Bon Jovi guitarist Phil X recently shared his thoughts on Tommy Lee’s drumming abilities during an interview with Final Resonance TV. Reflecting on his history of collaboration with Lee on multiple solo projects, Phil X defended the Mötley Crüe drummer’s musicianship, challenging the perception of him as a simplistic “meat and potatoes” player.
“You know Tommy, I played on all his solo records. But when you ask Tommy Lee to play on your record and he says, ‘Yes,’ you don’t want to just pitch any song,” Phil X explained. “I created the song for Tommy Lee. How I did that was; I was looking on YouTube for a live drum solo from a Mötley Crüe show and I found this groove that he was just wailing on, and I’m like, ‘What is this?’ Just the groove was awesome.”
Phil X continued, “Tommy gets the meat and potatoes drummer label a lot because of Mötley Crüe. But man, working on his records and being in a room recording with him, I was like, ‘What a pocket, what a fill.’ I mean, he’s really creative, in the pocket, and solid. I wanted to capture that.”
Phil X’s remarks emphasize Lee’s broader impact on rock music, noting his technical versatility beyond Mötley Crüe’s commercial image. Research by Drumeo highlights Lee’s consistency in innovation, particularly in live performances. His theatrical stage presence, including signature upside-down drum solos, has cemented his reputation for blending technical prowess with showmanship.
Lee’s drumming style incorporates influences from Neil Peart’s progressive complexity and John Bonham’s powerful timing, as documented by Music Radar. These influences have contributed to his adaptability across various musical styles, allowing him to collaborate beyond hard rock.
InnoTech Today has also highlighted Lee’s extensive collaborations with artists such as Rob Zombie, Smashing Pumpkins, and Post Malone. These partnerships further demonstrate his range as a musician, proving that his drumming extends far beyond the traditional “meat and potatoes” label often associated with his work in Mötley Crüe.
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