As per Page Six, Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee recalled the lowest point in his drug addiction during the height of the band’s success.
“There was a point where, I was with my bass player [Nikki Sixx], and we were just doing a s—t load of heroin and we ran out,” he recalled on Dax Shepard’s “Armchair Expert” podcast Wednesday. “It was probably 3:00 or 4:00 in the morning and we were like, ‘F—k what are we going to do?’”
Lee recounted him and his bandmate Sixx filling up the cap with whiskey. They “pulled a couple of syringes” and injected it into their veins, hoping to replicate the high of heroin.
“We were shooting Jack Daniels,” Lee confessed. “At that moment, I went ‘OK, we could just drink this, but we’re shooting it. This is f—king wrong and somebody’s going to die.’”
The musician reflected on his and his bandmates’ years-long battles with addiction while being in the heavy metal band and how they would “eat handfuls” of sleeping pills and then go out partying.
“In 1989, we all decided we needed to go to rehab or someone was gonna die. We were zombies and people weren’t waking up. We were like someone’s going to die soon.”
Despite their rehab stay and attempt to stay clean, Lee and lead singer Vince Neil celebrated the final concert of their Dr. Feelgood tour in 1990 at a local strip club, picking up right where they left off with alcohol.
Lee would go on to struggle with sobriety for decades. “I think three years is the longest I’ve done [sober],” he admitted to Shepard.
“I get so excited that I’m like, ‘Oh my god, dude, I’ve been sober for a year,’ and I celebrate. That’s the f—ing problem.”
In 2022, the rock star, 63, posted a penis pic while being on a “motherf–king bender.”
“A couple of weeks ago, we had like a two-week break off the tour, and I went on a motherf–king bender, bro,” Lee admitted onstage at the time.
“I got f–king sideways as f–k and got naked and posted pictures of my d–k.”
Lee’s last public trip to rehab was in 2019, following a severe relapse with heavy drinking.
12 Responses
What I find so fascinating is how Osbourne, Lee, Sixx, Kilmister, etc. manage to survive doing such damage to their bodies, where others engage once, and perish.
I know Osbourne, had his DNA studied, it was discovered he some specific trace elements of Neanderthal in his genes, which made him impervious to drug overdoses. Perhaps, Lee, Sixx, etc. should also have their DNA studied as well? It could actually aid science in possibly discovering better solutions, than just Narcam, for drug overdoes.
If anyone is interested, here is the link to one article discussing the studying of Osbourne‘s genes.
I could never understand why these “rock stars” do drugs….they are as mortal as the rest of us. Why risk your life? These people are not “gods” that can survive everything.
I am proud to comment that i have NEVER tried non prescription drugs in my life…and i haven’t drank alcohol in over 25 years and I’ve never smoked.
I am like you, Rattle.
I have never done drugs and it is a rare occasion when I have a cocktail. However it is both odd, and fascinating, how some people seem far more impervious to overdosing, or have a very high tolerance, to substance abuse.
It may be that his sole purpose in life is to serve as a warning for others.
I love my beer, and a few cocktails as well, but there’s a time and place for everything! I’ve never done drugs, never interested, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with drinking DONE RIGHT! Know your limit, pay attention, watch what you eat when you drink, and never drink in the heat or you’ll dehydrate so fast your head will spin! Like I always say, even Jesus drank some wine from time to time! 😉
I think it’s probably similar to diseases like diabetes and cancer. Some people get it, some don’t. Some people beat it and live long lives while others succumb quickly and die. One of the many mysteries of this thing we call life. I love Motley Crue’s music but I’ve always felt Tommy is a pickled brain idiot. But he sure can play drums.
RPS,
I agree, but I do think genetics play a large role. One’s DNA map, and everyone’s is unique like a fingerprint, could advance personalized medical treatment, which could help with more successful outcomes.
I am really confounded, as to why genetics, has not taken a more prominent role in medicine?