He’s not a dr. feel good
Tommy Lee didn’t let his broken ribs stand in the way of his reunion with his Motley Crüe bandmates Thursday after a nearly seven-year hiatus.
Though the legendary drummer only lasted five songs on the band’s highly anticipated reunion kickoff tour at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia, it was actually five more songs than his doctor ordered.
In true Lee fashion, the musician ignored the doctor’s advice and continued performing alongside Def Leppard, Poison and Joan Jett & The Blackhearts during the band’s opening night.
After fighting his way through five tracks on the drums, Lee’s pain was too great for him to handle.
“Man you’re not going to believe this,” he wrote on social media ahead of the performance. “I broke four friggin’ ribs!”
“But I’ve rested and healed, and even though the doctor tells me not to play at all, you know I’m stubborn and fight through the pain as many songs as possible at every show.”
Lee revealed he let Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne’s drummer Tommy Clufetos salvage the show until he’s “back at 100 percent.”
Nikki Sixx, Vince Neil, Tommy Lee and Mick Mars of Motley Crüe perform onstage during The Stadium Tour at Truist Park on June 16, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Live Nation
“We’ve waited all years for this moment and there’s no way I’m going to miss it! Go on with the show,” Lee added.
“We did it! You did it, we did it, we’re here!” he told the crowd, referring to the times the tour was postponed due to the 2020 pandemic.
“Okay, what I have to tell you is that about 14 days ago I broke not one, not two, not three, but four damn ribs right here.”
Breaking News: Motley Crue’s Tommy Lee takes the stage on The Stadium Tour but Midset goes on the mic and says after waiting two and a half years for this show he recently fractured a couple of ribs and the doctors told him to not playing. He promised to perform anyway #TheStadionTour pic.twitter.com/VjKj9bVQMs
— Greg DeBrosse (@GregDeBrosse) June 17, 2022
“I wish I had a freaking badass story, like Conor McGregor and I having fun at some f***ing bar or something, but I don’t,” Lee explained before welcoming Clufetos on stage.
Before leaving the stage, Lee shared the doctor’s instructions with the crowd.
“The doctors told me, ‘Don’t play, bro. No playing.’ And I said, ‘Are you fucking high bro? We have a tour to do!’ Anyway, I’m not sitting for s-. My boy will help me out here and I’ll see you later. On with the goddamn show.”
During the fifth song in the band’s set, Lee decided it was time to call it a day and rest. According to Ultimate Classic Rock, he left the gig behind his drum kit.
Tommy Lee and Vince Neil of Motley Crüe perform on stage during The Stadium Tour at Truist Park on June 16, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Live Nation
The electric concert runs throughout the summer, concluding on September 9th at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.