What drums did Mikkey Dee use on Inferno?

On *Inferno* (2004), Mikkey Dee played a Tama Starclassic kit — an evolution of the Artstar II/Swingstar setup he used on [*Bastards*](/articles/bastards-drum-setup) over a decade earlier. The configuration centered on a 22" bass drum, three rack toms (10", 12", 13"), and dual floor toms (16", 18"), built with maple/birch hybrid shells for a punchier, more modern attack suited to producer Cameron Webb's production style. *Inferno* was one of Dee's final Motörhead albums on Tama before he transitioned to Pearl drums around the [*Kiss of Death*](/articles/kiss-of-death-drum-setup) sessions in 2006. See the [Mikkey Dee drummer profile](/drummer/mikkey-dee) for his complete gear evolution.

Who produced Inferno and why does it matter for Motörhead's sound?

*Inferno* was produced by Cameron Webb, marking the first of what became a career-defining partnership that lasted through Motörhead's final album, [*Bad Magic*](/articles/bad-magic-drum-setup), in 2015. Webb pushed the band toward tighter arrangements and a more modern, defined drum sound than earlier 2000s Motörhead records like *Hammered* (2002). Recorded across NRG Studios, Paramount Recording Studios, and Maple Sound Studios in the Los Angeles area, *Inferno* set the sonic template Webb and the band would refine across seven more studio albums.

What cymbals did Mikkey Dee use on Inferno?

Mikkey Dee used Paiste 2002 series cymbals on *Inferno* — the same alloy family he'd played since becoming a Paiste artist in April 1987 and used on [*Bastards*](/articles/bastards-drum-setup) in 1993. His setup included 15" Sound Edge hi-hats, 18" and 20" crashes, a 22" ride, and an 18" China for trash accents. Paiste's bright, cutting CuSn8 bronze construction gave Dee the projection needed to cut through Motörhead's dense guitar-and-bass mix on tracks like "Killers" and "Terminal Show."

Did Steve Vai really play on a Motörhead album?

Yes — *Inferno* (2004) features a guest lead guitar appearance from Steve Vai, one of several notable guest musicians to appear on Motörhead records during the Mikkey Dee era. The collaboration reflected Motörhead's growing reputation and reach across the rock world by the mid-2000s, twelve years into Dee's tenure behind the kit.

Inferno Drum Setup: Mikkey Dee's Gear on Motörhead's 2004 Album | MetalForge

Discover the exact drum kit, cymbals, and gear Mikkey Dee used on Motörhead's Inferno (2004) — the album that began the band's decade-plus partnership with p...

Visit MetalForge →