Thomas Lee Bass (born October 3, 1962) is an American musician and founding member of Mötley Crüe. As well as being the band's long-term drummer, Lee founded rap-metal band Methods of Mayhem, and has pursued solo musical projects.
Lee was born Thomas Lee Bass on October 3, 1962, in Athens, Greece, to father David Lee Thomas Bass, an American U.S. Army sergeant, and mother Vassilikki "Voula" Papadimitriou (Greek: Βασιλική Παπαδημητρίου), a Miss Greece contestant for the 1960 Miss World event. His family moved to California a year after he was born. He received his first drum when he was four years old, and his first drum kit when he was a teenager. Lee dropped out of high school to pursue a career in music, starting with the band Suite 19. He has a younger sister, Athena Lee (née Bass), who was also the drummer in his solo band KrunK and was married to James Kottak, the drummer for the rock band Scorpions.
As a teenager, Lee listened to Led Zeppelin, Van Halen, Cheap Trick, Kiss, AC/DC and Sweet. His main drumming influences were John Bonham, Tommy Aldridge, Alex Van Halen and Terry Bozzio.
Mötley Crüe | Hellfest 2023
Self
2023
Pamela, A Love Story
Self (archive footage)
2023
The Dirt
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
2019
Mötley Crüe: The End - Live in Los Angeles
Self
2016
Mötley Crüe | Rock in Rio 2015
Self
2015
The Young Blood Chronicles
The Prince of Darkness
2014
Mötley Crüe | Live Side
Self
2012
God Bless Ozzy Osbourne
Self
2011
Mötley Crüe | The Spirit Of Buenos Aires
Self
2009
Mötley Crüe | Crüe Fest 2008
Self
2009
Dear Jack
Narrator
2009
Kiss: VH1 Rock Honors 2006
Drums
2006
10th & Wolf
Jimmy Tattoo
2006
Disaster!
Self [Mötley Crüe] (voice)
2005
Mötley Crüe | Carnival of Sins
Self
2005
Steve-O - L'incontrolable de jackass
Self
2005
Comedy Central Roast of Pamela Anderson
Self
2005
Steve-O: The Early Years
Self
2004
Pauly Shore Is Dead
Tommy Lee
2003
Mötley Crüe | Greatest Video Hits
Self [Mötley Crüe]
2003
The New Guy
Tommy Lee
2002
Vanilla Sky
Frozen Vintage Car Man
2001
Hellraisers
Self (archive footage)
2000
Mötley Crüe | Behind The Music
Self
1998
Pam & Tommy Lee: Stolen Honeymoon
Self
1998
Pamela Anderson & Tommy Lee Uncensored
1998
Motley Crue: Decade of Decadence '81-'91
1992
Ozzy Osbourne: Don't Blame Me
Himself
1991
Moscow Music Peace Festival
Self [Mötley Crüe]
1989
The Rise And Rise of Motley Crue
Self (archive footage)
Every Time You Lose Your Mind: A Film About Failure
Self
2025
Machine Gun Kelly - Hellfest 2023
Self
2023
The Muppets Mayhem
Tommy Lee · (1 episode)
2023
The Retaliators
Strip Club DJ
2022
30 Years of Mötley Crüe: XXX Girls Girls Girls
Self
2017
The Goldbergs
Professor Lee · (1 episode)
2013
Counting Cars
Self - Host · (1 episode)
2012
E!'s Pam: Girl on the Loose!
Self · (8 episodes)
2008
Battleground Earth
(10 episodes)
2008
Californication
Himself · (1 episode)
2007
VH1 Rock Honors
(1 episode)
2006
Bones
Self · (1 episode)
2005
Tommy Lee Goes to College
(6 episodes)
2005
Rockstar
Self · (33 episodes)
2005
Viva La Bam
Self · (1 episode)
2003
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Self · (2 episodes)
2003
Comedy Central Roasts
Self · (1 episode)
2003
101 Most Shocking Moments in Entertainment
2003
Celebrities Uncensored
Self · (4 episodes)
2003
Punk'd
Self · (1 episode)
2003
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Self · (4 episodes)
2003
Fastlane
Murdoch Goucher · (1 episode)
2002
Jensen!
Self · (1 episode)
2002
Friday Night with Jonathan Ross
Self · (1 episode)
2001
V.I.P.
Dance Audience Member (uncredited) · (1 episode)
1998
V.I.P.
Armed Mechanic · (1 episode)
1998
E! True Hollywood Story
(1 episode)
1996
MADtv
Self · (2 episodes)
1995
The Frank Skinner Show
Self · (1 episode)
1995
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
1993
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
1988
Mötley Crüe | Girls Girls Girls Tour '87/'88
Self
1987
Mötley Crüe | Uncensored
Self
1986
MTV Video Music Awards
Self · (2 episodes)
1984
Mötley Crüe | Quebec City 1984
Self
1984
Mötley Crüe: The US Festival '83
1983
Saturday Night Live
Self - Cameo (uncredited) · (1 episode)
1975