British drummer Michael Lee died at the age of 39 on Monday 24 November, 2008. The cause of death is presently unknown.
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Michael was born Michael Gary Pearson on 19 November, 1969 in Newcastle Upon Tyne, Engeland. He started playing drums in cover bands until he joined his first serious rock band named Holosade at age seventeen.
After sending a demo to several record companies the band were signed to York-based independent label PowerStation.
Barely eighteen, Michael sold his Premier drum kit to buy a ticket to Los Angeles. He spent some time at the LA Musicians institute in Hollywood before returning to London in August 1988.
When Robert Plant regrouped with former Led Zeppelin co-star Jimmy Page as Page & Plant in the mid \'90s, Plant brought Michael into that band. He played on their albums \'No Quarter\' and \'Walking Into Clarksdale\', and toured around the world with them.
Like Led Zeppelin sticksman John \"Bonzo\" Bonham, Michael preferred to play his Ludwig drums in big sizes: a 26\" bass drum and a 14\"x 14\" snare.
Michael Lee also played with artists like Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, Bryan Adams, Echo and the Bunnymen, Guns n\' Roses, Lenny Kravitz, the re-formed Thin Lizzy, and ZZ Top.