Many blessings to you. Rock on!!
This was really beautiful♥️. It is so great to see you enjoying life in the realist way, Spending time with your boys & wow! the love of your parents (they gave you limitless support). You are a gem Tommy & we love you so much🤗. Thank you for all the joy that you have given us fans, the music & years that you shared. They weren’t wasted, most of us grew up right along with you. Share those memories with Brandon & Dylan. You’re their Dad & a living legend🎶🤘♥️.
Great insight, just keep being you Tommy..
Thanks for the honesty, Tommy! Also, thanks for sacrificing so much for all the fans that love your music and other ventures. Hope you get to fill the next 40 years focusing more on what you need and want!
You’re an inspiration to so many of us . Your honesty, humor, and amazing talent surpasses all of our expectations. There were many times when I looked for my Motley Crue albums, tapes, cd’s and now iPod to help me get through a day. I think one day when I’m old and grey perhaps in a nursing home or in the care of a loved one that I’ll look back on so many memories and realize your music was playing in the background all the long , throughout my life! Thank you😉❤️🙂 Tara
Thanks Tommy! You are Amazing drummer ,person and just a cool guy! Just be you . Dont change for anybody! Keep on rocking! Thanks for the memory. More to come?
Great job Ben! Love it
Appreciate the kind words, Matt!
Thanks for memories Bro!zI have many drum influences, your style is one of many I go by that molds my style!Keep on Rocking…I dont think The CRUE IS DONE YET…..
Hell yes Tommy !! , We love you as you are, It’s time for family, Huntin Fishin and lovin everyday, Peace Tommy✌
Dude, you’ve had one hell of a ride. I’m 51, I’ve followed you all since I was 15 or so. You all have brought me through great times and rough times in my life. I just wanna thank you for the music. This was a very cool Why I Create.
I met you once. At the airport, John Wayne.We were on the same flight. I asked you if you were you while I and my kid waited for our ride, and you were waiting on your limo. You said no. I get it, so i phrased this to you. “Well, if you WERE Tommy Lee, I just want to thank you, your music is PHENOMENAL and its meant a lot to me. ” You kinda smiled and said, “Wow, thanks dude!”…..and I left. Made my day. Crazy freckin cool. Take good care brotha.
Hope you have many more good years ahead. Take the time to smell the roses as they say.
Tommy you’re great musician and person!
I love you man, thx for all!!!
I only discovered these just now. I watched Tommy Lee first. What beautiful filming and imagery and story. I have put this site in my short list of favorites. Impressive work. ❤ to you from Canada
Tommy, you are one of a kind! The 80’s and 90’s were a magical time in music, and you helped create that magic. Thank you for all the memories. I wish I could go back and do it again.
Yes!!! The world is more interesting with you in in Tommy Lee. Loved the music over the years keep up your passions whatever they may be because I know whatever they are you’ll drive it till the wheels fall off! 🤘
🤟🏼 Rock On Tommy! You are an amazing drummer and showman! Hope your next chapter is everything you hope it to be! ✌🏼
Nicely put together Ben. Excellent communication. Drawing out the vulnerability in people on camera isn’t always easy but you managed to convey how Tommy is human after all. I also felt that when he and I met a while ago. Encouraging you to keep at it.
Love the retrospect. We all have a journey to take in life. Peace in ones self is highly underrated, some never reach this level. Bravo to you. My only challenge for you is to have strength in all of this to stop smoking.
Thank you for sharing. I, as a fan, appreciate the years you gave us with music while in your own life missing out on things. Thank you so much Tommy! And I hope your enjoying it much more now. Love ya!
Wow, it would be incredible to hang out with you and talk about nothing specific
This is so Beautiful Tommy! I have such respect and admiration for you! Now please start enjoying life to its fullest!!🥰🥰🥰🥰
Thank you Tommy…..I have enjoyed Crue’s music since 81 and I am still listening and rocking to it today! Now maybe you have that chance to “catch up” take time and enjoy it and thanks for the great music!! Love support and respect you.
A huge fan from Arlington, TX
CHANEY
Great video! Love how real Tommy is. Tommy, you seem happier than ever. Thank you for sharing!
Incredible. I’ve toured too and you miss a lot. I did it because of you too dummy! Haha! You changed a lot of people lives Tommy including mine. Now go rest brother. Go rest. And thank you for everything.
Right on Tommy! U gave up alot but u touched alot of lives! Im glad u finally get some time to do u and ur family! Thanks for the music and the fun memories it brought! Im forever a Crüe fan!
Thank you!! I know you sacrificed a lot , but now you can enjoy your family more & life.
GOD AND FAMILY. 2 MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IN LIFE. LOVE AND PEACE.
I just watched & I have goosebumps and tears in my eyes. Your a beautiful soul, Tommy Lee🤘🏼 God Bless you!!!
It’s so awesome to know a little more about you after growing up listening to Mötley Crüe and it seems you’re finding peace. I’ll be honest that I wavered on you a bit for a while just simply for the fact of you saying you don’t owe your fans anything and don’t take pictures with them. But I get it Tommy, I do. Wishing you peace and love and thankful you have time to spend with you boys. Thanks for the music and the memories. 🤘🏻❤️
Absolutely beautiful. And bittersweet as well… may his “Golden” Years be he best years yet to come. He is loved. Enjoy Tommy
Loved this!! Great Job and thanks Tommy for sharing yourself then and now!!
