Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee hopes fans of his band's biopic, The Dirt, enjoy the film responsibly.
Lee indicated in a recent interview that he hopes the film's tragic moments aren't overshadowed by the friendship and great music that's also depicted on screen.
"There's a lot of lessons to be learned here," Lee says, wondering about the impact of the film on younger fans. "That was one of the things that made me very curious. Yes, people our age watching the movie are taking at trip down memory lane. But yet, there are these younger kids that may or may not have even seen or heard of us that are going to trip out, you know? Some of the things that you see in the movie definitely can be harmful, and they were to us and those around us."
Lee emphasizes that the main reason the members of Mötley Crüe acted as outrageously as they did was because the band was emulating its heroes without knowing any better. Parts of The Dirt depicting the depths of the band's debauchery aren't as fondly recalled by the band members as they may be received by fans.
"Like any other band, there's a terrible human cost to living life on the edge, and that cost is far greater than any of the benefits we initially thought that came along with living the 'rock 'n' roll' life. So take notes, kids: be careful."
When asked if he sees any contemporary artists following in Crüe's footsteps, Lee questioned whether that path is even a positive one.
"I don't know if that's a good thing," the drummer said. "A lot of hip-hop artists live the life they describe in their music, and I do believe fans respond to that because they know it's real. With that being said, we've seen a lot of hip-hop artists succumb to the tragedies of living a life close to the edge.
He named Lil Peep and Mac Miller as examples of contemporary artists "whose public personas took over their private ones, and they died as a result — both very young."
"I would not wish this on anyone," he concluded. "And I think we need to examine what we ask of our celebrities and how that can hurt them. Artists are real people, dude. And they succumb to real pressures, just like everyone else."
The Dirt phenomenon has seen interest in Mötley Crüe explode since its release in late-March. The band's streaming figures, as well as album and book sales have exploded. Lee says the renewed interest is a function of the band's multi-generational appeal and the fact that The Dirt is just a good story.
Despite the frenzy of interest, and a new hit single with the film's title song, the band appears no closer to touring again.
Photo: Getty Images