Tommy Lee Draws A Line In the Sand: Meet and Greet Version
Wednesday, March 6, 2013 at 12:02AM Welp, someone in the big leagues finally did it: Tommy Lee is done with fan paid meet and greets. Tommy made the announcement yesterday via the Motley Crue Facebook.
“For those of you that are asking why I am not doing anymore meet and greets!! It’s got nothing to do with me not wanting to meet the fans, I just don’t agree with doing it under the certain given circumstances. I love u all and I’ll gladly high five y’all if I see u out n about – and u won’t have to pay me for that.”
Motley is currently on tour in Australia.
Tommy didn't really explain the situation, but I have my theories. Most of you already know how I feel about paid meet and greets: I think they are bogus cash grabs. I will never pay to meet anyone. Period. Granted, I probably have an unfair advantage when it comes to meeting bands, but still. Even if I didn't write about bands, I'd never pay to meet anyone. It just seems insane to me.
It's not uncommon for Live Nation-backed meet and greets to cost a $1,000 bucks. I can renovate an entire bedroom and bathroom for a thousand bucks and have money left over for dinner, thank you very much.
The Motley Crue packages start at $295 and top out at $900. The high end includes the chance to meet and whole band with a photo.
Now, you can do whatever you like with your money. You've earned it, and you should spend it however you choose. But I'm definitely in Tommy's camp on this one. I suppose his line in the sand puts the other members of Motley in an awkward position regarding the meet and greets. It will be interesting to see how this all pans out.
Reader Comments (24)
So while I see Tommy's point of not ripping off fans, they are getting more ripped off since he wont be there. Perhaps he should go and donate his portion of the proceeds to a charity.
That said, these guys have more money than God, thanks to the very people they're scamming for the "honor" of meeting them for 5 minutes and getting a pic snapped with them. You'd think they'd want to do this out of gratitude for these super fans,instead of raping them yet again financially' as these are the fans that buy your repackaged greatest hits, box sets, live albums, (you know,basically the same songs rehashed over and over cause your too lazy,stoned,or whatever to write new material).
Just my thoughts,and I gotta side with Tommy on this,although me thinks he's doing it because he couldn't be bothered, not because he feels he's "ripping the fans off".
- You stand in a long line to meet the band
- When you finally reach the front of the line, you are herded like cattle to the table where the band is
- As you have your one-sentence conversation with a band member, someone like a tour manager or merch person rushes you to pose to get your picture taken so the line can keep moving
Is that 30-seconds worth $1,000 to you? Probably not if you were expecting a casual, substantive chat with the band! I know I'd feel ripped off by that, even if I just paid $20 and got a poster to be signed or any other type of merch!
If I'm exchanging a grand for time with a celebrity, it better involve some type of fantasy fulfillment beyond being able to say "Hi, my name's Chip and I'm your biggest fan."
"MÖTLEY CRÜE Ink $100 Million-Plus Deal With LiveNation
Rock Hard
Posted on Monday, February 11, 2008 at 20:27:48 EST
According to Vegas Luxe Life With Robin Leach, MÖTLEY CRÜE's Vince Neil had 110-million reasons to smile for his birthday blowout weekend - just two days earlier Vince, Tommy Lee, Nikki Sixx and Mick Mars signed a $100-million+ mega deal to produce three albums and perform three world tours for the giant LiveNation entertainment conglomerate."
Over 7 or 8 shows in Australia (2005) all 4 band members showed up I think only on 2 occasions. Either Tommy or Vince didnt show up.
On the current tour here in Australia Motley were $1000 and Kiss $1500. You do get an acoustic show by Kiss though. BTW I didnt do either on this tour.
My feeling is, as an artist, if you are blessed enough that an audience will show up to see you play (& pay!) then you should do everything in your power to take some time to repay that loyalty, when possible. I remember back in the 80's Eric Carr used to stand outside & hang out with the fans until they were all gone, or it was time for the tourbus to pull out.
To paraphrase Chris: "Fans are getting more ripped off since Tommy won't be there. Perhaps he should attend and donate his portion of the proceeds to a charity."
And Gary: "... me thinks Tommy is doing it because he couldn't be bothered, not because he feels he's "ripping the fans off".