You went to school with my husband “Melray” M.E. I ran in the same circles and remember all you guys before you became “RockStars” You have given of yourself and sacrificed so much of your life just to give all of us, so many complete strangers the happiness that your music evoked in our souls. Sure there was monetary compensation and you got to live your dream, but you will never know what you missed and you gave that up for us. We who have been listening to your music, while we worked, while we commuted, in our leisure time, late at night wrenching on our project cars, celebrating the 4th of july at pool parties, making love on the beach, rocking out at the club….all while we lived watching our kids grow up, making memories with our families, Times that can never be again that have gone by. Just wanted to Thank You and Mick, Vinnie,and Nicky for all you gave up just to give yourselves to us. God Bless you guys!
You are such a sweet soul❤️❤️
Good job Ben. Loved it. Also glad to see TL is doing better. Life is a challenge ~ for all of us.
Thanks so much Melinda! Appreciate your kind words and thanks for tuning in.
Tommy:
Been a “fan” for 30+ years, seems silly to say fan. I grew up on Motley Crue and Sadly had tickets to your final tour and had to miss it because my husbands father passed away and funeral was the same day. 🙁 I was really sad I missed the show.
Just wanted to say, I enjoyed seeing this side to you. I wish you peace, Love and serenity. Spend the time you need for yourself, your wife and your kids. Enjoy all the fruits of your labor. You guys were an awesome band and truly loved by your fans. Stay cool, but not too cool ! :)~
Hello everyone!!!
Thanks for all the kind words and so happy ya’ll loved the movie Ben made!! Cheers to the REAL RAW shit!!!!!
Thank you for your music and sharing that other side of you with us. Keeping it real makes us love you guys even more. So many artists appear closed off and fake.
Tommy Lee
If you only knew all the lives that you affected and changed and saved!!! I was one of them!! Your playing made me want to learn to play drums!!! Watching Motley crew and the way you play drums was amazing!! I am now 48 and now learning how to play. It helped me through my teen years my parent’s divorce which was really nasty!! And also drugs…. So all your time on the road did others a lot of good!! Thanks Tommy Lee!!
O and I was 12 and I started listening to Motley Crue
🤘🤘💯THE GOAT 💯🤘🤘
Nothing’s ever in vein. You done what you needed to for you then your family and they might be young and over looking now what you didn’t see back then. They’ll be in your shoes one day. Btw my daughters 15 and things rock n roll is life so the music will forever live on even in this day and age. ♥️
Like so many others that grew up in the 80’s, Motley Crue & your music was an epic part my life from cruising on Friday & Saturday nights, partying to just enjoying some kickass loud music to put you in a good mood. I can try but could never come close to imagining what your rock style life was like in the early, middle & late years but I am proud to say I’m from Nebraska & was thrilled & felt honored that you chose the University of Nebraska for your reality show. A few months after the airing of your reality show, it happened to be my 30th birthday & who should be in town but Motley Crue. But there was something different about this concert because it wasnt being held at a large venue (ie Bob Delaney Sports Center or an outdoor stadium) but instead it was being held at Pershing Auditorium, one of the oldest & quite small venues in Lincoln. Seeing Motley Crue was on my so-called bucket list & could it be any more perfect. We managed to score 5th row tickets the day of the concert. Upon entering the auditorium prior to the show I felt that it was going to be something I would never forget. Vince commented & apologized that your stage show had to be scaled back because of the limited venue size but that didn’t matter you still rocked the house. That something I would never forget moment came when you ran off the stage down the outside aisle & there they were, the Nebraska drumline that you had played with in the back of the coliseum. You banged it out with them, played on 2-different suspended drumsets & finished by running back on stage via the outside aisle on the opposite side where we were standing. Thank you for throwing a little sweat on us as you dashed by, but more importantly I would like to say thank you for choosing Nebraska, I hope our state left you with lasting memories & you find time to come back for visits but most of all thank you for obtaining your dream of becoming a rockstar because you gave ppl like me legendary music & memories that will last a lifetime. These truly are your golden years, I hope you enjoy them & you continue to create!
Tommy Lee your the best!! Today, tomorrow, always. Great memories from childhood and still today. Raised my three Kids and know my grandkids to the music. Thank you Tommy Lee, best wish’s always.
What a guy ! Loved you and Mötley Crüe since I was in my teens , ( I’m 45 now ) takes me straight back to happy times and care free living . Great to have The Dirt & being able to connect on social media now. Seeing the person behind the madness is so cool ! Thanks for the music ! Keep being you. X
There are times in life when the penny drops Tommy, one of those times for me was when I saw you in the Live Wire film clip, my mind was blown and I said… I WANNA BE THAT FUCKEN GUY!!! For years I emulated you, got tattoo’s and drank Jack because of you and dared to be different because of you, even though you don’t know me, I’m so glad we shared those times like so many other CRUE fans. I was guilty of expecting you to be “that guy” all the time, but as I grew I understood that you had to change and be yourself and you know what? I fucken DIG IT! I’m glad I grew up along side you from afar. Even though I’m only 10 years younger than you, you will always be my ROCK & Drummer Idol till the day I fart dust. I love this video and I love how honest you are being with yourself and the world. Your’s CRUELY Adam…
Thank you for this touching video, Ben.
I’ve been listening to Mötley Crüe since I was 15 (over 30 years).
I’m glad that Tommy seems to be at a happy place in his life now, with Brittany. They are so cute together.
I also really enjoyed watching The Dirt. So many memories.
The Crüe rules 🙂
Greetings from Paris (France)