[Matt Shank]

Personally, I don't think he's overrated. He's a good drummer (not the best) with excellent showmanship.

Edit:
It's surprising how so many people dislike him.

This post has been edited by Matt Shank: 22 September 2011 - 07:44 PM

[Alu]

He's not overrated IMO.

[muckypops]

2 words - Pamela Anderson. He's earned the respect he gets.

[Luke Carter]

I have to disagree and say that in my eyes he is one of the most overrated drummers.

According to half of the comments on his solo videos on youtube, he's the best drummer in the world.

Considering the content of his solos and the gimmicks he pushes through them to call him the best or one of the best is definately overrated.

Remove the suspended drum cages, jet packs and shouting 'yeah' every 4 bars and you're left with a meat and potatoes rock drummer with a very shady past.

This post has been edited by Luke Carter: 28 January 2010 - 10:24 AM

[abacacus]

As a showman, no, he isn't overrated.

As a drummer, I think he is.

[Tyler G]

Very. Both as a drummer and a person.

[Dalleh]

To be brutally honest, and not with intention to make any quarrels, I think the #1 you call someone overrated is either
a) You don't like their music and can't understand why somebody else like him/her/them - Thus they become "overrated"
b) You're jealous on what they can do and try to suppress them; "everybody just blows it up so much, it's nothing special actually".

Oh well, this is how I feel. Once again, not to make someone upset or something, but those drummers are famous for a reason.

[Luke Carter]

Dalleh, on Jan 28 2010, 12:37 PM, said:

To be brutally honest, and not with intention to make any quarrels, I think the #1 you call someone overrated is either
a) You don't like their music and can't understand why somebody else like him/her/them - Thus they become "overrated"
You're jealous on what they can do and try to suppress them; "everybody just blows it up so much, it's nothing special actually".

Oh well, this is how I feel. Once again, not to make someone upset or something, but those drummers are famous for a reason.

Britney Spears is famous for a reason too.
It doesn't mean she's a better singer than everyone with less record sales than her.

I agree with point b to an extent and I think that alot of the people who say that Travis is overrated haven't taken the time to analyse his early playing and education beyond hearing the first few bars and such.

However. I've yet to hear anything in Tommy Lees repertoire that shows him as anything other than a meat and potatoes rock drummer. Now that's not an insult, it just means he keeps it simple and doesn't push boundries. However he plays to the music.

But as I said. Drop out the gimmicks and showmanship and his drum solos are very weak and poorly constructed.
We're discussing if he is overrated. So stick his solos next to the people who are also highly regarded in drums,

Akira Jimbo, Thomas Lang, Jim Chapin, Louie Bellson, Steve Gadd, Neil Peart, Mike Portnoy, Chris Pennie etc.

Beat for beat he just doesn't stack up to them and doesn't belong in the same catagory. He can keep solid time and grooves well in Motley Crue. But he'll always be overrated until the day he chooses to reward his fans with a more intellectual and thought out solo.

[muckypops]

I don't think Tommy Lee is overrated because I never rated him that high to begin with. I do think he's a great performer though.

[Luke Carter]

muckypops, on Jan 28 2010, 01:13 PM, said:

I don't think Tommy Lee is overrated because I never rated him that high to begin with. I do think he's a great performer though.

He definately knows how to play to the crowd.

[Miagy]

muckypops, on Jan 28 2010, 09:13 PM, said:

I don't think Tommy Lee is overrated because I never rated him that high to begin with. I do think he's a great performer though.

That pretty much sums up my thoughts

[Dalleh]

Luke Carter, on Jan 28 2010, 10:02 PM, said:

But as I said. Drop out the gimmicks and showmanship and his drum solos are very weak and poorly constructed.
We're discussing if he is overrated. So stick his solos next to the people who are also highly regarded in drums,

Akira Jimbo, Thomas Lang, Jim Chapin, Louie Bellson, Steve Gadd, Neil Peart, Mike Portnoy, Chris Pennie etc.

Beat for beat he just doesn't stack up to them and doesn't belong in the same catagory. He can keep solid time and grooves well in Motley Crue.

However I've personally never seen any of those guys get the crowd going like Tommy.
But to be brutally honest I couldn't care less for drum solos. 90% of the time quit watching the solos midway because I'm bored. I guess I'm still too much of a bassist/guitarist.

Quote

But he'll always be overrated until the day he chooses to reward his fans with a more intellectual and thought out solo.

