Tommy Lee Recalls Sharon Osbourne Tour Crackdown
Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee has revisited the band’s chaotic early touring days, describing a moment when Sharon Osbourne stepped in to rein in the group’s backstage behaviour while they were supporting Ozzy Osbourne on the 1984 Bark at the Moon tour.
On a recent appearance on The Zach Sang Show, Lee said Sharon Osbourne was “not happy” with the band’s after-show scene and ultimately seized their access, with Loudwire reporting that she took away Mötley Crüe’s after-show passes and barred them from bringing guests backstage.
Lee recalled that the band had been bringing “shitloads of girls backstage after the show,” turning the area into what he described as “a fucking party everywhere,” prompting Sharon to shut it down. He also claimed she would sometimes fly out quickly when problems escalated, and that her frustration was directed at Mötley Crüe rather than at Ozzy. Looking back, Lee acknowledged her decision may have been justified, adding that the atmosphere was “bad for Ozzy to be around.”
Mötley Crüe’s response, according to Lee, was to make custom shirts to mock the restrictions, featuring a smiley face with a bullet hole and the words “no fun tour.” The story adds to the long-running mythology of the Bark at the Moon run, which has been repeatedly cited as one of the era’s most infamous tours for offstage behaviour.
The anecdote also arrives amid years of renewed attention on the Osbourne camp’s business and legal battles, including a recent moment when Sharon Osbourne won a legal battle over Black Sabbath. While Lee’s story is rooted in the 1980s, it underscores how closely Sharon’s management style has been tied to enforcing boundaries on the road.
Lee’s comments continue to surface as the band’s early history is re-examined through interviews and memoirs, with touring excess still central to Mötley Crüe’s legacy and the legend surrounding Ozzy Osbourne’s mid-’80s comeback era.
