by Tommy Lee
TOMMY LAND
TOMMY LAND
TOMMY LEE with ANTHONY BOZZA
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New York, NY 10020
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Copyright © 2004 by Methods of Mayhem, Inc.
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever.
For information address Atria Books, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
ISBN-13: 978-0-7434-8343-8
ISBN-10: 0-7434-8343-X
ISBN-13: 978-0-7434-8344-5 (Pbk)
ISBN-10: 0-7434-8344-8 (Pbk)
eISBN-13: 978-1-4165-0766-6
First Atria Books trade paperback edition September 2005
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Designed by Joseph Rutt
Manufactured in the United States of America
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION: STATE OF MIND a.k.a. Straight from the Dome
1 THE STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS
a.k.a. Chapter Juan
2 STATE OF SEDUCTION
a.k.a. Dr. Lee’s Love Tips
3 STATE OF ORIGIN
a.k.a. Opa!
4 STATE OF FAMILY VALUES
a.k.a. Oh, Shit, Parenthood—Here We Go!
5 STATE OF VALEDICTORY
a.k.a. Mom, Dad ...I Got It
6 STATE OF MATRIMONY
a.k.a. My Dear Heather
7 STATE OF TOTAL DISREGARD
a.k.a. You Know What? Fuck It!
8 STATE OF THE CRÜE
a.k.a. When We Started This Band, All We Needed Was a Laugh;
Years Gone By, I’d Say We Kicked Some Ass
9 STATE OF LAWLESSNESS
a.k.a. The Code of the Road
10 STATE OF MATRIMONY: THE SEQUEL
a.k.a. Pamela
11 STATE OF UPBRINGING
a.k.a. The Monkeys
12 STATE OF INVASION
a.k.a. Stop This Ride, I Wanna Get Off!
13 STATE OF TRANSITION
a.k.a. Incarceration + Contemplation + Initiation = Salvation!
14 STATE OF METAMORPHOSIS
a.k.a. My New Method
15 STATE OF SOCIETAL DEBT
a.k.a. Anger Management and Community Service
16 STATE OF MUTUAL APPRECIATION
a.k.a. Testify! Tommy Testimonials
17 STATE OF LOSS
a.k.a. September 11, 2001
18 STATE OF SHOCK
a.k.a. Lightning Strikes Not Once but Thrice
19 STATE OF YAKUZA
a.k.a. [link]
(Enter Ink)
20 STATE OF ENGAGEMENT
a.k.a. Mayte
21 STATE OF BEGINNER’S LUCK
a.k.a. T-Bone’s Winning Streak, Las Vegas, July 2003
22 STATE OF ADORATION
a.k.a. Fanatic
23 STATE OF MEDICATION
a.k.a. It’s Not Your Mother’s Robitussin
24 STATE OF MELODIC MEMORY
a.k.a. Fill Your Head with Music
25 STATE OF FAREWELL
a.k.a. Your Exit, My Entrance
EPILOGUE: STATE OF AFTERTHOUGHT a.k.a. The After-the-Last-Chapter Chapter
PHOTO CREDITS
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
TOMMY LAND
INTRODUCTION: STATE OF MIND a.k.a.
STRAIGHT FROM THE DOME
Tommy:="9%" Good morning, my man.
Dick:="9%" What’s up? Well, besides me? I’ve been up for a while. I’m always up before you.
Tommy:="9%" You got that right. Fucking go back to sleep, would ya? Why do you have to wake me up every morning? You know I like to sleep in.
Dick:="9%" I’m up because I ="9%"want="9%" to be up. It has nothing to do with you. You’re just attached to me, bro. This life you’re living, it’s not about you, Tommy, it’s about me. From your first trip to the bathroom in the morning to your last orgasm at night, it’s all about me. I’m the ="9%"man,="9%" bro. You’re the copilot. If it weren’t for me you’d sleep all day, and then where would you be?
Tommy:="9%" I’d be nice and rested.
Dick:="9%" You’d be rested without a life. Listen, I’m busy enough, but you ="9%"know what? You should make me your road manager, Tommy. I am the only one who can wake you up on time.
Tommy:="9%" This is insane. My own dick is busting my balls. ="9%"Dude!="9%" You can’t be my road manager, you’re a ="9%"penis!="9%" Well... maybe you’re right, a lot of road managers are dicks.
Dick:="9%" See what I mean? Well, now that you’re awake, what are we doing today? Are the strip clubs open yet? I can’t see the clock from here. Can we visit Hef up at the Playboy Mansion and see what honeys are lying out at the pool? I could use some sun.
Tommy:="9%" Sorry bud, no strip clubs, no mansion. I’m writing my book today.
Dick:="9%" Oh really! So are you going to come clean, tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
Tommy:="9%" Yes, your Honor. This book is going to be all truth, I promise you, whether the world can handle it or not. But dude, you’re bringing back bad memories with that court talk. Don’t you remember jail? Go easy, I haven’t even had my coffee yet.
