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Arts and Entertainment

Tommy Lee Asks SeaWorld To Stop Playing Mötley Crüe Songs: "Whales are not head-bangers"

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Left: Featureflash / Shutterstock.com; Right: Killer whale / Shutterstock.com
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Tommy Lee wrote an open letter to SeaWorld asking them not to play Mötley Crüe songs—or any other loud music—while orcas perform.

Lee is concerned that loud music (that even some humans consider tortuous) is making life hell for the large, sound-sensitive sea creatures. Lee addresses his concerns to John T. Reilly, the president of SeaWorld in a letter posted to PETA's site:

Although we like to torture the human fans who willingly come to our shows, we don't want to be a part of making innocent animals' lives hellish. I've learned from my friends at PETA that these marine animals are very sensitive to sound, as they communicate by sonar, and loud noises mess with their most basic instincts and drive them more nuts than they already are when trapped in your tanks. Some experts say that a noise level of more than 70 decibels is considered too loud and nerve-racking for the animals. "Shamu Rocks" shows have reached 90 decibels.

Lee writes that he would prefer to see sea mammals moved back to their home in the ocean but in the mean time, he'd prefer that they not perform to the set of the head-banging music meant for human audiences: "I'm among those who would like to see the dolphins and whales at SeaWorld moved to a coastal sanctuary, but at least give them some peace and quiet."

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