Skip to main content
MusicRadar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
UK EditionUK US EditionUS AU EditionAustralia SG EditionSingapore
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
Don't miss these
Davey Johnstone and Elton John are back-to-back as they perform live, with Johnstone playing his Captain Fantastic Les Paul Custom
Artists Davey Johnstone on the making of Elton John’s 1975 masterpiece, Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy
Man in orange shirt playing drums with a guitar player
Drum Gear Best drum thrones 2025: my pick of budget-spanning stools for comfort behind the kit
Frank Ferrer on stage in 2012
Artists How drummer Frank Ferrer powered Guns N’ Roses for 19 years
Drummers Listen to 11 isolated drum tracks from rock's drumming legends
Simon Dawson
Bands “We didn’t want a clone”: Bruce Dickinson on why Maiden chose a drummer with a different feel
Drummers When British rock drumming ruled the world
Phil Collins sitting at drums
Artists "Peter Gabriel said, as soon as he saw me sit down on a drum stool, he knew that I was the drummer"
Sleep Token
Drums “We tried it as a laugh and now it’s our standard setup”: The secret sauce behind Sleep Token’s live drum sound
Steve Porcaro
Artists Steve Porcaro on the rise, fall and resurgence of Toto, working with Michael Jackson and his new solo album
TAMA STAR Drums
Drums TAMA STAR at Drums Week 2025: Unmatched craftsmanship, iconic sound — the strongest name in drums just got even stronger
Simon Phillips performing with Toto in 2007
Artists “Everybody knew Jeff was a great drummer”: How Simon Phillips succeeded in replacing Jeff Porcaro in Toto
Nicko McBrain
Artists Iron Maiden legend Nicko McBrain's funniest moment
Jeff Porcaro
Artists Exploring the genius of Jeff Porcaro's Rosanna Shuffle
Tama pedals
Drums TAMA Kick Pedals at Drums Week 2025: Precision, Power, Performance — engineered for drummers who demand the fastest, smoothest response
Derek Trucks wears a gray blazer as he takes a solo at Red Rocks, Colorado, in 2015. A couple of months later he would be revisiting the Mad Dogs tour of 1970 with Leon Russell as Tedeschi Trucks Band headlined LOCKN' Festival with a historic set and reunion of the Joe Cocker and Russell-led band.
Artists Derek Trucks on the unlikely triumph of Tedeschi Trucks Band and Leon Russell’s “intense” Mad Dogs & Englishmen set
More
  • Radiohead's secret code
  • Blackbird
  • Spooky samples - free
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • Captain Fantastic
  1. Drums

In Pictures: Tommy Lee's Motley Crue drum rollercoaster

News
By Rich Chamberlain published 6 February 2012

Up-close and personal with Tommy's amazing drum riser

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

In Pictures: Tommy Lee's drum rollercoaster

In Pictures: Tommy Lee's drum rollercoaster

As Motley Crue continue their reality-defying world tour (stopping off for a run of suitably sinful Las Vegas shows) we've taken a look around Tommy's unbelievable drum rollercoaster riser.

Page 1 of 7
Page 1 of 7
In Pictures: Tommy Lee's drum rollercoaster

In Pictures: Tommy Lee's drum rollercoaster

Tommy's tech Chris 'JC' Dries on creating the drum rollercoaster:

“Viggy [Vignola] did a whole lot of work in Los Angeles. He went to Kevin Bligh at Pearl’s West Coast office and he had all of Tommy’s stuff there. Tommy and Kevin sat for probably two or three days building this kit. Viggy has been with Tommy for years so he had all these weld plates made, special snare stands made, all kinds of stuff. I feel bad I wasn’t part of that but now for our Las Vegas tour we’re doing a lot of crazy stuff too, so I’m involved in all of that.”

Page 2 of 7
Page 2 of 7
In Pictures: Tommy Lee's drum rollercoaster

In Pictures: Tommy Lee's drum rollercoaster

JC: “There’s a lot of elements because everything’s welded down. There’s special weld plates, snare stands that are mounted to the riser that were specially made to fit with Pearl’s hardware. Everything is locked down with lighting safeties all over the riser. It’s an amazing feat."

Page 3 of 7
Page 3 of 7
In Pictures: Tommy Lee's drum rollercoaster

In Pictures: Tommy Lee's drum rollercoaster

JC: "Maxonix make us a zero gravity drum stick holder so those are mounted all over the kit. That makes sure he has sticks when he’s going upside down!"