That's an accurate read of the situation. It's a story I've told before on here but it may be worth retelling for some extra texture about the complexity of the man known as none other than Tommy Lee...
It was August, 2007, and my girlfriend at the time, her sister and I saw Crüe opening for Aerosmith at Jones Beach on Long Island, fourth row. Let me tell you, that is one of the best places to see a show, because if it gets completely sold out like it was the night we saw 'em, you can't really tell from where we were as no one can get down there close except those with the pit seats.
It's so spacious and like a lot of New York area gigs, those with the season passes often don't come and the seats sit empty, which turned out to be most of the seats in the rows in front of us that night.
Well, we're just going apesh*t with disbelief how awesome it was to be so close. The music was awesome! They were firing on all pistons, Mick was totally checkin' out my chick. I had some dual blonde action going on, one on either side and it must not have gone unnoticed by Mr. Lee, either.
At the conclusion of the show, Tommy runs down with a bottle of Jaeger and is beckoning for us to come up and talk to him. He crouches down at the end of the stage and he's saying, "Hey, guys, come up here man. You guys are awesome!"
Lee must have been watching us, more likely, the babes, but, like I said, we were totally engaged, I mean, just going bananas, singing every word and jumping up and down, air guitaring and all that stuff like a silly bunch of teenagers and it probably stood out to him from back behind his drums, because, like I said, there was just no one really around down front.
Lee continued, "Hey, how did you guys like the show?!" And we gushed in unison, the usual idiot thing to say, "Awesome!" And then, he's like, "Hey, man you guys want a sip of my Jaegar? Here, c'mon, man!" At this point one of his minders, like a Zeppelin Richard Cole type, comes barreling down and tries to grab him away but Tommy's not having it and elbows the guy off of him as he holds out the Jaeger to us.
Now, I hate Jaegar and I'm think in' about all the cooties this guy's got but I was just thought to myself, "What the h*ll", grabbed the bottle from him, raised it up in an air toast and said, "Rock and Roll"!, and took a big ol' sip of the crap. Lee, then said, "You guys havin' a good time tonight?" I noodled as the girls said, in unison, "Yeah!" Funny thing is, those chicks didn't want any Jaeger so I handed him back the bottle.
I said, "Thank you!" And he says, "No, thank you! You guys are awesome!" At that point the Richard Cole dude is putting his hands on Lee's shoulders, whisking him away, saying, "C'mon, Tommy, we gotta go now. They're gettin' ready to leave!" And Tommy's like, Okay! See you guys!" And we're all, "Bye!"
Now, I'm thinkin' to myself, "Okay, is it just the blondes or was he just really into meeting us because we were so into the show." I think it was a combination of the two and probably the fact that he got a lot of therapy not too long before that and though he had his bottle with him, was probably off the blow or whatever, as he was just so in the moment and celebrating.
Now, that's what I call a "Meet & Greet". I've seen Crüe like 3 times since and I've seen 'em with chicks but he never did what he was doin' that night with us. Maybe that kind of spontaneity he demonstrated that night is how he wants to roll meeting fans but if he truly loves the fans, I really think he should make the extra effort to meet with them.
After all, we did all collectively put him where he is. Here's an idea taking Chris' one step further. Maybe Crüe should set a new precedent for ALL the "Meet & Greeters" out there and donate ALL the proceeds from every band member to charity!
p.s. Chip DiMonick gets my vote for "The Best New Nom de Plume of 2013", thus far! Killarious!
If the offer explicitly states that it will include everyone, that would be a point for Ace and Chris. But that is rarely the case.
If "we" (read: men, lesbians interested in three-ways, attractive/semi-attractive straight and/or bi-sexual women [defined as one wishes], and those previously mentioned who were interested in a swinger lifestyle that doesn't look like something off of "Duck Dynasty") had stereophonic "cuties" (2.0 . . . not 7.1) that would be a point for Metalboy!
So I am kinda' being Oprah about this: you get a point! you get a point! you get a point!
But what about Lee's character (no point for you Jeff unless you were being ironically operatic)? He is notorious for being camera and fan shy in public (despite, as I mentioned a long time ago, his status as a public figure). How likely is a high five going to turn into a middle one or a clenched ten if Lee is feeling froggy?
