TOMMY LEE: Jail Time Was A Good Experience For Me

Malibu magazine recently conducted an interview with MÖTLEY CRÜE drummer Tommy Lee. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow:

Q: Your presence is unavoidably inspirational. And there definitely seems to be a softer, more spiritual side to you...

Tommy: "Yeah, I have had the opportunity to be surrounded by some really good people. One guy in particular, I like to call him my life coach. That guy has pointed me in a couple of really cool directions, and ways of thinking. The main thing, I guess, is to be really very compassionate with everyone. I also did some jail time a few years ago. Spent a whole summer in jail reading books. I pumped a ton of new knowledge and new thinking into myself. Since I was 17 years old, I have been on the road and basically have had in fourth gear floored, popping wheelies, and never really had a chance to sit down and do some introspective work on who the fuck am I, what am I, and what I want out of life. It sounds kind of strange, but jail time was almost a good experience for me. I would have preferred a cabin in Montana, but no phone, a shitload of books, just checked in with myself. I think I got to know who I am. I turned a really shitty experience into something truly positive for me. I tried to stay positive no matter what."

Q: You've spent a lot of time living here in Malibu, so what do you think about it?

Tommy: "You know what?! I love it. I just recently sold my house there. I got a temporary place in Hollywood, 'cause I was out here recording so much and also I've been gone on tour since February with MÖTLEY. But I'd like to find another place there when I am done next year touring and all of that. I lived up on Kanan and Mulholland. It's a bit of a drive, but once you get there, the horses, vineyards, it's just so peaceful. It's almost scary quiet. No streetlights... You're just out in the cut. I could crank my music; play drums, all hours of the night and nobody trips."

Q: You must want to be back close to your boys?

Tommy: "Yeah, I can't wait for that. They're so funny. I asked them the other day if they had girlfriends in school. They were like, 'No dad, that's gross.' They're going to be all over the place, though. Good-looking little monkeys."

Q: What about you? Any special ladies?

Tommy: "Nah. You know what?! I am really diggin' being single. I was married to Heather for seven years, Pamela five. Lot of years of marriage, I am just enjoying just trippin' out by myself."