Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee recently discussed his future career plans beyond performing live with the band. He shared his thoughts in an interview with Allison Interviews.
Lee addressed his potential transition into producing and developing other artists when asked about moving more into behind-the-scenes work in the music industry.
“To answer your question, yes. But that’s not sort of like my main objective. Like I’ll always write music. I love to go play and you know we’re going to go do another tour with Mötley Crüe, you know, next June. Hopefully everything is cool by then,” Lee said.
The drummer emphasized his continued passion for live performance while acknowledging future possibilities.
“So I always like to play and I’ll always love to be on stage and entertain people. I get insane amounts of joy from that. But at some point, and I’ve told myself this for years, at some point, if I physically don’t want to do that anymore, then yes, I that’s always been my not plan B, but my next my next move is to help others make their dreams become realities through music, you know, and sort of and do that,” he continued. “I’ll always have my paws on music whether I’m making it or playing it live or whatever.”
Lee’s comments suggest he views producing and mentoring other artists as a natural evolution of his career rather than a replacement for his current activities with Mötley Crüe.
Lee’s interest in developing new talent isn’t entirely new territory for the veteran musician. His career trajectory shows a pattern of creative exploration beyond his primary role as Mötley Crüe’s drummer.
His official biography revealed that Lee has shown “genuine enthusiasm about the thrill of discovering new talent” and possesses “the ability to step out from behind the kit and play musical impresario.” This suggests his potential move into artist development has been brewing for some time.
The drummer has already demonstrated his versatility through various collaborations across different genres. iHeart reported that Lee has worked with major artists including playing drums on The Smashing Pumpkins’ 2014 album Monuments to an Elegy. He also collaborated with acts like Rob Zombie and Fall Out Boy.
These cross-genre partnerships showcase Lee’s ability to adapt his musical skills to different styles and work effectively with diverse artists. His experience spanning heavy metal, alternative rock, and other genres could prove valuable in his potential role as a producer and mentor.
Lee’s career foundation also supports his transition plans. Factinate noted that he dropped out of high school to pursue music, starting with his first band Suite 19. This launched him into the LA club scene before Mötley Crüe’s formation. This early commitment to music and understanding of the industry’s ground level could inform his approach to helping emerging artists navigate their own careers.