And I get it on some level . . . who wants to be constantly bombarded with fans and freaks every time you step out of your fancy car or gated house that those freaks and fans helped you buy? Not me. But who has to put up with it to a degree that is legal even if annoying? Again, not me. Answer: those same artists who develop and maintain a strong enough fan base that still seeks them out and still shells out cash for a chance to meet them well past their prime. You, Mick "Corabi's was best" Mars. You, "Do I look fat in this black trench-coat?" Sixx. You, Vince "I sing every third line and drive across them" Neil. And, yes, you Tommy "Methods of Mayhem is NOT in the remainder bin" Lee.
Lee, like many inside and outside of rock, wants to turn personal decisions into brave stands. If consistent, fine. If not, that isn't a stand. It's posture, not position. It's reciting a definition as opposed to knowing one (see previous posts).
It is just jive talking. And it gets in the way.
I have another Crue cooties story so I thought I would share. Also Meet and Greet related, so not totally off topic.
It was June 1984. The day after the Crue played their Toronto show on the Shout At The Devil tour. Great show, I might add. Before the dancing girls so it was more my style.
Crue was doing a free Meet and Greet (called autograph signing sessions in those days) at Sam The Record Man, which was the best record store in the city and pretty much the only place to get awesome rarities/imports in those days (as far as I knew anyway).
So I skipped school and went without my partner in crime (Carolyne), although my boyfriend's buddy tailed me to keep his eye out for me, I suppose.
So, when the band finally shows, I decide to be "cool" and decide I will forego asking for an autograph and instead ask the guys for kiss. Well. Sure enough, they all obliged. Not on the cheek either.
The funny part was this. Three days later, my poor parents had to take me to the ER in the middle of the night because I had a 103 degree fever and had caught some severe throat infection (maybe strep, can't remember but definitely needed anti-biotics). I never told them where I caught it.
Was it Tommy? Who can say. I learned my lesson though and thereafter kept my spit to myself. Which I think is especially good advice if you're taking guys like the Crue. I was young and stupid then, barely past 17.
Moral of the story is two fold - i)Don't kiss Motley Crue and ii) You don't have to pay for Meet and Greets, especially if you are a blonde babe like Metalboy's friends.
Sorry guys, but it's true. It is so much easier meeting bands when you're a girl who isn't too hard on the eyes.
I also found it amusing that someone said the bands should want to meet their "super fans" for free. Most bands do "free" meet and greets with contest winners and other fans who are lucky enough to get backstage. Vince Neil often goes to after-parties at local bars following Crüe shows to meet fans - for free. I've personally seen the other 3 - Sixx, Mars and Lee - at the annual NAMM show over the years. Mick goes every year, and will sign autographs and take pictures with fans for 3-4 hours. NAMM is an "industry" event but it's relatively easy to get into. But during a regular concert tour, bands like Crüe can't just open up the backstage door to everyone who claims to be their "biggest fan."
The meet and greets for the recently announced Mötley Canadian and US dates specifically state that it is with Neil, Sixx and Mars and are also priced around $400 less than they were a year ago when Tommy was still doing them. So nobody paid for a meet and greet that Tommy sudden won't be a part of. The Australian meet and greet info says "members of Motley Crue." Do a little research before complaining folks.
in the parking lot after the show with some security.
And you're 100% correct that they can't just throw open the backstage doors willy nilly.(as was stated, it REALLY helps if your stacked,blonde,and wearing clothes that cumulatively would fit in an envelope) What I meant was it pisses me off that the very people that got these guys where they are have to shell out exorbitant amounts to meet them? I feel the same way about athlete's who charge $50 for their autograph at a card show. As in,f*ck 'em
P.S. I wish I was on the West Coast to go to NAMM.I'm envious of ya for that! As an almost 40 year guitarist, it'd be the highlight of my life to hang around there for a few days,schmoozing and checking out the latest from companies. And what ya said about Mick doesn't surprise me. he's always struck me as the most down to earth and personable member of The Crue.
Long story short. the Crue is playing at The Sands Casino in Bethlehem, on May 20th and 21st. Althouggh I've saw them quite a few times over the years,will I be there? Abso-fucking-lutely!!!! Will I do the M&G? I'd rather piss the money awai in the casino ,and I've never gambled in my 49 years!! (I have a wife that gambles for 2 when she gets started......LOL)