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Tommy Lee

Documented by Chris @ Drum Faster

Mötley Crüe's showman — the most-searched drummer on the planet, famous as much for drumming upside down in a spinning cage as for the thunder underneath it. Big kicks, big backbeat, zero subtlety, all fun.

Read our full Tommy Lee feature →

2023 — The World Tour

The stadium run with Def Leppard: same DNA — DW, Zildjian, Ahead — with the drum riser doing more travelling than most bands.

Bass drum — DW Collector's Series kit 24"Bass drum — DW Collector's Series kit 24"Floor tom — DW Collector's Series kit Rack tom — DW Collector's Series kit Rack tom — DW Collector's Series kit Snare — DW 14"x6.5" Collector's Bell Brass snare 14"Hi-hats — Zildjian A Custom 15" Hi-hats 15"Crash — Zildjian A Custom 20" Crash 20"Crash — Zildjian A Custom 20" Crash 20"Ride — Zildjian A 22" Ping Ride 22"
The 2023 kit at a glance. Tap a piece to find it below; sticks, pedals and hardware aren't drawn.
DW Collector's Series kit mirror-finish, twin 24" kicks ⤷ who plays this
DW 14"x6.5" Collector's Bell Brass snare ⤷ who plays this
Zildjian A Custom 15" Hi-hats ⤷ who plays this
Zildjian A Custom 20" Crash left and right ⤷ who plays this
Zildjian A 22" Ping Ride ⤷ who plays this
DW 9000 double pedal ⤷ who plays this
Ahead Tommy Lee signature sticks ⤷ who plays this
Roland SPD-SX sample pad triggers and show cues ⤷ who plays this

2005 — Carnival of Sins tour

Reunion-era Crüe: Tommy long settled on DW shells with his Zildjian setup, still flying over the crowd — this tour on the "360" roller-coaster rig.

Bass drum — DW Collector's Series maple kit 24"Bass drum — DW Collector's Series maple kit 24"Floor tom — DW Collector's Series maple kit Rack tom — DW Collector's Series maple kit Rack tom — DW Collector's Series maple kit Snare — DW 14"x6.5" Edge snare 14"Hi-hats — Zildjian A Custom 15" Hi-hats 15"China — Zildjian A 22" Swish Knocker 22"Crash — Zildjian A Custom 19" Crash 19"Crash — Zildjian A Custom 19" Crash 19"
The 2005 kit at a glance. Tap a piece to find it below; sticks, pedals and hardware aren't drawn.
DW Collector's Series maple kit double 24" kicks, chrome-over wrap ⤷ who plays this
DW 14"x6.5" Edge snare brass/maple hybrid shell ⤷ who plays this
Zildjian A Custom 15" Hi-hats ⤷ who plays this
Zildjian A Custom 19" Crash pair ⤷ who plays this
Zildjian A 22" Swish Knocker china flavour up top ⤷ who plays this
DW 9000 double pedal ⤷ who plays this
DW 9000 series stands ⤷ who plays this
Ahead Tommy Lee signature sticks ⤷ who plays this
Remo Powerstroke P3 kick heads ⤷ who plays this

1989 — Dr. Feelgood era

The peak-Crüe arena rig: double 24" kicks, banks of toms, and the spinning-cage drum solo. Tommy was a Tama artist through the '80s glam years.

Bass drum — Tama Artstar II double-bass kit 24"Bass drum — Tama Artstar II double-bass kit 24"Floor tom — Tama Artstar II double-bass kit Rack tom — Tama Artstar II double-bass kit Rack tom — Tama Artstar II double-bass kit Snare — Tama bell brass snare 14" 14"Hi-hats — Zildjian A 15" New Beat Hi-hats 15"China — Zildjian A 20" China High 20"Crash — Zildjian A 19" Medium Thin Crash 19"Crash — Zildjian A 19" Medium Thin Crash 19"Ride — Zildjian A 22" Ping Ride 22"
The 1989 kit at a glance. Tap a piece to find it below; sticks, pedals and hardware aren't drawn.
Tama Artstar II double-bass kit twin 24" kicks, rack and floor toms for days ⤷ who plays this
Tama bell brass snare 14" the '80s metal studio staple ⤷ who plays this
Zildjian A 15" New Beat Hi-hats lifelong Zildjian player ⤷ who plays this
Zildjian A 19" Medium Thin Crash several, angled high ⤷ who plays this
Zildjian A 22" Ping Ride ⤷ who plays this
Zildjian A 20" China High crash-ended fills ⤷ who plays this
Tama Titan hardware plus the infamous rotating drum cage ⤷ who plays this
Ahead Tommy Lee signature sticks aluminium-core — he helped put Ahead on the map ⤷ who plays this
Remo Coated Emperor batter side across the toms ⤷ who plays this

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