Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt has a blunt message about Tommy Lee’s importance to Mötley Crüe. He shared his thoughts in a post on Instagram.
Bettencourt shared a photo of Mötley Crüe’s Tommy Lee with Extreme drummer Kevin Figueiredo from the band’s ongoing tour. He used the moment to praise Figueiredo while also revealing how significant Tommy Lee has been to his own career.
The post begins with Bettencourt celebrating Figueiredo’s recognition and stressing what makes a drummer irreplaceable.
“YOU CAN REPLACE NOTES. YOU CAN’T REPLACE FEEL,” Bettencourt said. “F*ck yeah FIGG … finally getting the recognition you deserve. Too long overdue. I am proud … but not the least bit surprised at seeing My Boy FIGG, Kevin Figueiredo, where he belongs … in the company of GIANTS!”
He then expanded his point to include the drummers of Mötley Crüe, Extreme and Tesla, describing them as the heartbeat of their respective bands.
“Mötley/ Extreme/ Tesla,” he continued. “Would not sound, drive, feel or groove the same without these boys… their drummers, their heartbeat. Those who know, know… those who don’t with musical ignorance unfortunately will never understand your value.”
Bettencourt went on to emphasize how much drummers are undervalued despite their critical role in a band’s sound.
“But guys like myself .. the players, producers, writers, visionaries of the band, respect these drummers worth beyond any money can buy,” he said. “They are priceless. Invaluable. And gravely unappreciated as they don’t get that Bad drummer = bad band. I will never step on that stage with anyone else other than Kevin Figueiredo.”
Finally, Bettencourt turned his attention directly to Tommy Lee. He described decades of admiration for the Mötley Crüe drummer and a signature moment in the song “Live Wire” that fans wait for every show.
“As a massive fan of Mötley Crüe… Watching and listening to Tommy Lee live and on records for decades is the perfect example of how important he is to the DNA of Mötley Crüe swag, swing and pocket,” he said. “I mean he so fkn good he makes thousands every night, including me, play air drums to 4 Cowbell hits in LIVEWIRE that we’re fkn waiting and anticipating through the whole fkn song for. Lfgoooo!!! See ya boys tomorrow on stage. How blessed am I.”
Bettencourt’s tribute lands in the middle of a run that has put him, Figueiredo and Tommy Lee on the same stages night after night, giving his praise for Mötley Crüe’s drummer added weight.
Extreme is currently serving as a support act on Mötley Crüe’s “The Return of the Carnival of Sins” tour. The 33-city Live Nation trek kicked off on July 17, 2026, and also features Tesla.
The tour marks the 20th anniversary of Mötley Crüe’s original 2005-2006 “Carnival of Sins” run. It also celebrates the band’s 45th anniversary.
Extreme’s set has leaned on both new and old material, mixing songs from 2023’s “Six” with staples like “Hole Hearted,” “More Than Words” and “Get the Funk Out.” The band has also used its slot to pay tribute to Ozzy Osbourne during multiple stops.
Figueiredo has anchored Extreme’s rhythm section since joining the band in 2007. He remains part of the touring lineup behind Bettencourt, and the current run has only reinforced his standing within the group.
Tommy Lee, meanwhile, has been candid about how physically demanding the tour has been, admitting that after a two-hour show he is left “f***ing toast.” He has also spoken publicly about Mötley Crüe’s split with former guitarist Mick Mars, calling the fallout “awkward and really hurtful.”
The band won a legal battle against Mars earlier this year. An arbitrator rejected his claims and ordered him to pay damages back to the group, a dispute that has cast a shadow over an otherwise triumphant anniversary tour.
Against that backdrop, Bettencourt’s public shoutout to Tommy Lee reads as more than a passing compliment. It underscores just how central Lee’s drumming remains to Mötley Crüe’s identity, even as the band navigates a demanding schedule and lingering tension from its split with Mars.
