(Manic drums, Manic everything)
Date of birth November, 1969
Michael Lee was born November 1969 in Newcastle Upon Tyne, England. After a year in Newcastle he moved along with his mother, sister and brother to Darlington, County Durham, 50 miles south of Newcastle in working class coal mining country. After attending primary school young Michael attended Branksome Comprehensive School, and at aged 16 he grabbed the first opportunity to leave for a "real job".
That job was selling pianos and sheet music in a music store and although it lasted only 3 months, he took great interest in the rock department and particularly in drums. With the money from the job he bought an old Premier kit and began playing along to his favourite records at home. Still 16 he joined his first band playing "cover versions" in working men's clubs around Darlington and Teesside.
At 17 Michael joined his first serious rock band named Holosade. After sending a demo cassette to several record companies the band were signed to York-based independent rock label PowerStation run by Kevin Nixon. The bands debut album sold quite well, but unable to find proper management, Michael left and now 18, sold his drum kit to buy a ticket to Los Angeles. He spent some time at the LA Musicians institute in Hollywood and then played in a rock band in San Francisco for a short while before returning to London in August 1988.
He returned to a message from Kevin Nixon,
now manager of Little Angels, to attend an audition at Nomis Studios,
London. Michael was 66th drummer to audition and got the job after
one song.
He debuted with the Little Angels at Ryde comprehensive School, Aberdeen on the 1988 Rock & Roll Education Tour.
Michael's Departure...
He was under-hand in
what he did and denied the rumours furiously, on very many occasions, that
he was auditioning for The Cult. On the other hand, it was widely
known outside of L.A.'s circle that he would stop at nothing until he had
the job with The Cult. I originally signed Michael's first band to
my label in 1987 because of his potential and then moved Michael to
the Little Angels in 1998 and developed him on every level. Then, to
be repaid with lies, deviousness, and disloyalty - it leaves somewhat of a
nasty taste. No-one found the task pleasurable - he is a very
talented drummer. Nevertheless, the team-spirit of the Band is
undiminished and there is a lot of great things to come.
Kevin Nixon, 1991
Since 1991...
Michael Lee stayed with The Cult only a short while, and since then has played on and off with Page and Plant and spent some time in Echo and the Bunnymen. Right now, I can only guess that he's still with Page and Plant.