If you ask anyone to name off ten of the top rock stars who are continual targets of the paparazzi and press, Tommy Lee would be on the top of that list. Motley Crue hit the Rock and Roll scene more than twenty years ago with the chart-topping hit "Live Wire". As the drummer for Motley Crue, Tommy has certainly paid his dues both in the public arena and in the musical arena garnering the respect from his peers. Overlooking LA in his big Malibu mansion, Tommy could have sat pretty and collected his royalty checks for the rest of his life. He desires, however, to continue growing as a musician and to stretch his musical aptitudes. He is reinventing himself everyday and one of his new directions and passions is DJ'ing. Tommy Lee, with the help of his team partner DJ Aero, have been burning up the dance scene with their Dance DJ Sets. He is one of the many rock stars that are turning to the growing dance scene to create a niche for themselves as DJs.

We had a chance to preview some of his newest remixes and chat with T.Lee about his music, loves, life, and Pioneer.

PIONEER KARAOKE KARL: Tommy, what inspired you to go from Rock God Drummer to DJ'ing / remixing / producing?

TOMMY LEE: Well I haven't gone from anything really...I'm still playin' the hell outta the drums on the DJ tour I'm now doing. I've always produced my solo stuff and co-produced Motley Crue records. Being a drummer I've always gravitated to electronic music because of those pounding beats, whether they are drum machines or live it really doesn't matter to me! I have a ton of original big beat stuff I have written, and I plan to release it soon.

PIONEER KARAOKE KARL: When I saw you performing at the UltraFestival you included did drum set. Even though you didn't fly upside down the inclussion was a brilliant way of including your roots and adding excitement to the show. Are you planning on doing that drum set at each gig?

TOMMY LEE: Yes, this is the tour I'm doing at the moment! What a blast I'm having, and thank you for your kind words about our Ultrafest performance.

PIONEER KARAOKE KARL: Also at the Ultrafest I saw you were using the EFX-500. How do you like it?

TOMMY LEE: That is one great live tool for any DJ--we love it! It adds so many great effects to your mix. The only thing that is hard is not over do it!

PIONEER KARAOKE KARL: Has anyone or anything influenced you as a DJ?

TOMMY LEE: I like Eric Morillo, Adam Freeland, 2 many DJ's, Tiesto, Evil 9, etc...there's really too many to mention.

PIONEER KARAOKE KARL: Whats in your CD player right now?

TOMMY LEE: A mix of my show! Always trying to make it better ya know!

PIONEER KARAOKE KARL: What do you do to kill time while touring?

TOMMY LEE: Well of course, stopping in at the local Ballet (strip club)! We visit a lot of record stores...always lookin for the newest or coolest sounds to bang!

PIONEER KARAOKE KARL: What do you think of Pioneer's CDJ-1000?

TOMMY LEE: BANGIN'!

PIONEER KARAOKE KARL: What are you working on currently in your career? The remixes you have sent me are slammin'.

TOMMY LEE: Thanks...I'm recording new solo stuff at the moment, Also workin on getting these dance trax out! I have an autobiography titled "Tommyland" coming out late Oct/Nov on Simon $ Shuster (atria) books. It's an amazing life rollercoaster story about my life. It's been of crazyass ride my friend!

PIONEER KARAOKE KARL: You recently acquired our new DJM-909 with 50 touch screen effects built in. How do you like it so far?

TOMMY LEE: Yeah, Thanks to DJ Skribble who said, "Dude you gotta hear and see this mixer, it's ridiculous!" And it is! Well done Pioneer dudes! The fader roll is crazy. I turned Eric Morillo on to it and he freaked!

PIONEER KARAOKE KARL: Is the 909 going to be used on your new product/tour/gig?

TOMMY LEE: Every damn show baby! We bring it everywhere! No 909? No show!

PIONEER KARAOKE KARL: What kind of set-up do you have at your studio or home?

TOMMY LEE: I have an 8232 Neve console, all the latest Pro Tools gear that I run on a Mac G4 that is synced to a Gateway PC through an Emagic Unitor 8 for all my recording needs. Outboard gear: 1176's SSL compressors, Lexicons, Drawmer tube compresser...Damn, way too much to list :)

PIONEER KARAOKE KARL: Answer this question: When I am burned out from touring/working, when I get a break I like to chill and recharge by __________ ? (i.e. laying on a beach on Ibiza)

TOMMY LEE: There's nothing more I enjoy than kickin it poolside with my two sons...BBQin' and swimming have to be my faves! Then there's the Island I like to frequent called Bora Bora that don't suck either :)

PIONEER KARAOKE KARL: Most memorable performance, good or bad?

TOMMY LEE: Last weekend in Vegas (won't even mention the club) where the owner stopped our set by unplugging us. We do what we do, and what we do was not what they're used to. They wanted hip hop. Sorry dudes, not in this show! Wrong club, wrong promoter.

PIONEER KARAOKE KARL: Gigligan's Island: Ginger or Mary Anne?

TOMMY LEE: Ginger!

PIONEER KARAOKE KARL: Favorite food before/after gigging?

TOMMY LEE: I like to eat light before a show or wait 'til after. I'm Greek, so Greek food is my fave! Lamb and rice.and a Greek salad!

PIONEER KARAOKE KARL: Favorite movie?

TOMMY LEE: Scarface

PIONEER KARAOKE KARL: If people want to find out more about you, hear you play, where can they go or who can they contact?

TOMMY LEE: www.tommylee.tv. Come over and visit--it's a killer site!