Tommy Lee: Difference between revisions
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{{otheruses4|the American drummer Tommy Lee||Tommy}} |
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:''For the actor, see [[Tommy Lee Jones]].'' |
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{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians --> |
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| Name = Tommy Lee |
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| Img = Tommy Lee 2005.jpg |
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| Img_capt = Tommy Lee at his halloween party at Club Medusa, [[Seattle]] on [[October 31]], [[2005]] |
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| Img_size = |
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| Landscape = |
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| Background = solo_singer |
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| Birth_name = Thomas Lee Bass |
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| Alias = |
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| Born = {{birth date and age|1962|10|3}}<br><small>[[Athens]], [[Greece]] {{flagicon|GRE}}</small> |
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| Died = |
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| Origin = |
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| Instrument = [[Drum]]s |
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| Genre = [[Rock music|Rock]] <br> [[Heavy Metal]] <br> [[Hard Rock]]<br> [[Glam Metal]] |
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| Occupation = |
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| Years_active = 1981 - present |
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| Label = [[Leathür Records|Leathür]], [[Elektra Records|Elektra]] |
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| Associated_acts = [[Mötley Crüe]] <br> [[Methods of Mayhem]] <br> [[Rock Star Supernova]] |
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| URL = [http://www.tommylee.tv TommyLee.tv] |
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| Current_members = |
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| Past_members = |
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| Notable_instruments = |
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}} |
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'''Tommy Lee''' (born '''Thomas Lee Bass''' on [[October 3]], [[1962]]), is an [[USA|American]] [[rock music|rock]] [[musician]]. He is best known as the [[drummer]] for [[heavy metal]] band [[Mötley Crüe]], and for his marriage to former wife [[Pamela Anderson]]. |
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==Biography== |
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===Early Life and Career=== |
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Lee was born in [[Athens]], [[Greece]]. His mother, Vassiliki "Voula" Papadimitriou, was Miss Greece in 1957, and his father was David Lee Thomas Bass, a US Army serviceman. He has one younger sister, Athena Bass (b. [[1964]]), who is currently the drummer of [[KrunK]]. His family moved to [[California]] a year after his birth. Lee received his first [[drum]] when he was four. However he received his first real drum kit when he was a [[teenager]]. At that time, he was listening to [[Kiss (band)|Kiss]], [[Deep Purple]], [[Led Zeppelin]] and [[Judas Priest]]. After transferring from South Hills High School; he joined the marching band at [[Royal Oak High School]] in Covina, California, but dropped out of school in his senior year to focus on his musical career. |
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His first successful band was called Suite 19. With a fast guitarist named [[Greg Leon]] from [[La Crescenta, California]], the group played the [[Sunset Strip]] in [[Los Angeles]] during the late 70s. At this time he met future bandmate, [[Nikki Sixx]]. Casually, Sixx was forming a theatrical band that would specialize in anthemic [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]], and was impressed by Lee's playing. Sixx, Lee and Leon started jamming together, but Leon decided not to continue. At this time, he changed his name to Tommy Lee and earned the nickname "T-bone" from Sixx. He got this nickname due to his tall, skinny physique. Shortly afterwards, guitarist [[Mick Mars]] joined the band. Mars recommended a singer Tommy met at high school, [[Vince Neil]], who soon joined the group. |
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===Mötley Crüe and stardom=== |
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Mötley Crüe quickly built a strong fanbase and they released their debut album, ''[[Too Fast for Love]]'' in [[1981]], on their own independent label ([[Leathür Records]]). [[Elektra Records]] decided to sign the band shortly thereafter, reissuing their debut in [[1982]]. The band then began a string of hit releases throughout the decade -- [[1982]]'s ''[[Shout at the Devil]]'', [[1985]]'s ''[[Theatre of Pain]]'', [[1987]]'s ''[[Girls, Girls, Girls]]'', and [[1989]]'s ''[[Dr. Feelgood (album)|Dr. Feelgood]]'' -- establishing the quartet as one of the biggest [[hard rock]]/[[heavy metal music|metal]] bands of the '80s. During this time, Lee used several memorable [[gimmicks]] during his drum solo at concerts, such as having his entire kit revolving and spinning, or having the entire kit float above the crowd while he continued to play. He also played drums in a turkey costume from time to time. |
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Tommy Lee had married a model/stripper Elaine Starchuk <ref>http://www.topmodels.co.uk/celebrity-models.asp?id=779</ref> in 1984 they were together for three years and the marraige only lasted for three months |
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As the popularity of the band rose, Lee also made the headlines with his numerous romantic involvements. He married actress [[Heather Locklear]] in 1986, but they divorced in 1993. |
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[[Image:Pam & Tommy Lee Hardcore & Uncensored.jpg|right|thumb|Pam & Tommy Lee: Hardcore & Uncensored]] |
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In [[1995]], he married actress [[Pamela Anderson]]. They have two children, Brandon Thomas, born [[June 6]], [[1996]], and Dylan Jagger, born [[December 29]], [[1997]]. It was with Anderson that one of Lee's most famous incidents arose when one of their private videos was stolen in [[1995]]. The couple had videotaped their sexual activities while on vacation. The tape was widely circulated, and was one of the first examples of [[nude celebrities on the Internet]]. The couple divorced in 1998, and he served four months in prison after pleading no contest to kicking Anderson in the crotch. The couple legally divorced, although they reunited briefly upon his release. |
