Last week, Smashing Pumpkins leader Billy Corgan revealed the surprising addition of Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee to the personnel helping out on recording sessions for the Pumpkins’ forthcoming album, Monuments To An Elegy – a choice he has now explained in a statement.
According to the dispatch, the collaboration came together after simply pitching the idea to Lee only a few weeks ago, with each party keeping the project under wraps. Corgan writes gushingly of Lee’s talent, calling his contributions indescribably epic and comparing him to John Bonham.
“The notion to reach out to T Lee came from The Shredder, who in hearing me say ‘We really need to get someone like Tommy to play on this song’, said, ‘Well, why don’t we reach out to him?'” Corgan writes, before explaining how Lee has given the songs a new “dimension and depth.”
“I’m also happy to report that not only did we have a blast, but the 9 ‘MONUMENTS‘ songs sound epic in a way that is indescribable,” he gushes. “I guess I could toss off hyperbole after pronoun, but it would sell short what I like to call ’Supersonic Pumpkins’; which is a descriptor in itself.”
“Tommy hits the drums in a crushing manner, but as many fans know this is not without nuance or reaction; as he has a fantastic ear for music and plays with the songs in a means that only enhances excitement. The only other place I’ve heard this phenomena is with John Bonham of Led Zeppelin.”
Corgan concludes by adding that “the coupling is not as odd as some might assume” as he and the Crue drummer have known each other since 1991 and both have “pushed into embracing new technologies, electronics, etc.” Corgan calls Lee “a wonderful, warm person to be around.”
