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Tommy Lee |The Magnificent Others with Billy Corgan

The Magnificent Others with Billy Corgan

Hosted by Billy Corgan

1h 11m
Transcript

Original podcast

Summary

Written by a model from the transcript; not yet reviewed.

Billy Corgan hosts Tommy Lee for a wide-ranging, free-associating conversation about the evolution of the music business, AI, and the wild history of Mötley Crüe. They discuss Lee's drumming style, his experience updating his 2005 release Tommy Land Rides Again in Dolby Atmos, and the complexities of band dynamics across decades. They also explore the changing landscape of rock music, the challenges facing the musical middle class, and the enduring bond of being in a legendary band despite internal friction and controversies.

  • Artists can utilize AI creatively to transform flat artwork into immersive 3D formats without replacing the original creator. 2:56
  • The massive influx of daily digital releases makes it difficult for fans and artists to keep up with new content. 6:04
  • Mötley Crüe famously bought back their own master catalog from Elektra Records when their relationship with the label soured. 1:09
  • True artistic rebellion often looks like continuing to push forward and doing the opposite of whatever everyone else is currently doing. 1:05:12

Chapters

  1. 0:01
    Podcast Intro and Host Greeting

    The episode opens with Billy Corgan welcoming listeners and setting the stage for a conversation with Tommy Lee.

  2. 1:51
    AI and Technology in Music

    Tommy Lee discusses his stance on AI, its creative potential, and how it could reshape music production.

  3. 5:50
    Evolution of the Music Business

    The hosts reflect on how the industry has shifted from record sales to streaming and the challenges artists face today.

  4. 7:00
    Motley Crue Touring History

    Tommy Lee recounts the band's touring past, the infamous blood contract, and how they returned to touring after a hiatus.

  5. 20:14
    Future Projects and Musical Direction

    Tommy Lee talks about upcoming releases, the influence of new technology like Dolby Atmos, and the direction he envisions for Motley Crue.

  6. 45:19
    Band Dynamics and Personal Relationships

    The conversation turns to the interpersonal aspects of the band, including conflicts, reconciliations, and the emotional bonds that keep them together.

  7. 55:14
    Reflecting on the Dirt Documentary

    The hosts reminisce about the making of the Dirt documentary and how it revived interest in the band.

  8. 56:10
    Motley Crüe’s Recent Releases

    The conversation turns to the band’s last studio album, new songs, and the lack of a full new record.

  9. 57:13
    Recounting Early 90s Music Scene

    They discuss their first encounter with Tommy Lee and the pre‑internet rock culture of the early 1990s.

  10. 57:55
    Assessing the Movie’s Impact

    They evaluate how the film’s condensed format worked and debate whether a mini‑series would have been better.

  11. 1:00:02
    Debating New Music in the Streaming Era

    They argue about the necessity of new albums versus the changing music‑business landscape and streaming success.

  12. 1:05:07
    Rebellion and Authenticity in 2026

    The hosts explore what rebellion looks like for a band today and how staying true to themselves matters.

Highlights

  • 1:16

    Free Associating a Career Reviewstrategy

    The host explains the approach for the interview, opting to free-associate rather than follow a strict chronological review of a legendary career.

  • 4:05

    Embracing AI as a Toolinsight

    The guest discusses using AI to 3D-ify original album artwork for a Dolby Atmos reissue, emphasizing that it serves as a creative tool rather than a replacement for artists.

  • 8:07

    The Musical Middle Classdata

    The host highlights how modern streaming economics and low threshold payouts hurt mid-level musicians who can no longer make a sustainable living from recorded music.

  • 8:25

    Buying Back the Catalogstory

    The host recalls how Mötley Crüe acquired their master recordings from Elektra Records when the label president was eager to part ways with the band.

  • 13:33

    Signing the Tour Cessation in Bloodstory

    The guest confirms that the band genuinely believed their 2014 final tour contract signed in blood was the absolute end of touring.

  • 21:15

    Mixing Music in Dolby Atmosinsight

    The guest describes the immersive experience of listening to music in Dolby Atmos, comparing it to being inside the music rather than just listening to stereo.

  • 40:39

    The Drastic Pivot of Theater of Paindebate

    The host and guest reflect on the massive aesthetic shift from the dark themes of Shout at the Devil to the colorful glam style of Theater of Pain.

  • 1:00:37

    The Case for Making New Albumsinsight

    The host argues that established legacy bands should continue recording new albums to serve the younger generations discovering their music today.

Quotes

  • “The crew as an institution is completely its own animal.”
    Billy Corgan · 0:52
  • “I, I still can't believe they smashed. That, they smashed, what? That book is based on what, twenty years?”
    Unnamed speaker · 57:59
  • “If you're twenty years old and you, you're a Motley Crue fan, you deserve music for your time.”
    Billy Corgan · 1:00:56
  • “Free speech. Even if you said we were shouting at the devil, it doesn't matter.”
    Billy Corgan · 1:13:15
  • Bamba's 35:19–36:32
  • Safford Volkswagen Richmond 36:28–36:37
  • SaffordCredit.com 36:37–37:45

About this episode

Billy Corgan welcomes Mötley Crüe co-founder Tommy Lee for a candid conversation about rock, reinvention, and the future of music. Tommy shares why he used AI to reimagine the artwork for Tommyland Rides Again, why Dolby Atmos has completely changed the way he thinks about making records, and why he believes streaming has crushed the "musical middle class." He also tells the incredible story of how Nikki Sixx bought back Mötley Crüe's catalog, reflects on the band's legacy, and explains why he'll never censor himself on social media—even when it comes to politics. Billy also looks back on recording with Tommy in 2013, breaks down the unmistakable groove that helped define Mötley Crüe, and the two swap stories about David Bowie, Prince, Mick Mars, John 5, the Sunset Strip, and why they believe rock music is on the verge of a major comeback. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Transcript

0:00
1:11:48

12,130 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
  • Pumpkins
  • Shout At The Devil
  • Facebook
  • BBC
  • Roseland
  • Chili Peppers
  • Pearl Jam
  • Napster
  • G N R

Page updated · transcript and summary are machine-generated