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===Solo career=== |
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Lee also decided to leave Mötley Crüe during his stay in prison, and stuck to his promise after the completion of the ''Crüe's Greatest Hits'' tour in [[1999]]. With the popularity of [[rap metal]], Lee formed a band called [[Methods of Mayhem]]. The band released a self-titled album the same year and toured in support of it. |
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Although Lee distanced himself from Mötley Crüe after splitting, he agreed to take part in their [[2001]] [[autobiography]], ''The Dirt''. In addition to Mötley Crüe and [[Methods of Mayhem]], Lee has made guest appearances on albums by other artists, such as [[Stuart Hamm]], [[Nine Inch Nails]] and [[Rob Zombie]]. He also contributed a solo song, "Welcome to Planet Boom" to the soundtrack of then-wife [[Pamela Anderson]]'s [[1996]] movie, ''[[Barb Wire]]'', and produced an album for the pre-[[Goldfinger (band)|Goldfinger]] project from [[John Feldmann]] and [[Simon Williams]], the Electric Love Hogs. |
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Also in [[2001]], four-year-old Daniel Karven-Veres drowned at Lee's [[Malibu, California]], home during a birthday party for Lee's son Brandon. On [[April 17]], [[2003]], a [[Superior Court]] jury took less than three hours to reject a [[wrongful death]] claim made by Daniel's parents, German actress [[Ursula Karven]] and TV producer James Veres. The suit accused Lee of negligence for failing to have a lifeguard or someone trained in [[Cardiopulmonary resuscitation|CPR]] present during the birthday party. |
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Lee parted ways with [[Methods of Mayhem]] partner Tilo and began recording with members of [[Incubus (band)|Incubus]]. Shortly after, he started recording songs featuring himself almost exclusively, and he ended up releasing his first solo album. The [[album]], [[2002]]'s ''Never a Dull Moment'', had tones of [[rap metal]] and [[electronica]], and featured little of the Mötley Crüe sound he was famous for. In August of [[2002]], Tommy Lee and his solo band joined that year's [[Ozzfest]] main stage, as a replacement act for [[Drowning Pool]], whose singer, [[Dave Williams]], died on their tour bus. |
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===Recent developments=== |
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[[Image:Tommylee-college.jpg|thumb|150px|left|Tommy Lee in [[NBC]]'s ''[[Tommy Lee Goes to College]]''.]] |
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In [[2004]], Lee reunited with the original [[Mötley Crüe]] line-up to release the double-disc album hits entitled ''Red, White, and Crüe''. They launched a monumental reunion tour to support it, ''The Red, White & Crüe Tour 2005: Better Live Than Dead'', the band's first in six years. They also finished the year number 8 on the top concert money earners list. They played 81 shows and grossed $33 million US (Billboard Boxscore). This figure did not include a tour of [[Australia]] in December [[2005]]. |
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Lee released his autobiography ''Tommyland'' in [[2004]]. That year Lee briefly attended, but did not enroll in, the [[University of Nebraska]] for a few weeks in the fall of [[2004]], while filming a [[reality television]] show for [[NBC]] called ''[[Tommy Lee Goes to College]].'' The show featured a "fish-out-of-water" premise as it followed Lee's effort to fit into the collegiate experience, including trying out for the band (as a drummer), taking courses in [[horticulture]], [[chemistry]], and [[literature]], and receiving constant support from a sexy and smart tutor. Lee was also one of the producers of the reality TV show. At the same time, he released his new solo album, ''Tommyland: The Ride'' in August 2005. The CD featured the single, "Good Times". His new single, with video to be released soon, is "Hello, Again". This features [[Andrew McMahon]] from [[Something Corporate]] and [[Jack's Mannequin]]. |
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Tommy Lee was also a guest DJ at [[WFNY-FM|WXRK]] "K-Rock" in [[New York]] during the Fourth of July Monster Metal Meltdown in [[2005]]. |
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He has formed a new band called [[Rock Star Supernova (band)|Rock Star Supernova]] with [[Jason Newsted]] ([[Voivod (band)|Voivod]], ex-[[Metallica]]) and [[Gilby Clarke]] (ex-[[Guns N' Roses]]). The 2006 [[Rock Star: Supernova|season]] of ''[[Rock Star (TV series)|Rock Star]]'' selected [[Lukas Rossi]] as the lead singer for Supernova. [[Dilana]], the runner-up, accepted an offer to go on tour with Supernova along with assistance in producing an album of her own. |
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Lee also recorded drum tracks for the alternative rock band [[Jack's Mannequin]], which has released the album ''[[Everything in Transit]]''. |
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Tommy Lee is a supporter of [[animal rights]] and [[PETA]].<ref>[http://www.peta.org.uk/feat/inknotmink.asp Tommy Lee: "Ink, Not Mink"]</ref> He recently donated autographed drumsticks to support [[PETA]]'s campaign against [[Kentucky Fried Chicken]]. |
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In 2006, Tommy launched his own clothing line with apparel manufacturer People's Liberation, to produce jeans, T-shirts and other products featuring graphics inspired by his tattoos. The line is carried by high-end retailers, including Bloomingdale's, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, and other boutiques and chains. People's Liberation brand clothing is marketed and manufactured by Versatile Entertainment, which also produces the William Rast brand, inspired by Justin Timberlake. |
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<br /> |
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==Discography== |
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===Mötley Crüe=== |
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* ''[[Too Fast for Love]]'' ([[1981]]) |
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* ''[[Shout at the Devil]]'' ([[1983]]) |
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* ''[[Theatre of Pain]]'' ([[1985]]) |
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* ''[[Girls, Girls, Girls]]'' ([[1987]]) |
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* ''[[Dr. Feelgood (album)|Dr. Feelgood]]'' ([[1989]]) |
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* ''[[Decade of Decadence]]'' ([[1991]]) |
