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ARTISTdirect: Hey! Who are the total maniacs of rap and rock? Tommy Lee and Methods of Mayhem that's who,
and today were hooking up with Methods of Mayhem out on the road with the Ozzfest tour. So strap yourself in, it's gonna be a wild
ride!
Tommy Lee: What's up, ya'll? What's crackin'? seksy_guest: Is it true that Tommy used to call home from jail and leave lyrics on the answering machine? By the way, you guys kick ass. I saw you at Ozzfest already this year! Tommy Lee: Thank you so much. The Ozzfest has been unbelievable. And yes, I did call home and sang lyrics and melodies on my answering machine from jail. It was the only place I had to record. sarah-guest: Tommy, you have been through so much in your career. What would you say has been the most difficult to get through? Tommy Lee: Probably making the switch from a 19-year career with Motley Crue. It was difficult, but needed for my creative sanity. sarah-guest: What do you like to do to relax on the road? Tommy Lee: I like to swim, and I actually have my recording studio installed on our tour bus. Believe it or not, that's where I spend my days off. I love writing music. Freestate-guest: Hey guys! How's it going? I am in a band, and we are starting to grow really fast. We just released our first demo. Where should we go from here? We are on Farmclub now, and I hope we can get on TV. How do you approach radio stations with a demo CD? Tommy Lee: First of all, Farmclub is an excellent place to get your stuff heard or even seen. As far as radio, that's difficult. There are so many gatekeepers. I wish I had some advice for you as far as radio. sarah-guest: Who came up with the name of the band? Tommy Lee: I had Mayhem tattooed on my stomach for the last five or six years, and it just seemed appropriate. This was a 'new' method of my mayhem. BAD-guest: If you were to write an autobiography about yourself, what would it be titled? Tommy Lee: LOL! Good question! I have no idea! DonleyO: What is your least favorite thing about the Music business? Tommy Lee: The preconceptions. When people judge something by its past or by its cover -- really, really ignorant. IBelieveDoU: What are your thoughts on Music and the Internet? Do you think the Net has given the musicians a wider scope for publicity? Tommy Lee: Absolutely. There are pros and cons with the Internet. Unfortunately, this is how I make a living and support my children. When music is pirated over the Internet, that's the bad part of it. The artist doesn't get paid. But the good part is great for promotion and getting it out there. prettyplease-guest: Who are the best bands as of right now who have been around a while? Tommy Lee: Boy! Rage Against the Machine. I hear Van Halen is back in the studio with David Lee Roth; that should be interesting. U2 -- they're great. I can't think of anything else off the top of my head right now. woodyelf: How do you find the energy to keep going out and completely rocking the country like you do? Tommy Lee: It's just my passion. I love writing music and performing live. Still, to this day, I get nervous before I go on stage. And I always told myself that the day that nervousness goes away, I'll quit. Sternchen: How did you get your inspiration for your music, and what comes first, music or words? Tommy Lee: It's always different. Sometimes the lyric comes first from some experience that I have had, or a drum beat or a guitar melody comes first. So it's never really the same. I also write on the piano, so it comes from there, too. wildeyed-blonde: Being you have such a wild rep, I'm sure you have some pretty wild fans. My question is what is the wildest thing a fan has done to get your attention, and how did you react? By the way, you are sooooooo cool. thx Tommy Lee: The coolest thing I have ever seen was a couple of kids who were dressed in Domino's Pizza delivery uniforms. They made it past event security and our own personal security guards by saying that the band ordered some pizzas. They made it all the way into our dressing rooms, so we gave them some front row tickets for the effort. carry-blonde: My question is if there was one thing you could change in your life, past or present, what would it be, and why? Tommy Lee: I have no regrets, and there is nothing I would want to change. Whether they have been mistakes -- I have learned from them -- or goals that I have accomplished, I really can't say that I would change anything. vixky-guest: How does it feel to be in front of all those people on stage and be in control of everybody? Tommy Lee: That's the most amazing feeling on the planet -- better than any drug, or any other feeling -- especially playing the drums when everybody is moving to the beats that you play. That is extremely powerful. Tomsfan-guest: