We’ve had TV talent shows and the YouTube orchestra but now wannabe rock musicians are getting a shot at fame by recording tracks with Motley Crue’s Tommy Lee, through a new crowdsourcing website.

The competition is being run by The Public Record, a site launched by record producer Scott Humphrey.

In what promises to be the first in a series of artists auditioning musicians via the web, The Public Record is making ‘raw’ Tommy Lee tracks available and encouraging the public to record and upload their own accompaniments – on anything from drums and bass to the kazoo, if anyone were so moved.

A number of tracks have already been made available. Unfortunately ‘Drunk Uncle Pete’ is no longer downloadable but interested musicians can still access ‘Louder’ and ‘Swallow Me’, at the time of writing. 

It is unclear if Tommy Lee is taking part in the process because he’s a big fan of the democracy afforded by the web or because he wants a cheap way of getting a record made.

No payment will be made to musicians but The Public Record website says it will make a donation to the MusiCares Foundation on behalf of all participants, in lieu of royalties and performance fees. The site informs users that in return for their tracks being used they “get to tell your friends that you played on Tommy Lee’s record…get credited as a musician and contributor in the CD credit listing and online. This may jumpstart your music career!”

The successful musicians could also end up being invited to perform live with Lee at the record release concert.

In April this year a symphony orchestra took to the stage at New York’s Carnegie Hall after auditioning via YouTube. The 90 successful musicians came from 30 countries, and performed to a sold out audience.  [Source]