I don't rate drummers by their solos, I go by how they play in a band context, so I can't really say anything about that. Again, I might not be enough of a drummer to understand that.

[Orb vs Architect]

yes. he's amazing at making people think he's good, but then again, so is just about every rock drummer from that era. terrible terrible music

[kuebert]

muckypops, on Jan 28 2010, 12:13 PM, said:

I don't think Tommy Lee is overrated because I never rated him that high to begin with. I do think he's a great performer though.

nice one mucky....well said...i have to agree with you....

[Luke Carter]

Dalleh, on Jan 28 2010, 01:27 PM, said:

However I've personally never seen any of those guys get the crowd going like Tommy.

But then again, how often do you see Jazz fans jump up, hold banners and scream, 'I love you <insert musician here>!' and then pass out compared to the fans at a Britney Spears gig.

It just means that different music fans have different ways of showing their enthusiasm.

Quote

I don't rate drummers by their solos, I go by how they play in a band context, so I can't really say anything about that. Again, I might not be enough of a drummer to understand that.

Well the music is what matters the most. But in that case, Tommy Lee is like Meg White. They both play appropriately to the music but never push any boundries in terms of technique or mixing styles.
Remove Motley Crues worldwide fame and there is nothing to seperate Tommy Lee from countless rock drummers who keep it solid but simple.

This post has been edited by Luke Carter: 28 January 2010 - 12:41 PM

[muckypops]

Orb vs Architect, on Jan 28 2010, 02:30 PM, said:

yes. he's amazing at making people think he's good, but then again, so is just about every rock drummer from that era. terrible terrible music

LOL... no such thing as terrible music. I wouldn't even call music I don't like terrible. Somebody likes it.

I listen to a Jazz station all the time in my car. Every now and then this old man comes on and says "support us, we're the only good music left in Chicago". He thinks that just because he doesn't like the pop/hip-hop/rock that dominates the air that all of it's bad. It's so misguided and sad that I can only laugh at his narrrow-minded point of view.

[kuebert]

muckypops, on Jan 28 2010, 12:42 PM, said:

LOL... no such thing as terrible music. I wouldn't even call music I don't like terrible. Somebody likes it.

I listen to a Jazz station all the time in my car. Every now and then this old man comes on and says "support us, we're the only good music left in Chicago". He thinks that just because he doesn't like the pop/hip-hop/rock that dominates the air that all of it's bad. It's so misguided and sad that I can only laugh at his narrrow-minded point of view.

you said it! there is a reason for all these diiferent types of music and bands and other things....cause there is obviously a market for it somewhere!

[drummerduck424]

Luke Carter, on Jan 28 2010, 02:41 PM, said:

Well the music is what matters the most. But in that case, Tommy Lee is like Meg White. They both play appropriately to the music but never push any boundries in terms of technique or mixing styles.
Remove Motley Crues worldwide fame and there is nothing to seperate Tommy Lee from countless rock drummers who keep it solid but simple.

I agree with you a little bit and disagree with you a little bit on that. I guess I should start by saying I don't like Motley Crue or Tommy Lee but I do like Meg White and the White Stripes.

I agree in the fact that both play appropriately to the music and don't push it. I don't think that Tommy Lee and Meg White are anything alike though simply because of the music the White Stripes play. I think Meg shows more creativity in some of her beats.

Even when you take Crues fame away Tommy still has great performance skills and can put himself out there. I think that's what really counts, putting yourself in the spotlight.

Just to clarify I know all this is subjective to my personal taste and this is how I have tried to present it.
Also in case anybody wasn't sure yes, I do think Tommy Lee is overrated.

This post has been edited by drummerduck424: 28 January 2010 - 03:00 PM

[aL3X119]

I don't think he's overrated. My dad has met him though and the rest of Motley, he sold them some golf clubs a while ago while they were in town.

[Orb vs Architect]

muckypops, on Jan 28 2010, 02:42 PM, said:

LOL... no such thing as terrible music. I wouldn't even call music I don't like terrible. Somebody likes it.

I listen to a Jazz station all the time in my car. Every now and then this old man comes on and says "support us, we're the only good music left in Chicago". He thinks that just because he doesn't like the pop/hip-hop/rock that dominates the air that all of it's bad. It's so misguided and sad that I can only laugh at his narrrow-minded point of view.

respect. i was just being sarcastic dude. when i was growing up all my parents listened to was motley crue, bon jovi, guns n roses, poison, alice cooper, or whitesnake. they all have their moments for sure, but holy crap -- not for me!

chicago represent! what station is that?