Dick:="9%" Okay, but I’m glad you’re going to be honest, amigo. I’m glad you’re ready to publicly admit that I’m ="9%"way="9%" more famous than you. We both know that I’m the star and you’re the personal assistant, that I’m Batman and you’re Robin.
Tommy:="9%" Bro, that is so wrong.
Dick:="9%" Oh yeah? We all have God-given gifts, and I’m yours. Do you really think people want to read a book revealing what you think about every day? Those romantic notions you have concerning life and living? Right. All they want is me, me, and more me. If your body were a band, I’d be the front man. And the front man always does the interviews. So start taking dicktation. I’ll write this book myself.
Tommy:="9%" What the fuck? Have you lost your mind? You’re in my pants most of the day! I talk to the public, my man, and people want to hear what I have to say. I’m the one up here making the moves, you just starred in the movie. I’ve had a fucking crazy life and ="9%"yes, you’ve definitely done your part. There’s no denying that, but you’re not all there is to me. There’ll be plenty of sexy stuff you can cowrite with me. I could use your help recalling some of our finer collaborations over the years. But my man, I’m forty-one, I’ve lived a full life, and there’s a lot to tell, a lot of which has nothing to do with you. I’m the captain of this ship.
Dick:="9%" Whatever, skipper. If that helps you get through the day, hold tight to that notion. Just be sure to include this bit of truth: You owe your entire life to me. I made it all happen for you.
Tommy:="9%" Are you crazy?
Dick:="9%" No, ="9%"you’re="9%" crazy. I’m the cool, rational one in this relationship. I know what I want and I know how to get it. Fuck, I know what ="9%"you="9%" want and I know how to get it. Tommy, my dear friend, you’re old enough to know this by now: I have been behind every decision you’ve ever made since second grade. I got you everything and everyone you’ve ever had. Think about it. Heather Locklear? Pamela Anderson, and way too many others to list? Joining your first rock band? Picking up a drumstick? That was all me, my son. I planted those seeds and I sowed plenty of them too. Fact is, I knew how to get us what we wanted. There was no way I was
going to wait around for you to figure it out.
Tommy:="9%" Dude! I’m going to put a fucking rubber on you if you don’t shut up.
Dick:="9%" Whatever, tough guy. No matter what you write in this book of yours, I promise you, people will buy it for one reason: to find out how long I really am.
Tommy:="9%" Dude! Please shut up, I gotta do some work. It’s hard enough just remembering the details of my life without you yappin’ at me. I’m not exactly the kind of guy who’s kept a journal all these years. Listen, I’ll write about you, I’ll even write with you, I promise. You’ll get your props, you’ll get your airtime. When I’m out doing my book tour, promoting this thing, doing signings, trust me, you’ll be with me, and they’ll be asking me all about ="9%"you. And don’t even think about asking Jay Leno for some couch time, because if you do, I’ll catch you in my zipper right there in the greenroom during my preshow piss. But listen, while I’m on the couch and you and the balls are sweatin’, I’ll make sure I shift you into a comfortable position so the camera captures your good side.
Dick:="9%" Bro, don’t disrespect me. I’ve always been a fan of yours.
Tommy:="9%" Yeah, I’ve always been a fan of yours too. But let’s get one thing straight. I am the face man in this circus. This is ="9%"my="9%" life, this is ="9%"my="9%" story. You’re a big part of it, but there is so much going on all the time. Life hands me new insanity every day. Some of it is good, some of it is very, very good, and some of it is pretty fucking bad. But, you know, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’ve had the highest highs and the lowest lows that you can have in life. I’ve done some great things and I’ve made some really big mistakes. And I take responsibility for all of it. I’m telling you, people are going to learn the truth about me in this book. They’re going to learn that when I do something, anything at all, I always go big.
Dick:="9%" Uh-huh. Are you done yet? You really can ramble. So let’s start this book off right, with a chapter about groupies.
Tommy:="9%" Unbelievable! Just go down, would you please? Let me start writing already. We’ll cover that—don’t worry, you’ll have your chance to brag. Let’s get this straight, I drive the boat, you just honk the horn, remember?
Dick:="9%" Whatever, captain.
THIS IS MY LIFE, THIS IS MY STORY.
1 THE STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS
a.k.a.
CHAPTER JUAN
Hi there, my name is Tommy Lee, and there’s a couple of things you should know about me right away: I don’t like to do the easy thing and I don’t believe that there’s ever just one way to do anything. If people tell you no or assure you that you only have one option in any situation, trust me, they’re lying. There are many doors to your destiny, people. Please believe it.
Anyone who knows me won’t be surprised that this book isn’t a typical journey in a straight line from day one to day now. I can’t really do that because I’m really not into history. I’m going to rail on my high school history class in a few minutes. Right now, though, you have to know that I’m more interested in revealing what’s most important about my life, like how I cook my steaks; what I think of the tabloids, the truth, my ex-wives, my ex-band, my music; and what an innocent observer might find hanging around my house on any given Sunday. You’ll see, just sit back—you’ll get plenty of facts and I’ll tell you my story, but my real mission is that I want you to know how my memories smell.
