Summary
Written by a model from the transcript; not yet reviewed.
This episode features a wide-ranging conversation with Mötley Crüe co-founder and drummer Tommy Lee, joined by hosts Dax Shepard and Monica Padman. The discussion covers Lee's childhood in Athens and California, his early beginnings in the Los Angeles music scene, and the massive success and subsequent struggles with addiction that accompanied Mötley Crüe's rise to fame. Lee opens up about the band's collective journey to treatment in 1989, the making of their critically acclaimed album Dr. Feelgood in Vancouver, and navigating the intense pressures of rock stardom. Throughout the episode, Lee reflects on his introverted nature, his unexpected hobbies like bonsai cultivation, and how he approaches music and life with a renewed sense of presence today.
- Focusing on a slow, methodical hobby like bonsai cultivation can serve as a grounding and peaceful alternative to destructive habits. 13:47
- Removing environmental distractions and changing locations can significantly improve focus and productivity during creative projects. 38:37
- Touring for extended periods can create a profound sense of isolation and a difficult tension between wanting to be on stage and wanting to be home. 50:54
- Letting go of constant future projection and anxiety allows for a more comfortable and grounded way to experience the present moment. 1:10:28
Chapters
- 0:00Introduction and Podcast Sponsorships
The episode opens with Dax Shepard welcoming listeners, introducing Monica Padman, and briefly mentioning the show’s sponsors before transitioning to the main interview.
- 3:13First Encounter and Viral Clip
The conversation shifts to a recent fight and a viral clip involving Tommy Lee, highlighting the awkwardness of meeting a future interviewee before the interview.
- 9:11Early Life and Family Background
Tommy Lee recounts his upbringing in Greece and California, his parents’ professions, and the early family dynamics that shaped his personality.
- 10:03Formation of Motley Crue
The narrative moves to Lee’s entry into the band, meeting Vince, and the rapid development of the group’s identity and sound.
- 12:17High School Years and Introversion
Lee reflects on his high school experience, his introverted nature, and the challenges he faced with peers and romantic relationships.
- 20:00Addiction, Rehab, and Sober Success
Lee discusses the band’s substance abuse struggles, the decision to enter rehab, and how sobriety impacted their music and relationships.
- 34:11Life on Tour and Personal Struggles
Lee shares anecdotes about touring, personal relationships, and the emotional highs and lows of being a rock star.
- 42:09Closing Reflections and Takeaways
The episode concludes with Lee’s final thoughts on fame, sobriety, and the lessons learned from a life of excess and artistry.
- 45:40Gigolo Experience and Financial Reality
Lee reveals a brief period working as a male escort, the financial aspects, and how it fit into his early career.
- 50:29Life on the Road and Home Tension
Lee explains the mental toll of touring, the struggle to balance home life with constant travel, and strategies for managing that tension.
- 1:37:05Friend’s Unexpected Trip to Miami
The host recounts how a friend canceled a planned outing to fly to Miami for a recording session.
- 1:38:58Discussion of Masking and Public Health Policy
The conversation turns to mask mandates, economic impacts, and the ethics of public health measures.
- 1:39:41Social Responsibility and Racial Inequities
The hosts discuss how COVID measures disproportionately affected Black and Latino communities and the broader social responsibility debate.
- 1:40:17Advertising Break: ZipRecruiter Promotion
A brief commercial segment promoting ZipRecruiter’s hiring platform.
Highlights
- 5:14
Celebrating Sobriety Milestonesinsight
The guest discusses the challenging cycle of celebrating early sobriety milestones, noting that reaching a year often triggers a reward mentality that can lead right back into relapse.
- 10:03
Communicating Through Drawingsstory
The guest explains that his Greek mother and US Army father initially communicated without a shared language by drawing pictures, an unorthodox method that later inspired a dream analyst to connect it to the guest's extensive body tattoos.
- 14:40
Caring for Bonsai Treesinsight
The guest shares his passion for bonsai trees as a calming, slow-paced pursuit that contrasts sharply with the frantic pace of rock tours and helps manage his natural impatience.
- 26:31
Collective Band Treatmentstory
The guest describes how Mötley Crüe reached a breaking point with heavy drug and alcohol use in 1989, prompting the entire band to enter treatment together as a collective unit.
- 34:23
The Illusion of Rock Stardominsight
The guest reflects on the paradox of touring the world multiple times while experiencing nothing outside of hotels, tour buses, and arenas, highlighting the deep loneliness behind the public persona.
- 38:37
Recording Dr. Feelgood in Vancouverstrategy
The guest explains how their producer cleverly removed the newly sober band from the distractions of Los Angeles and sent them to rainy Vancouver, resulting in their most cohesive and successful album.
- 42:32
Breaking the Sobriety Pactstory
The guest recounts the emotional moment on the final night of a tour in Hawaii when he and a bandmate gave in to temptation and drank at a strip club, breaking their sobriety pact.
- 45:49
The guest reveals that before finding fame with Mötley Crüe, he and Nikki Sixx briefly worked as male escorts for a madam to survive when they were living on twenty dollars a week.
Quotes
“Let's go out on a high note here. Let it rip and not run this thing into the ground.”
Unnamed speaker · 48:21 “I still wrestle with that one. If you're home too long, you're like, fuck, I gotta get out there and rock shit.”
Unnamed speaker · 50:54 “I don't have somebody going like, ah, it doesn't sound like Motley.”
Unnamed speaker · 56:40 “I was wrong about Corona, but I was right about mushrooms.”
Dax Shepard · 1:42:13 “If the cure is worse than the disease, if we end up killing people because people aren't getting screened for cancer and they're not getting their vaccines on time and all these other things.”
Dax Shepard · 1:39:11 “Shrooms is not that at all. Shrooms is, there's nothing grody about it.”
Dax Shepard · 1:56:23
Sponsored segments
- Quince 2:10–3:45
- Allstate 27:29–29:48
- Skims 1:01:32–1:01:38
- Helix 1:02:58–1:03:02
- Lilly 1:04:24–1:05:04
- Squarespace 1:05:47–1:06:04
- ZipRecruiter 1:40:17–1:41:17
About this episode
Tommy Lee (Tommyland Rides Again, The Dirt, Shout at the Devil) is the co-founder of Mötley Crüe, a legendary drummer, and rock icon. Tommy joins Armchair Expert to discuss growing up between Greece and California, finding refuge as an introvert behind a drum kit, and how ballet unexpectedly shaped his future as a performer. Tommy and Dax talk about dropping out of high school after landing a record deal, building Mötley Crüe from the Sunset Strip to worldwide fame, and the band's decision to get sober together before recording Dr. Feelgood. Tommy explains why fame can be profoundly isolating, how bonsai trees became his greatest form of meditation, and why the life people envy isn't always the life they're imagining. Check Allstate first for a quote that could save you hundreds: https://www.allstate.com/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Transcript
22,735 words · 6 speakers
Speaker names marked are inferred from speaking time and the show’s known hosts — they are not voice-verified.
Topics
- Motley Crue
- Tommy Land
- Foundo
- Marco Polo
- Paris
- Denver Grand Prix
- Dolby Atmos
- The Dirt
- Red Hot Chili Peppers
- General Motors
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