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* ''[[Mötley Crüe (album)|Mötley Crüe]]'' ([[1994]]) |
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* ''[[Quaternary (EP)]]'' ([[1994]]) |
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* ''[[Generation Swine]]'' ([[1997]]) |
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* ''Greatest Hits'' ([[1998]]) |
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* ''[[Supersonic and Demonic Relics]]'' ([[1999]]) |
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* ''[[Live: Entertainment or Death]]'' ([[1999]]) |
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* ''Millennium Collection'' ([[2003]]) |
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* ''Music To Crash Your Car To, Volume 1'' ([[2003]]) |
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* ''Music To Crash Your Car To, Volume 2'' ([[2004]]) |
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* ''[[Red, White & Crüe]]'' ([[2005]]) |
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* ''Carnival of Sins Live, Vol. 1'' ([[2006]]) |
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* ''Carnival of Sins Live, Vol. 2'' ([[2006]]) |
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===Methods of Mayhem=== |
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* ''[[Methods of Mayhem (album)|Methods of Mayhem]]'' ([[1999]]) |
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===Solo=== |
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* ''Never a Dull Moment'' ([[2002]]) |
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* ''[[Tommyland: The Ride]]'' ([[2005]]) |
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===Jack's Mannequin=== |
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* ''[[Everything in Transit]]'' ([[2005]]) |
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==Singles== |
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*Good Times: #25 in Australia |
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*Good Times: #1 in iTunes Australia |
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*Good Times: #1 in South Africa |
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{| class="wikitable" |
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|rowspan="2"|'''Year''' |
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|rowspan="2"| '''Title''' |
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|colspan="2"| '''Chart positions''' |
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|- |
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| [[Billboard Hot 100|US Hot 100]] |
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| [[Mainstream Rock Tracks chart|US Mainstream Rock]] |
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| [[Australia]] |
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| [[South Africa]] |
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|rowspan="1"| '''Album''' |
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|- |
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| 2005 |
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| "Tryin to Be Me" |
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| - |
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| - |
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| - |
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| - |
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| ''Tommyland: The Ride'' |
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|- |
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| 2005 |
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| "Good Times" |
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| #95 |
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| - |
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| #25 |
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| #1 (2006) |
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| ''Tommyland: The Ride'' |
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|- |
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| 2005 |
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| "Hello, Again" |
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| DNC |
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| - |
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| DNC |
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| DNC |
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| ''Tommyland: The Ride'' |
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|} |
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==Footnotes== |
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{{reflist}} |
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==External links== |
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*[http://www.tommylee.tv/ Official Web site of Tommy Lee] |
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*[http://www.motley.com Offcial Web Site of Mötley Crüe] |
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*[http://www.rockstar.msn.com/ Rock Star SuperNova Official Site] |
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*[http://www.intothesupernova.com/ Rock Star SuperNova Official Site on SonyBMG] |
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*{{imdb name|id=0005136|name=Tommy Lee}} |
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*{{nndb name|id=000022463|name=Tommy Lee}} |
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{{MotleyCrue}} |
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[[Category:1962 births|Lee, Tommy]] |
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[[Category:Living people|Lee, Tommy]] |
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[[Category:American heavy metal drummers|Lee, Tommy]] |
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[[Category:California musicians|Lee, Tommy]] |
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[[Category:Former drug addicts|Lee, Tommy]] |
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[[Category:Glam metal musicians|Lee, Tommy]] |
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[[Category:Greek-Americans|Lee,Tommy]] |
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[[Category:Incarcerated celebrities|Lee, Tommy]] |
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[[Category:Mötley Crüe members|Lee, Tommy]] |
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[[Category:Participants in American reality television series|Lee, Tommy]] |
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[[Category:People from Los Angeles|Lee, Tommy]] |
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[[Category:People treated for drug addiction|Lee, Tommy]] |
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