You look terrific! How do you manage to stay in such great shape? Tommy Lee: LOL! I don't really do very much. I think I have a really fast metabolism, and it's just kept me at a certain rate for a long time. I guess, maybe, all the energy put out on stage is probably the place where I get the most exercise, and my kids wear my ass out. Ciara-guest: Who are your favorite bands you like to listen to, and why? Tommy Lee: I don't have any favorites, but I listen to a broad range of music -- everything from techno to industrial, metal, hip hop, R & B, funk. I've always liked all the different styles. candlesflame-guest: Any new plans on the biography of your life? Looking forward to it! Tommy Lee: I still have many years before I'd consider a biography on my life. And yeah, I'm looking forward to it. It will be a great book to read. sandy-guest: Where is your favorite place to play? Tommy Lee: I have a few -- Detroit, Boston, Pittsburgh, and some assorted European countries. Also, Mexico. Mexico is amazing. shelly-guest: Would you support the idea of your kids playing in a band? Tommy Lee: I'd support them being themselves and whatever it is that they are interested in. allisonsmethod-guest: When you first started out, did you realize you would become this big? Tommy Lee: No, but this man that I've been working with for the last few years shed some light on how powerful we are as humans, and how we can absolutely manifest our own destiny. I always dreamed about playing music when I was little and being a rock star one day. And here I am doing a chat! Go figure. sammy-guest: What are your two all-time favorite movies? Tommy Lee: Once again, like music, with movies I really don't have a favorite. There are too many great ones that have been made. frisseehair-guest: What do you love in a woman? Tommy Lee: Someone supportive, funny, sensitive, kind of crazy, and nasty. andie6-guest: When did you realize that playing music and writing was going to be your life? Tommy Lee: When I was 17, I had two choices to make. One was to finish high school my senior year and graduate, or to sign a recording contract and tour the world and pursue my musical journey. The choice wasn't hard. BrewDawg-guest: Hey, Tommy. I saw you all at Ozzfest a few weeks back in VA beach, and you all Rocked. What was the name of that one song you played before finishing out with "Crash?" It sounded new and very heavy. Tommy Lee: It's a song called, "I Fail Truth," a cover by a band called 16 Volt. Thank you very much. Champagne: What do you believe is going to be your long lasting impact on the music world? Tommy Lee: I think one of them will be that I'm the only drummer in the world who has taken drumming to the next level in a live situation, whether it is flying over the crowd, spinning upside down, or having the drums disappear. I hope that one day I am remembered for all that. Champagne: What is your favorite tattoo? Tommy Lee: My back. My back piece. It's a large piece. It's a really beautiful piece of art. It's a graphic. Jodi-guest: Do you have any pets? If so, what kind? Tommy Lee: I have a 500-gallon shark tank with stingrays and eels, and a Japanese koi pond outside in my Japanese garden. amanda_guest: Who have you most enjoyed performing with during your career? Is there anyone you still haven't performed with that you would like to? Tommy Lee: Yes. I just spoke with Macy Gray, whose voice I love. I would like to do something with her. There are so many people I would love to collaborate with out there! rickymason_guest: Have you ever considered doing any acting? Ever been offered any roles? Tommy Lee: Yeah, I have. I just haven't seen the roles that would be fun to do for me yet. Jodi-guest: How do your parents feel about your success? Tommy Lee: They love coming to see me play, and they are very happy with my success. At one point, they were extremely disappointed, because I didn't finish high school. Cynthia_guest: Has the experiences you've been through over the last few years made you more spiritual? Do you feel like you have a deeper understanding of karma and the order of the universe? Tommy Lee: Absolutely! Positively! I've learned so much in the last two years that I think it's the largest personal growth that I've made in my whole life. windycity-guest: What do you like to do before a show to get prepared? Tommy Lee: I listen to music -- whatever my sort of favorite is that I'm into that day. I sing. I play the drums; I warm up the drumsticks. And I try not to let the anxiety kill me before we go on. britishluv-guest: Has using a computer had any impact on how you create music? Tommy Lee: Absolutely. I use a Macintosh and a PC to do all of my recording. Tape machines and razor blades are the square wheel to me. The possibilities are limitless with computers. aliesha-guest: What stands out as the most memorable moment in your long career? Tommy Lee: There are several. Obviously getting my first gold record. Playing a sold-out stadium in Russia. Going 7 times platinum with the "Dr. Feelgood" record. And now, on my own with my brand new band. allisonsmethod-guest: Would you prefer living out in the quiet country or the entertaining city. Which environment are you most familiar with? Tommy Lee: I live out in the hills of Malibu, and I could never see myself living in the city. It would just make me way too crazy. chad-guest: What was the largest audience you ever played in front of? Tommy Lee: 300,000 people at the "US" festival in California. m0zz-guest: Have you made any plans to do future projects with Fred Durst? Tommy Lee: We talked about doing a tour coming up, and are still working on it. John Collins22_guest: Tommy, what made you decide to start playing guitar instead of drums? Tommy Lee: I've played guitar for a long time, and it was just necessary for me to do something different after 19 or 20 years of doing the same thing. And I've always loved the guitar as much as drums. moxin580_guest: What is it like to be touring with one of the legends of this century? Tommy Lee: Are you referring to Ozzy, I hope? I'm sure you are. Ozzy and I have been friends for many years, and I have mad respect for him. He is still kicking ass, and he has given me an opportunity to play in front of 20,000 or 30,000 people every night on the Ozzfest. I love him. MARTIAN-guest: Tommy, will you be playing more drums on next CD? Tommy Lee: I play as much drums as I played on this album that is out now, but I will be sharing those drum parts with Stephen Perkins. cynaa-guest: Where do you think you will be in 10 years time? Tommy Lee: I never like to look that far in advance. These days, for me, are one day at a time, so your guess is as good as mine. fireryredhead: What is it like living on the road for so long? Tommy Lee: I really enjoy touring a lot. The only things I miss are my children and sleeping in my own bed once in awhile. bowlfreak1_guest: Tommy, what promoted the leave from Motley Crue to make the great band, Methods of Mayhem? Tommy Lee: Personal and creative differences. allisonsmethod-guest: When you first started, did you go straight to electric, or did you start with acoustic? Tommy Lee: Assuming you are talking about guitar, I went straight to electric. If you are talking about drums, I started on acoustic drums, but I am now playing electronic drums. rrfan1-guest: I've been to three Ozzfests this year--Florida, Pittsburgh, and Columbus. You guys were great! I think I was the only one who noticed that the one song you did was "I fail Truth" by 16 Volt. I'm a big fan of this band. Why this song? I'll be in the pit in Cincinnati in a couple days with the 16 Volt t-shirt on. Tommy Lee: Cool! I'll look for you. The first time I heard the 16 Volt record, that stood out as my favorite song. Then, one day in rehearsal, I mentioned the song being my favorite, and our soundman was the guitar player in that band, and we just decided to do it--to cover it. MOMrule-guest: What is your favorite color? Tommy Lee: Silver, black, and purple. I think that's about it, as far as my favorites go. EnglandDaveBailey_guest: Who came up with the immortal line on MOM's "Get Naked" song, "You only love me when you want punani?" Tommy Lee: That came from an 'Adults Only' piece of vinyl that I sampled it from. I don't know who the originator was. MOMrule-guest: How do you and Ozzy get along backstage? Tommy Lee: We get along great. Every time I see him, we reminisce about some crazy, crazy old school days, and we laugh so much that my cheeks hurt -- and I mean the cheeks on my face. :-) Lady-Michele: What band is going to make a breakthrough at Ozzfest, other than yours? Tommy Lee: There are some great bands on the Ozzfest. I haven't been over to the second stage enough to see all the new bands, so I can't really answer that question. melskewl: Who motivated you to do your own album? Tommy Lee: Myself and my unhappiness in my old situation. I needed to do something fresh for my creative sanity. allisonsmethod-guest: What's the longest you've ever spent in the studio or at work? Tommy Lee: Probably pullin' the all niter -- up all night into the morning hours and into the next day. That's about as long as you can go before your work becomes affected. MARTIAN-guest: Tommy bro, you're known for some pretty wild stunts while drumming. Does playing guitar hold you back from that? Tommy Lee: Obviously, I can't play drums while I'm playing guitar, so I guess that's true. But I'm not done playing drums and never will be, and Stephen and me have some wild stuff planned. sweetenss-guestl: Are you doing any music videos? Tommy Lee: We've done two so