Drummer Michael Lee, who gained worldwide fame playing with Jimmy Page and Robert Plant during the 1990s, died yesterday at the age of 39. The circumstances or causes of his death are still undetermined.
Born Michael Gary Pearson on Nov. 19, 1969, Lee began his career with English rockers Little Angels then went on to play with such acts as the Cult, Echo & The Bunnymen, Lenny Kravitz and the reformed Thin Lizzy, among others.
Lee first worked with Plant on his 1993 solo album, Fate of Nations, and for the world tour of the same name that followed. Plant then brought the drummer on board for the Page and Plant albums No Quarter: Jimmy Page and Robert Plant Unledded and Walking Into Clarksdale, for which he received co-writing credits on every song. The single “Most High” from Walking Into Clarksdale won a Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance in 1999.
Recently, Lee had played drums on Jeff Martin’s new solo album, Exile and the Kingdom, and subsequent tour.