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Tommy Lee and DJ Aero Form a New Mötley Crüe
You've seen him swoop over the crowd on a mechanical arm at Motley Crue concerts. You've seen him go to college. You've seen him lounge around on Rockstar: Supernova. You've seen him in the buff with his ex. But have you seen him spin?
One of the more surprising acts to make a show of it in our unassuming burg of late, Tommy Lee and his partner in dance-floor debauchery DJ Aero will be bringing their dirty beats to The Bank's Party Tent this year.
"I've never been drawn away from rock. It's in my blood," Lee says emphatically. "But what's also in my blood, as a drummer, is the love for the beats! For as long as I can remember, I've fucking loved dance music, and even while playing with Motley Crue or Supernova or doing my solo records, I've always managed to put in a lengthy electro-beat section in my drum solos. Bless them beats!
"I think dance music penetrates the soul so much more than rock," he adds. "Once again, the beats are infectious and unstoppable."
Okay, after all that and Methods of Mayhem, I suppose that it isn't that much of a stretch for Tommy Lee to discover a talent for laying the beats. But since joining forces with turntablist DJ Aero (Chester Deitz who has been at the decks since 1990 and whose resume includes being the resident DJ and sound designer for Tony Hawk's Boom Boom Huck Jam Tour), Lee has helped the pair's show evolve, going from rock star drummer to DJ in his own right.
"We've grown immensely since our first gig at Winter Music Conference in Miami," Aero says. "Tommy and I know the material better, and we know each other's style. We also make our own dub- or vocal versions in Ableton Live, so that we are right on beat."
It all started back in '99, when Methods of Mayhem was looking for a DJ to join its tour. "My friend, Andy Garza, from Huntington Beach, knew Tilo, who was Tommy's partner in the band, Methods of Mayhem," Aero explains. "He knew that Mixmaster Mike from the Beastie Boys could not make the tour, so they needed a DJ. Long story short, I really hit it off with every one of the guys in the band. I think that was my 'big break.'"
"Aero's love for the music and his passion grabbed me right away. Now, I feel like we're one," Lee says. "We both know what each other is thinking before we do it. That's something you can't buy or create. It just happens when two people are in musical sync."
To add fuel to the dance-floor fire, Lee and Aero will be bringing along video scratching equipment.
"Tommy plays the most insane video-loops that really represent the style of electro-house and breaks that we rock," Aero says. "Tommy is so versatile as an artist, and it is great when we can introduce new rhythms and sounds to the masses of fans who love Tommy Lee. The best part is showing them that he's really a great DJ!"
Carolyn Nikodym, Vue Weekly
2007 Vue Weekly