far, and working on a third, which is going to be a live video for the song "Crash." richardTX-guest: What is it like going out on the town and having people recognize you? Tommy Lee: Sometimes cool, sometimes not. teninchtommy-guest: Is Lee your middle name? Tommy Lee: Yes, it is. guest-jeff: What is M.O.M. going to do after Ozzfest? Tommy Lee: Either go and complete the second album, or go do a little bit more touring. We are not sure yet. There are a few things in the mix, but I'm working on new material every day on the bus in my studio. Trudy_guest: Are you ever tempted with so many bands around you partying, or do they respect your choices? Tommy Lee: Everybody is pretty considerate about that. And no, I'm not tempted. I'm on probation. I have no choice. TOPROC25-guest: Who is your favorite drummer of all time? Tommy Lee: John Bonham TOPROC25-guest: Do you like Stephen's Banyan CD? Tommy Lee: I haven't heard it yet. I heard it's great. Hi, TOPROC25! TexAvery-guest: Ever thought of playing on an Ozzy record? Tommy Lee: I would love it, and all he would have to do is ask. allisonsmethod-guest: What do your kids like to do when you're home? Tommy Lee: They like to go swimming; they are learning how to swim right now. We like to barbecue, ride bikes, skateboard, and throw rocks. Everything that kids like to do, we do. They also have a studio with little drums, little guitars, little keyboards, and we rock out! sdez84_guest: Tommy, how is working with M.O.M. different than the Crue? Tommy Lee: Creating this record, I only had myself to question or get an opinion from. Whereas in Motley, there were four members that all had opinions, and that creative process can be very tedious. Sibbq_guest: Tommy, who are you hanging out with the most on tour? Tommy Lee: You know, I really spend a lot of time on my own in the studio on the bus. I'm in the creative mode and trying to stay focused, but when I get a chance, I like to hang out with everybody. The guys from Pantera and I played some golf recently. kwalker_guest: Will you do any more touring after Ozzfest, or is this it for the year? And Tommy, cool Bike! Tommy Lee: Thanks! This might be it, unless the Limp Bizkit tour opens up a slot. josh24_guest: Tommy, I was wondering if being a dad now makes it harder to be on the road for such long periods of time? Tommy Lee: Yeah, it makes it harder, but I make sure that I either come home and spend some time with my kids as I am now, (I'm home for 3 days with them) or I bring them out to come rock out with dad. WakeWorld_com-guest: When is your next vacation, and what are you going to do? Tommy Lee: I'm not sure. I haven't planned one, but I'm sure I will probably go somewhere I have never gone before. I have been trying to do that lately. Once a year, I try to go where I've never gone. Amanda-guest: Do you have a favorite place to go to get away from it all? Tommy Lee: Yes, my Japanese garden. It's a place that I designed where I go sit and shut it all off. Lisa_guest: Have you heard Tracy Bonham's CD? What do you think of her? Tommy Lee: I heard one track, and I thought it was cool. TexAvery-guest: What are your thoughts on Sabbath? Tommy Lee: I grew up listening to Sabbath and loved them. I still listen to the old records once in awhile. fireryredhead: Do you ever consider taking your children on tour with you? Tommy Lee: Yes, I do, and they do come out with me. Mr.Foo_guest: Do you ever think your life would be different if you moved outside of the fracas of Los Angeles? Do you feel creative there? Tommy Lee: I feel creative wherever I'm at. Right now, I am on a bus touring around America, and I'm creative on the bus. So it doesn't really matter where I'm at. kims-guest: Do you have a web site I can take a look at, Tommy? Tommy Lee: Yeah. It's http://www.methodsofmayhem.com. It's a killer site. fireryredhead: Tommy, I just wanted to say I've been a fan of yours for over 15 years now, and I also wanted to say, "Keep on doing what you do best!" Good luck for everything! Tommy Lee: AWW. That's awesome. Thank you very much! Linda_guest: This chat has been great. Thanks, Tommy Lee, for sharing with us! Any final thoughts? Tommy Lee: I want to thank everybody for coming to hang out with me, and I look forward to seeing all of you out at the Ozzfest. If you haven't seen the Ozzfest yet, you gotta come check it out. It's off the hook! And one final, little quote: "May all your ups and downs be in bed." ARTISTdirect: All right everyone, we have to go. Thanks for getting manic with Methods of Mayhem out here on the Ozzfest. Don't forget to make it to MOM's official site at http://www.methodsofmayhem.com for news, info, and the goods you need. This has been a presentation of Talk City and Artist Direct.com Copyright 2000. 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