Tonight (June 16th), after two years of COVID postponements, Mötley Crüe took the stage at Atlanta's Truist Stadium to kick off their long-awaited comeback tour, with Def Leppard, Poison and Joan Jett playing in support.
But things did not go as planned: Drummer Tommy Lee made an early exit after just five songs. Crüe opened their set with "Wild Side," "Shout at the Devil," "Too Fast for Love," "Don't Go Away Mad (Just Go Away) and "Saints of Los Angeles" before Lee had to be replaced behind the kit after experiencing lingering pain from an injury that he sustained roughly two weeks ago when he broke four ribs.
Lee addressed the crowd before leaving the stage, explaining that his doctor had told him that he actually shouldn't play at all but that he wouldn't miss this tour for anything: "Are you high, bro?" His spot was filled by Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath drummer Tommy Clufetos.
You can watch fan-filmed video of Lee's speech below. The band shortly thereafter released a statement from the drummer (which you can also see below), in which he lays out the situation and his plan to play as much as he can, with Clufetos subbing in as needed.
Breaking News: Motley Crue’s Tommy Lee takes the stage at The Stadium Tour but mid-set goes to the mic and says after 2 and a half years of waiting for this show he broke a few ribs recently and the doctors told him not to play. He promised to perform anyway #TheStadiumTour pic.twitter.com/VjKj9bVQMs
— Greg DeBrosse (@GregDeBrosse) June 17, 2022
#TheStadiumTour #TommyBeast #mötleycfkncrüe #TheFutureIsOurs pic.twitter.com/Je5CRDSy9A
— Mötley Crüe (@MotleyCrue) June 17, 2022