10 Best Metal Drummers Of All Time
6. Tommy Lee
It's safe to say the 1980's was the decade of guitar heroes. From Eddie Van Halen blowing the doors open, the race was on to see who could shred the fastest across the metal scene. So, why wasn't it the same for drums?
The answer to that question came in 1981 when Motley Crue exploded onto the scene featuring Tommy Lee behind the kit. WhileLee was not the first drummer to pick up two sticks, he made sure to put every ounce of himself into every hit of the snare. When bassist Nikki Sixx started the band, they were known as a more punk-leaning outfit before Lee added the real muscle to each Crue riff.
Along with being a true virtuoso, Lee also gained a reputation for unthinkable onstage antics which sometimes involved him being strapped to his drums as they went upside down and traveled around the arena. Across every death-defying stunt, Tommy never skipped a beat.
Tommy Lee is the perfect package of how to be both a monster behind the kit and an unbelievable showman when performing. In the era of the guitar shredders, Lee stands as the one and only drum hero.