Page 4 of 7
Page 4 of 7
In Pictures: Tommy Lee's drum rollercoaster

In Pictures: Tommy Lee's drum rollercoaster

JC: "The riser is too big to fit in a sea container so I had to chop everything off at 33 inches and put a lid on it and send it on air freight all around the world. It flies probably better class than I do when I’m flying!”

Page 5 of 7
Page 5 of 7
In Pictures: Tommy Lee's drum rollercoaster

In Pictures: Tommy Lee's drum rollercoaster

JC: “After the show I work with SGPS who do the rollercoaster and the rigging. We take down the rollercoaster in 20 minutes.”

Page 6 of 7
Page 6 of 7
In Pictures: Tommy Lee's drum rollercoaster

In Pictures: Tommy Lee's drum rollercoaster

For much more on Tommy and the drum rollercoaster look out for our huge Tommy Lee cover feature coming in the March issue of Rhythm, on sale 14 February.

Page 7 of 7
Page 7 of 7
Rich Chamberlain
Rich Chamberlain

Rich is a teacher, one time Rhythm staff writer and experienced freelance journalist who has interviewed countless revered musicians, engineers, producers and stars for the our world-leading music making portfolio, including such titles as Rhythm, Total Guitar, Guitarist, Guitar World, and MusicRadar. His victims include such luminaries as Ice T, Mark Guilani and Jamie Oliver (the drumming one).

Read more
Frank Ferrer on stage in 2012
How drummer Frank Ferrer powered Guns N’ Roses for 19 years
 
 
Listen to 11 isolated drum tracks from rock's drumming legends
 
 
Simon Dawson
“We didn’t want a clone”: Bruce Dickinson on why Maiden chose a drummer with a different feel
 
 
When British rock drumming ruled the world
 
 
Phil Collins sitting at drums
"Peter Gabriel said, as soon as he saw me sit down on a drum stool, he knew that I was the drummer"
 
 
Sleep Token
“We tried it as a laugh and now it’s our standard setup”: The secret sauce behind Sleep Token’s live drum sound
 
 
Latest in Drums
Roland VAD316
“Roland has always been extremely good at marrying the playability of its samples with the physical feel of its hardware - this kit is no exception”: Roland VAD316 review
 
 
Walrus Audio DFX-1 Percussion Processing Unit next to a cymbal
“For percussionists who want to take matters into their own hands”: Walrus launch the DFX-1, an effects unit built for drummers
 
 
Zultan Alaris cymbals
“Deliver a light, open sound with exceptional stick definition and a gentle, airy wash: Zultan unveil new ALARIS cymbal range
 
 
Roland V-Drums VAD 5 series
Roland's big V-Drum 3 and 5 series drop adds 6 kits to its e-drum range, including V71-lite modules and on-trend acoustic-look options
 
 
Alesis Nitro Ultimater
Alesis's new 9-piece Nitro Ultimate electronic drum kit is its new flagship, and the hi-hat is the star
 
 
Blue Carpet held at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 06, 2025 in Queens
The one where Courteney Cox plays Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit on the drums and goes viral
 
 
Latest in News
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 12: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Drake performs live on stage during day two of Wireless Festival 2025 at Finsbury Park on July 12, 2025 in London, England. Drake is headlining an unprecedented all three nights of Wireless Festival. (Photo by Simone Joyner/Getty Images for ABA)
Drake’s live sound engineer on why he has to be at the top of his game from first song to last
 
 
waves
Waves is teasing a free plugin release for Black Friday – sign up today to be first in line
 
 
IK Multimedia Tonex Plug: the new headphones amp is fully compatible with the brand's state-of-the-art modelling platform, giving players the opportunity to play anywhere, anytime, and access thousands of different tones while doing so.
IK Multimedia unveils the Tonex Plug – is this pocket-sized powerhouse a gamechanger for headphone amps?
 
 
Radiohead Live 2025 graphic, black and white
Everything In Its Right Place: Radiohead switch up their setlist on the second night of reunion tour
 
 
A selection of Waves plugins on a fluorescent green background
Waves just made the first move on Black Friday with 3 jaw-dropping offers - and one’s completely free
 
 
Ed Sheeran performs during the Heart and Armor Foundation benefit concert at The Wiltern on September 19, 2023 in Los Angeles, California
“This is a step in the right direction”: Ed Sheeran gives thumbs up to government’s national curriculum changes
 
 

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...