How to Sound Like Mikkey Dee — Drum Gear & Setup Guide | MetalForge

Frequently Asked Questions

What drum kit does Mikkey Dee use?

Mikkey Dee played Pearl Reference drums throughout his Motörhead years, with dual 22" bass drums and an emphasis on floor toms (14" and 16") in his configuration. Since joining Scorpions in 2016, he has transitioned to Pearl Masters Premium drums. Both setups use all-maple shells and Pearl hardware. He is a long-term Pearl endorser.

What cymbals does Mikkey Dee use?

Mikkey Dee played Paiste 2002 cymbals throughout his Motörhead years — a series known for bright, loud, projecting character suited to hard rock volumes. His Motörhead setup typically included 15" 2002 Big Beat hi-hats, 2002 Medium and Heavy crashes, a 2002 China, and a 2002 Heavy Ride. He has also used Paiste Signature cymbals in later years with Scorpions.

What is Mikkey Dee's signature drumming technique?

Dee's signature is powerful straight-ahead rock timing combined with floor tom-dominant fills and an aggressive right-hand ride attack. His playing prioritizes physical authority and precise rhythmic placement over technical complexity. His fill vocabulary emphasizes floor tom weight rather than tom cascades — one powerful floor tom hit delivered with conviction characterizes his approach more than multi-surface run fills.

How does Mikkey Dee's style differ from Philthy Animal Taylor's with Motörhead?

Philthy Animal Taylor (Motörhead's original drummer) played with a looser, more chaotic feel that matched the early Motörhead's raw energy. Mikkey Dee brought greater technical precision, more deliberate fill placement, and a more powerful baseline volume to the role. Where Taylor's playing had a loose, almost ramshackle urgency, Dee's playing has controlled authority — the same aggression, but more precisely channeled. Both approaches serve the music but represent different interpretations of the Motörhead drummer role.

What are the best Motörhead songs to study Mikkey Dee's drumming?

Start with tracks from Bastards (1993) and Sacrifice (1995) — these are his earliest Motörhead albums and showcase his style in its most direct form. 'Just 'Cos You Got the Power' and 'Sacrifice' demonstrate his ride-driven groove and floor tom fills. For his live approach, Everything Louder Than Everyone Else (1999) captures his full-power performance at Motörhead's classic velocity. Inferno (2004) and Motörizer (2008) show his later development with the band.