I don’t like to leave anyone out of my party—and sometimes that’s a problem—but in this situation, I’m going to tell all of you fact-and-figure-loving readers where to find what may be missing here: Head into cyberspace. I suggest starting with Google and I’ll tell you what you’ll discover there if you type in my name: lots of pictures, porno sites, links to shitty tabloid talk shows—what I call my Untrue Hollywood Stories—crazy fan sites (you guys rule!), plus a recurring Tommy Lee Jones theme. Somehow it’s true, but I don’t mind because I’ve been getting awesome fan mail about the kick-ass roles I’ve played in films like Men in Black for years now. It’s crazy because, to tell the truth, I didn’t even know I could act well enough to carry a feature. If no one minds, I’d like to take a moment to send a message to Mr. Lee Jones if he’s reading.
Mr. Lee Jones,
Sir, I’m sorry if any unusual mail intended for me, Tommy Lee, has arrived at your house. I’ve received plenty of it over the years, so I know what my fans are capable of. Again, my apologies, and if any of the packages included amazing Polaroids that you’ve grown fond of, please keep them for your trouble. And good luck to you, sir!
T. Lee
Readers, would you like to know why I’ve named this ride Tommyland? The word means many things to me: It is the name of my studio, my home, my hard drive, and the place where my nerves and pleasure centers freak each other inside my skull. Tommyland is where my boys were born, it’s a playland that my ex-wife Pamela Anderson built for my thirty-third birthday, it is where I lose myself most days making records, having sex, and sleeping. It’s the only word I’ve found to describe what makes me up and what makes up my state of mind.
All right, it’s time to start the ride now, so please take your seats. I advise you to keep your arms and legs inside the car at all times. If you have a pacemaker, a heart condition, or if you are pregnant or too damn short to reach the safety bar, I ask that you turn back immediately. Same goes for those with weak stomachs, strict morals, or chronic indigestion. In fact, you people might want to just put this book down now and slowly back away or return it to your local bookstore.
Hallo, Tom, I must implore you not to ask people to return this book! We’re in the business of selling, aren’t we?
Sorry, dude. I thought you chaps had a sense of humor. This line stays in, mate.*
I hope those who remain enjoy their tour through Tommyland. If all goes according to plan, expect that you’ll leave with side effects including pure fear, a perma-grin that requires corrective surgery, and a true whiff of me. Consumption of Tommyland may create the urge to get all “woo-hoo” with your friends.
Be warned, Tommyland may cause involuntary tears and infrequent vomiting, because Tommyland is a loop-de-loop corkscrew brain masher that Six Flags wished it had.
What does all “woo-hoo” mean?
In England, it’s the guy whose soccer, I mean “football,” team just won the World Cup and has just slammed fifteen pints with his blokes. In America, it’s the sunburned guy without a shirt who had lunch at Hooters before driving his rented Winnebago (that’s an RV, or camper, Percival) over to watch his favorite NASCAR team haul ass. Again, this line stays.
I am Tommy Lee, born Thomas Lee Bass in Athens, Greece, on October 3, 1962, and raised in a California suburb by an American father and a Greek mother. At seventeen, I joined Mötley Crüe and we became one of the baddest-ass rock bands in history. We sold more than forty million albums, we wreaked havoc, we scared parents, and we titillated too many fathers’ daughters. We drank oceans of liquor, snorted and shot mountains of drugs, crashed cars, watched people die, and watched one another fight, make up, break up, reunite, and break up again. I’ve been married three times: once for just a few weeks to a Penthouse centerfold, once for seven years to Heather Locklear, and once for five years to Pamela Anderson, with whom I have two beautiful sons. I’ve gotten in a lot of fights and I’ve been to jail a few times, the longest for four months, in 1998, after pleading no contest to spousal abuse. In 2001, a beautiful young boy named Daniel tragically drowned in my pool during my son Brandon’s birthday party.
If you’ve watched Entertainment Tonight in the last ten years or glanced at the “newspapers” on the racks by the supermarket checkout line, you have an idea of what has happened in my life. If you believe those stories, that’s fine. If you believe that there is no more to me than what they say, that’s fine too. That kind of “entertainment” is the status quo today. I don’t even know anymore if that’s what the public craves or if it’s just a brand of societal therapy.
Do people really feel better watching strangers feel bad? Or is it watching famous people feel bad? Whatever. Just remember that information is like clay: It’s easy to get and those with a good hand can bend it into whatever shape they want to. Believe me—I’ve seen statues of myself I don’t even recognize.
Listen, I’m not complaining, I’m justfascinated by this shit. I don’t know if you all can relate, butit’s weird, it’s interesting, and it’s fucking frustrating towatch your lifebecome a play that, for the most part, you’re not even in.
After years of fighting the shit, and winning and losing all kinds of battles, I’ve learned one thing: I see the cult of celebrity as a test. You might follow your dream to make art, but it comes with a price. I think what you do, how you act, and who you are after you’ve made it is the test of your mettle.