Skip to main content
Music Radar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Guitar Amps
  • Guitar Pedals
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Controllers
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About Us
More
  • Plugin Week 2025
  • You Oughta Know
  • Fake AI band
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • Wrecking Crew

Recommended reading

Kane Hibberd, the photographer behind the Scale exhibition in London, poses in front of his photographs – guitars features will include Kerry King of Slayer's BC Rich and Tom Morello's Arm The Homeless S-style.
Guitars Exhibition featuring life-sized photos of 100 legendary artists' guitars to open in London
Rudy Sarzo
Artists “I’d done way worse than just licking the bass!”: The raunchy video that powered a hair metal anthem all the way to No.1
Roger Taylor and Hank Marvin
Bands "Every one of them said yes": Hank Marvin and Roger Taylor have just remade a classic for charity
Zak Starkey
Drummers "He made a few mistakes and has apologised”, says Pete Townshend as Zak's back in The Who
Roger Daltrey performs on stage during 'Roger Daltrey: A Night Of The Who Classics' at Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood on February 20, 2023 in Hollywood, Florida
Artists “The weight of this responsibility is enormous”: The Who’s new drummer announces himself to fans
Tony Mccarroll, original Oasis drummer
Drummers “A few Burnage lads created something special”: Tony McCarroll's wistful message to his old Oasis bandmates
Aaron Comess of the Spin Doctors
Artists “I used the snare I played on Two Princes”: Why the Spin Doctors are still rocking with the gear they used in the ’90s
  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
Kane Hibberd, the photographer behind the Scale exhibition in London, poses in front of his photographs – guitars features will include Kerry King of Slayer's BC Rich and Tom Morello's Arm The Homeless S-style.
Exhibition featuring life-sized photos of 100 legendary artists' guitars to open in London
Rudy Sarzo
“I’d done way worse than just licking the bass!”: The raunchy video that powered a hair metal anthem all the way to No.1
Roger Taylor and Hank Marvin
"Every one of them said yes": Hank Marvin and Roger Taylor have just remade a classic for charity
Zak Starkey
"He made a few mistakes and has apologised”, says Pete Townshend as Zak's back in The Who
Roger Daltrey performs on stage during 'Roger Daltrey: A Night Of The Who Classics' at Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood on February 20, 2023 in Hollywood, Florida
“The weight of this responsibility is enormous”: The Who’s new drummer announces himself to fans
Tony Mccarroll, original Oasis drummer
“A few Burnage lads created something special”: Tony McCarroll's wistful message to his old Oasis bandmates
Latest in Drums
Man jams with a guitar player and bass player on an electronic drum kit
These huge drum deals at Sweetwater are about to disappear – here’s your last chance to bag up to 60% off electronic drums, cymbals, sticks and more
Alesis Strata Club
“There is no question that there’s enough quality audio here to cater for every musical taste and presents a massive amount of editing options”: Alesis Strata Club review
Sleep Token drummer II Drumeo
“I’ve taken inspiration from the UK dance music scene": Mixwave put Sleep Token’s drummer in a plugin
DW SonicPly
Neil Peart called him 'the Wood Whisperer' and now he's blended metal and timber in DW's new SonicPly shells
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
DrumCraft Urban Beats
“A good-looking kit which won’t break the bank”: DrumCraft Urban Beats review
Latest in News
4th of July Sweetwater
$1,200 off one of the best guitar synths on the market is a deal too good to ignore in Sweetwater's epic 4th of July sale
Klaus Meine of The Scorpions, 1991
“Their message of love, peace and rock ‘n’ roll seems more relevant today than ever”: Cast revealed for Scorpions biopic
Money
“This shows just how important live music is": New report shows immense contribution of music tourism to UK economy
Olivia Rodrigo and Robert Smith
Olivia Rodrigo surprises fans during her headline Glastonbury set by duetting with The Cure’s Robert Smith
Brent Hinds and Bill Kelliher of Mastodon perform at Riot Fest 2024
“I won’t miss being in a sh** band with horrible humans”: Mastodon guitarist slams his ex-bandmates
Black Sabbath get the freedom of Birmingham
“We’re all proud Birmingham people and we love this city”: Black Sabbath have been awarded the freedom of Brum

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

  • 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...