RIP Michael Lee

Wolfe, Astbury, Lee, Duffy. I had this poster for years, along with many others.

Michael Lee died this week. He was 39.

I first heard of him when he drummed for The Cult in 1991-92 on the Ceremony tour. While he didn’t record with the band (Mickey Curry handled drums for the Ceremony album), Michael and bassist Kinley Wolfe joined singer Ian Astbury and guitarist Billy Duffy for the ensuing tour. Their performance was captured for the Live at the Marquee CD set, which came as a giveaway with the Pure Cult VHS video; you can also see them in the Wild Hearted Son video (although they’re really just miming to Curry and Charley Drayton’s studio work).

The Cult being The Cult, he didn’t stay long, but did have his name added to the Spinal Tapness that is The Cult’s drum roster. But he did okay. He then joined Robert Plant’s band for the Fate of Nations album (you see him in the Calling To You video), and stayed on for some of that Page and Plant stuff in the mid-90s.

He was a solid, non-flashy drummer with huge power. What little I heard, I really, really liked; as a drummer, I have a lot of respect for players who know how to stay at the back of the stage and the back of the song. Lee did that, and did it well.

The sad thing is his age. He was younger than I am. I guess that’s a sign of getting older. But two rock heroes of my youth have died this week, and that makes me stop and contemplate for a moment.

Here’s to you, Michael Lee. Thanks for rocking.

Zeppelin Without Plant?

New singer? Doubtful.

Holy shit, can this be legit? A high-up source in the music industry says Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and Jason Bonham are ready to tour without singer Robert Plant. Reports indicate they’ve drafted singer Myles Kennedy of the band Alter Bridge to take Plant’s place as Zeppelin storms forth into the 21st century.

This comes on the heels of weeks of talks between the parties. Plant has held off on committing to the tour, sure to be a monster moneymaker; he’s been on the road with Alison Krauss and apparently doesn’t want to put the tight pants back on.

But last thing your Weather Station heard, he had relented and was ready to let his golden howl lead the band once again.

Now this, though. It’s being reported by The Canadian Press, via the TV music station MuchMoreMusic, that plant is out and Kennedy is in. Wait, what? Oh, shit.

This “hot tip” comes from Dee Snider, who was being interviewed for the station. Yeah, Dee Snider, Twisted Sister’s tranvestite clown lunatic. That’s funny, because when I made up a list of supposed replacement singers for Led Zeppelin a few weeks back I thought of him, but rejected him as too stupid and obvious.

There has to be more to this. Stay tuned.

Well-connected rock insider? Doubtful.