Tommy Lee’s Studio The Atrium and interview with Engineer Smiley Sean
Earlier this week I went to Tommy Lee’s Studio, The Atrium to record bonus material for the Matt Starr course we’ve just released. We wanted to show people how to do the Glynn John’s drum technique and also full micing of drums and where better to do this than one of the most famous Drummers in the worlds studio? Tommy’s Engineer is Smiley Sean and yes, Smiley is his real first name!
Smiley has recorded Courtney Love, Motley Crue, Smashing Pumpkins and many more, working with Producers and Engineers such as Michael Beinhorn, Howard Willing and Ross Hogarth. His knowledge of the room is extensive and he gets amazing drum sounds in a matter of minutes! In this video he gives us a tour of the studio, it’s equipment and sits down with me to tell us about his journey and experiences recording.
The Atrium is located on the entire lower floor of Tommy Lee’s Calabasas, California residence.
Lee says: “the studio was created specifically to provide an environment that inspires creativity and offer a vibey alternative to traditional, commercial recording studios.”
Tommy Lee was a founding member of metal band Mötley Crüe, in addition to his own band, Methods of Mayhem. Over the course of 30-plus years, Mötley Crüe sold more than 100 million albums, and closed out its career with a farewell tour that culminated with a final show at Staples Center in Los Angeles, on New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2015. Lee has occasionally worked as a producer not only for his own releases but also The Electric Love Hogs and others.
Well, dang. Heaven is real.
For now, I’d rather be at Spitfire. 🙂
Smiley was talking about being afraid of phasing. What he referring to phasing caused by EQing too much? Can you expound on that? (Might be a lesson about recording with EQ in there?)
Hi @l_scott_knight:disqus that’s an interesting question! Yes I see and hear people EQ on parallel buses that create all kinds of phasing issues, that’s a huge problem. I would imagine Smiley was talking primarily about recording where you can have multiple phase issues. Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Yes, I think that would be a great video lesson to illustrate how and when that occurs (and what it sounds like) and how to avoid it while still getting what you need to do done. Please.
Holy cow! As a drummer with a small studio, I am floored by Tommy’s setup. Can’t wait to watch Matt’s video. Thanks, Warren!
man what a total trip!!! didn’t want it to end……! another world for inspiration
As I’ve mentioned on FB I first saw Tommy Lee’s studio when him and engineer Scott Humphries were doing the public record sessions where musicians from all over the world would send in tracks to be included in Tommy’s album. A very cool project. Here’s another shorter studio tour by Tommy himself back in 2010 for anyone that’s interested: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4X2ofVbKpyo&t=26s
When is Matt’s new video coming out? I look forward to it!
Thanks, Warren & Smiley Sean… the tour was way beyond any word, I could come up with. Even though, I was Vexified.