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Tommy Lee Recalls Injecting Whiskey After Running Out of Heroin & Thinking, ‘Somebody’s Going to Die’
Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee has described a point during the band’s late-1980s heroin addiction when he and an unnamed bandmate injected Jack Daniel’s after running out of drugs. He said the incident made him realise their substance use had become life-threatening, contributing to the group’s decision to enter rehabilitation and therapy.
The band sought treatment before recording 1989’s Dr. Feelgood, relocating to Vancouver while attempting sobriety together. The album reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and spent 109 weeks on the chart; Lee said sobriety remains difficult, adding that three years is his longest period without using substances.
In short
- Tommy Lee recalled injecting whiskey during severe heroin addiction.
- The incident prompted Mötley Crüe to seek rehabilitation.
- Lee says maintaining sobriety remains an ongoing struggle.
Explained simply
Mötley Crüe, one of the biggest rock bands of the 1980s and 1990s, struggled with severe heroin addiction during the late 1980s. Drummer Tommy Lee was among the band members affected by this addiction.
The addiction became so serious that the band members ran out of drugs and resorted to injecting whiskey instead. This dangerous incident alarmed Lee and his bandmates, forcing them to confront how life-threatening their drug use had become.
The band sought treatment and moved to Vancouver to record their 1989 album Dr. Feelgood whilst attempting sobriety. The album became a major commercial success, marking an important period when the group began addressing their addiction.