In a raw and revealing interview on The Zach Sang Show, Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee pulled back the curtain on the band’s infamous 1980s excesses and the exact low point that pushed them into rehab ahead of recording their classic album Dr. Feelgood.
The Breaking Point: Shooting Jack Daniels
By the late 1980s, the band’s drug use — mainly heroin and cocaine — had spiraled out of control. Lee and bassist Nikki Sixx reached a terrifying moment during a tour stop (reportedly in Houston) after they ran out of drugs in their hotel room.
“That’s when it was too much. We were shooting drugs, heroin and cocaine, and we ran out. We were in a hotel room… and there’s no way we’re going to get anything. So we just unscrewed the cap on this fifth of Jack and filled up the cap with Jack and then started pulling it up through a syringe and we’re shooting Jack.”
Lee admitted the sheer stupidity of injecting liquor hit hard. He realized the band had crossed a deadly line: “It’s not until you get to that level where you realize, like, this is not working, dude. Someone’s gonna die.”
Band Decides to Get Clean Together
Lee took the initiative and convinced the entire group — himself, Nikki Sixx, Vince Neil, and Mick Mars — to enter rehab in 1989. For a band at the height of their fame and notoriety, going to rehab as a unit was unusual but necessary.
The decision paid off creatively. Lee later reflected that sobriety played a major role in the quality of Dr. Feelgood:
“That’s probably why the Dr. Feelgood record’s so good, because we were out of rehab and sober and just focusing on that record.”
Sobriety Was Short-Lived
The clean streak lasted through the successful Dr. Feelgood World Tour. However, on the very last night of the tour in Hawaii, temptation returned. Lee and Neil ended up at a strip club and took shots, ending the band’s period of sobriety.
Tommy Lee has been candid about his lifelong battle with addiction. In later years, he has spoken about drinking up to two gallons of vodka a day before seeking treatment again, citing concern from loved ones as a turning point.
Legacy of Chaos and Survival
This story is now part of rock ‘n’ roll legend, detailed in the band’s bestselling book The Dirt and the Netflix film adaptation. The 1989 rehab stint came at a pivotal time, helping fuel one of Mötley Crüe’s biggest commercial successes while serving as a stark reminder of the fine line between rock excess and survival.
Now 63, Tommy Lee continues to tour with Mötley Crüe, with new dates kicking off in July 2026. He has also released a reimagined solo album Tommyland Rides Again. While he remains reflective about those wild years, he appears to be embracing a healthier phase of life.
Mötley Crüe’s story continues to resonate with fans not just for the hits and mayhem, but for the hard lessons learned along the way.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance use, help is available. Resources like the SAMHSA helpline (1-800-662-HELP) can provide support.
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