Tommy Lee is a drummer who plays loud and sometimes lives even louder.

Born Oct. 3, 1962, in Athens, Greece, Lee was the son of David Lee Thomas Bass – a U.S. Army soldier – and Vassiliki “Voula” Papadimitriou, Miss Greece of 1957. From that union was born two drummers; Tommy’s younger sister, Athena Kottak (born 1964) has been a member of several rock and punk bands, most recently KrunK. She, in turn, is married to a drummer, the Scorpions’ James Kottak, who also performs with KrunK.

Though the youngster was born in Greece, soon the family moved back to Lee’s father’s native land – Los Angeles, Calif., to be specific. There, he received his first drum at the age of 4, though he’d be a teenager before he had a full kit. Lee’s musical tastes were rooted in iconic bands like Kiss, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin and Judas Priest. Though he joined the marching band at Royal Oak High School in Covina, Calif., Lee dropped out of school in his senior year to focus on a rock career.

Lee’s first successful gig was with a group called Suite 19. The group played on the Sunset Strip in L.A. during the late 1970s, where Lee met Nikki Sixx, a guitarist interested in forming a theatrical heavy metal band. Sixx, Lee and Suite 19 guitarist Greg Leon began jamming together, but Leon dropped out and the group soon found a replacement in Mick Mars, who in turn recommended a singer Tommy had met while in high school. With Vince Neil on vocals, the phenomenon known as Mötley Crüe was born.

The Crüe quickly built a strong California fan base, and their debut album, “Too Fast for Love” was released on the band’s own independent label, Leathür Records, in 1981. Elektra Records recognized the group’s potential, signed the band to a contract, and reissued the album in 1982, launching a juggernaut that resulted in a string of albums and heavy metal anthems: 1983’s “Shout at the Devil;” 1985’s “Theatre of Pain;” the 1987 smash “Girls, Girls, Girls;” and 1989’s “Dr. Feelgood.”

Beyond the music, Mötley Crüe provided concertgoers with a real show. Lee was known for gimmicks such as a drum kit that revolved, spun or soared in the air above the audience. He also was known for “mooning” the crowd.

Lee’s off-stage life was often equally mercurial, especially when it came to romance.

He dated model/stripper Elaine Starchuk for three years, married her in 1984, then the marriage dissolved in three months. Lee married actress Heather Locklear in 1986 and that union lasted much longer, but the couple divorced in 1993.

Two years later, Lee was wed to actress and Playboy model Pamela Anderson, with whom he has two sons, Brandon Thomas and Dylan Jagger. Tommy and Pamela’s privately shot sex video was stolen and widely circulated. About three years after getting married, Lee and Anderson were divorced in 1998, and Lee would serve four months in prison after pleading no contest to a charge of spousal abuse for kicking Anderson in the crotch.

During his time in prison, Lee decided to leave Mötley Crüe, and made good on the decision after the completion of the band’s “Greatest Hits” tour in 1999. He ventured into the newly popular rap metal genre with a band called Methods of Mayhem. Lee also drummed his way through brief stints, guest performances and gigs with bands and artists such as Stuart Hamm, Nine Inch Nails and Rob Zombie. He contributed a solo song, “Welcome to the Planet Boom,” to the soundtrack of Pam Anderson’s 1996 movie “Barb Wire,” and produced an album for Electric Love Hogs.

Lee did make time in 2001 to join Mötley Crüe for production of its autobiography “The Dirt.”

That same year, however, personal tragedy struck again. A 4-year-old child, Daniel Karven-Veres, drowned in the pool at Lee’s Malibu home during a birthday party for Lee’s son, Brandon. Two years later, on April 17, 2003, a California Superior Court jury took less than three hours in deliberations to reject a wrongful death suit filed by the child’s parents, German actress Ursula Karven and TV producer James Veres, though the incident remains a painful memory for Lee.

“Although I am relieved that the court has found me not negligent,” the rocker said in a prepared statement released by Court TV after the verdict, “there are no winners in this sad situation.”

Of late, Lee has continued to spend time in the public eye – and ear – in a variety of ways.

He broke up with Methods of Mayhem partner Tilo, then began recording with members of Incubus. Soon he ventured into solo recordings, and in 2002 released “Never a Dull Moment,” with moments of rap metal and electronica intermingled with heavy metal styles more familiar to Crüe faithful. With a solo band, he joined the Ozzfest tour in August of 2002, replacing Drowning Pool, a band whose singer, Dave Williams, had died on the tour bus.

Lee reunited with his Crüe bandmates in 2004 to release a double-disc album of hits dubbed “Red, White & Crüe.” The reunion tour, subtitled “Better Live Than Dead,” was the band’s first in six years, and finished 2004 among the 10 top-grossing concert tours of the States that year.

Continually finding ways to market his image, Lee released an autobiography, “Tommyland,” in 2004, and that same year attended classes (briefly, without enrolling) at the University of Nebraska, for the purpose of shooting a “reality” show called “Tommy Lee Goes to College.” The show was more scripted than it was reality, though Lee’s “roommate,” Matt Ellis, was indeed a U. of N. senior the producers found working in a bar after they didn’t locate a suitable roomie during a casting call. Alluring blonde Natalie Reidmann was the student who earned the role as Lee’s “academic tutor.”

Meanwhile, Lee continued playing music. His solo album, “Tommyland: The Ride,” was released in 2005. He recorded drum tracks for the alternative band Jack’s Mannequin, which released the album “Everything in Transit.”

And, most recently, Lee spent 2006 forming a new group via another reality TV series, “Rock Star: Supernova.” Just as the Aussie band INXS had chosen a new singer a year prior, launching the young “Rock Star” series, Lee and would-be bandmates Jason Newsted (Voivod, formerly of Metallica) and Gilby Clarke (ex-Guns N’ Roses) searched for a lead singer by letting the audience help pare down the hopefuls. Ultimately, Canadian Lukas Rossi was chosen, though the band extended an offer to runner-up – distinctive female vocalist Dilana – to open for the new group’s tour.

Lee’s long marketing arms continue to reach wider. Also in 2006, while “Rock Star” was airing, he launched his own clothing line alongside apparel manufacturer People’s Liberation. Lee’s jeans, t-shirts and other products – featuring graphics inspired by his many tattoos – are sold in sophisticated retail outlets such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s.