Thomas Lee Bass
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On January 17, 1981, Tommy Lee co-founded Mötley Crüe with Nikki Sixx, launching a band that shaped 1980s glam metal. His drumming and high-profile personal life made headlines, including a turbulent marriage to Pamela Anderson. He has acted in films such as Barb Wire 1996 and The Dirt 2019, and continues to perform.
Names, aliases, and relatives of Tommy Lee — birth name, kin, and personal ties.
Tommy Lee by the numbers — life, work, and family.
Tommy Lee — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.
Tommy Lee was born Thomas Lee Bass on October 3, 1962, in Athens, Greece, to David Oliver Bass, a Welsh Army sergeant, and Vassiliki Papadimitriou, a former Miss Greece 1957. He grew up in Covina, California, where he attended Royal Oak High School alongside future Mötley Crüe vocalist Vince Neil. His first band, US 101, formed in high school, followed by Suite 19 before he joined forces with Nikki Sixx.
On January 17, 1981, Lee co-founded Mötley Crüe with bassist Nikki Sixx, quickly rising to fame with albums like Shout at the Devil 1983 and Dr. Feelgood 1989. His drumming and stage presence defined the band’s decadent image. In 1998, he was sentenced to six months in jail for parole violation following a spousal abuse incident involving Pamela Anderson. After leaving Mötley Crüe in 1999 to focus on his family and side project Methods of Mayhem, he reunited with the band in 2004. Lee also pursued acting, appearing in Barb Wire 1996, Vanilla Sky 2001, and playing himself in the Netflix biopic The Dirt 2019.
Lee’s first marriage was to Elaine Margaret Starchuk in 1984, lasting less than a year. He married Heather Locklear in 1986, divorcing in 1993. In 1995, he married Pamela Anderson after knowing her only four days; they divorced in 1998 after an abusive incident that made headlines. He later reconciled briefly with Anderson in 1999. He was engaged to actress Mayte Garcia before marrying Brittany Furlan on February 14, 2019. He has two sons with Anderson: Brandon Thomas Lee born June 6, 1996 and Dylan Jagger Lee born December 29, 1997.
As the co-founder and drummer of Mötley Crüe, Tommy Lee helped define the sound and spectacle of 1980s hair metal. The band received a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6752 Hollywood Boulevard. VH1 ranked Lee #46 on its 100 Sexiest Artists list. His solo albums, including Tommyland: The Ride 2005, and reunion tours have sustained his presence in the music scene. He is most remembered for his explosive drumming and his role in one of rock’s most notorious bands.
The complete filmography of Tommy Lee — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.
A wall of memorable lines from Tommy Lee — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.
Getting Married in Four Days Was the Biggest … Mistake I’ve Ever Made. I Have Two Beautiful Kids, but … How Can You Know Somebody in Four Days? Bonehead. on His Quickie Marriage to Pamela Anderson.
On Ecstasy, Joan Rivers Looks Like Pamela Anderson, so Imagine What Pamela Anderson Looked Like.
Little-known facts about Tommy Lee — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.
His younger sister by two years, Athena Bass, is the drummer of Krunk, a rock band she formed with her husband James Kottak.
His father David Oliver Bass was a Welsh Army sergeant; his mother Vassiliki Papadimitriou is of Greek descent and was Miss Greece 1957.
He formed his first high school band US 101, later played in Suite 19 before co-founding Mötley Crüe with Nikki Sixx.
Co-founded the band Mötley Crüe on January 17, 1981, with bassist Nikki Sixx.
His two sons with ex-wife Pamela Anderson are Brandon Thomas Lee, born June 6, 1996, and Dylan Jagger Lee, born December 29, 1997.
His mother was Miss Greece 1957.
He attended Royal Oak High School in Covina, California, with Mötley Crüe vocalist Vince Neil.
On his fortieth birthday, he and Pamela Anderson settled on a 50/50 joint custody agreement after she filed for full custody.
He completed four months in solitary confinement.
He left Mötley Crüe to spend more time with family and focus on Methods of Mayhem, but later returned.
On May 20, 1998, he was sentenced to 6 months in jail for parole violation; charges included spousal/child abuse were dropped, and he had to attend anger management and pay Pamela Anderson’s legal fees.
Mötley Crüe reunited with the original lineup in December 2004, including Tommy Lee on drums.
He married Pamela Anderson in Cancún, Mexico after knowing her only four days.
He released his third solo album, Tommyland: The Ride, without a major record label.
He is good friends with Nick Carter.
VH1 ranked him #46 on its 100 Sexiest Artists list.
He is of Greek and Welsh descent.
He released his second solo album, Never a Dull Moment.
He was arrested on February 25, 1998, for spousal abuse against then-wife Pamela Anderson; he kicked her while she held their son Dylan, leaving bruises and a torn fingernail.
His best man at his wedding to Pamela was Bobby Fernandez-Hewitt, drummer of Orgy.
Motley Crue received a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6752 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
In June 1999, he reconciled with Pamela Anderson; they split later.
He was once engaged to actress Mayte Garcia.
He is a former drummer for the metal band Mötley Crüe.
He appeared on the Comedy Central Roast of Pamela Anderson in 2005.
Tommy and Mötley Crüe have reunited again.
Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Tommy Lee.
Celebrities similar to Tommy Lee — same craft, ranked by reach.
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