They say music soothes the savage beast, and often the music world and the animal kingdom can cross-over in the most bizarre ways. Whether it’s the common string of bands named after different species, or simpy unfortunate encounters with wild creatures. This latest report however proves that even the most decadent of rock stars can find it in their hearts to care for our seafaring friends.
News Ltd reports that Tommy Lee, the drummer for 80s hair metal deviants, Motley Crue, has written an angry letter to the owners of San Diego’s SeaWorld demanding that they cease playing his music at their aquatic shows as it’s making life “hellish” for the killer whales.
Lee took pity on the orcas after learning that Motley Crue’s music was being used during the Shamu Rocks show, in which a killer whale performs tricks to various rock music. The self-described animal lover is claiming the noise blasting through the park’s speakers during the performance is doing harm to the sea creatures and doesn’t want to be associated with the “sad” production.
In his letter – sent via People for the Ethical Treament of Animals (PETA), the drummer asks John Reilly, the president of the San Diego branch of the Californian SeaWorld to ban all of his music from the show: “I’m writing to ask you not to play any Motley Crue songs at any of SeaWorld’s parks during this sad show,” writes Lee.
“Although we like to torture the human fans who willingly come to our shows,” he adds wryly, “we don’t want to be a part of making innocent animals’ lives hellish.”
One Fred Jacobs, a representative for SeaWorld disagress, arguing that “PETA is wrong concerning the effect of music on SeaWorld’s killer whales.” Jacobs adds that they “have never played a Mötley Crüe song in any Shamu show, nor will we,” while assuring that the animals are not harmed during the event, “the volume of music played during parts of our killer-whale shows poses no risk at all to our animals.”
It’s the second time Lee has stood up for an orca in picking a fight with the sea park, two years ago, Lee demanded the release of a whale named Tilikum from Orlando, Florida after the orca accidentally killed one of its handlers – again citing animal ethics in the debate.
