Outspoken rocker Tommy Lee, iconic drummer of the legendary heavy metal band Motley Crue, spoke up on behalf of global marine conservation group Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and its world-renowned founder and eco-hero, Captain Paul Watson — when awaiting extradition to Costa Rica in Germany —at a Motley Crue concert in Bamberg, Germany in 2012.
With Sea Shepherd’s Jolly Roger logo larger than life as a backdrop, Tommy told concert-goers Captain Watson was being detained in Frankfurt, Germany for extradition to Costa Rica on a 2002 warrant for interfering with an illegal shark-finning operation. Tommy also educated the crowd about the destructive and barbaric practice of shark-finning, in which the fins are sliced off of nearly 100 million live sharks per year — many endangered — and their helpless bodies thrown back in the sea to drown, starve or suffocate or be preyed upon by other marine species.
Tommy encouraged fans to contact Germany’s Ministry of Justice to demand Captain Watson’s release and then led fans in the chant “Free Paul Watson!” After the concert, Tommy took some time out to say a few more words about why this issue is vitally important:
“Hello, I’m Tommy Lee from Motley Crue and I’m using my voice and my presence to make some noise for Captain Paul Watson and the Sea Shepherd crew. Please do what you can to do the same… for our oceans… for our future… for our kids. For everything, man. Make some noise.”
