Mikkey Dee: Motorhead’s Powerhouse Drummer
Mikkey Dee spent 23 years behind the kit for Motorhead, the longest tenure of any drummer in the band’s history.
Born Micael Kiriakos Delaoglou on 31 October 1963 in Gothenburg, Sweden, he built his reputation with King Diamond before Lemmy Kilmister came calling.
Mikkey Dee played on thirteen Motorhead studio albums between 1992 and 2015, anchoring the trio lineup that carried the band to the end of its career.
Since 2016, Mikkey Dee has drummed for German heavy metal legends Scorpions, continuing one of hard rock’s most respected careers behind the kit.
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Image Credit: Photo by Frank Schwichtenberg, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
📋 Table of Contents [+]
⚡ Key Takeaways
- Mikkey Dee drummed for Motorhead from 1992 to 2015, the longest tenure of any drummer in the band.
- Before Motorhead, Dee played on three King Diamond albums between 1986 and 1988.
- Dee replaced Phil “Philthy Animal” Taylor and made his live debut with the band on 30 August 1992.
- Mikkey Dee has drummed for Scorpions since 2016, first filling in and later joining permanently.
- In November 2024, Dee publicly refuted false social media rumors of his own death.
Mikkey Dee’s Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Mikkey was born Micael Kiriakos Delaoglou on 31 October 1963 in Gothenburg, Sweden, to a Greek father and a Swedish mother.
He began his career playing in local Swedish bands Nadir and Geisha before relocating to Copenhagen, Denmark.
Dee has cited drummers including Neil Peart, Buddy Rich, Steve Smith, and especially Ian Paice of Deep Purple as his biggest influences.
That grounding in technical, high energy drumming would define his sound for the rest of his career.
Mikkey Dee and King Diamond
Mikkey Dee joined King Diamond‘s band in 1985 after moving to Copenhagen to play with Geisha.
He played on the albums Fatal Portrait in 1986, Abigail in 1987, and Them in 1988.
Dee left after the Them tour, feeling he had become more of a backing musician than an equal creative partner as King Diamond’s solo profile grew.
He briefly returned as a session drummer for 1989’s Conspiracy before being replaced by Snowy Shaw.
💡 Did You Know?
Mikkey Dee briefly played drums on Don Dokken’s 1990 solo album Up from the Ashes, whose videos for Stay and Mirror Mirror received airplay on MTV’s Headbangers Ball.
How Did Mikkey Dee Join Motorhead?
Mikkey Dee joined Motorhead in 1992 after Lemmy Kilmister repeatedly asked him to come aboard while King Diamond was touring alongside the band.
He replaced Phil “Philthy Animal” Taylor and played his first live show with Motorhead on 30 August 1992 at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center in New York.
Dee later reflected on stepping into Taylor’s shoes, comparing it to a parent no child could ever truly replace, and saying he simply had to introduce his own identity into the band instead.
That humility helped him settle into a lineup that would remain unchanged for the rest of Motorhead’s existence.
Mikkey Dee’s Motorhead Discography and Key Albums
Dee played on thirteen Motorhead studio albums between 1992 and 2015.
His first full album with the band’s new label deal was Bastards in 1993, followed by Sacrifice in 1995.
He continued through Overnight Sensation, Snake Bite Love, We Are Motorhead, Hammered, Inferno, Kiss of Death, Motorizer, The World Is Yours, and Aftershock.
Mikkey Dee’s tenure closed with the band’s final studio album in 2015, giving him a longer unbroken run than any other Motorhead drummer.
Why Didn’t Mikkey Dee Play on All of March or Die?
He joined Motorhead too late to record most of 1992’s March or Die, which had already been tracked with session drummer Tommy Aldridge.
Dee ended up playing only on the song Hellraiser, his true recording debut with the band.
He also appeared on the soundtrack for Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth, though Aldridge again played most of the drum parts.
Dee’s photo still appeared on the rear sleeve, and he declined an offer to take credit for Aldridge’s playing, citing their differing styles.
Epic Records dropped Motorhead after the soundtrack’s release, and the band moved to the German label SPV, launching its own Motorhead imprint distributed through Warner-Chappell and ZYX.
Dee also stepped outside Motorhead in 2003 to drum on Helloween’s album Rabbit Don’t Come Easy, filling in for regular drummer Mark Cross.
Mikkey Dee’s Drumming Style and Equipment
Mikkey Dee is known for lengthy, technical drum solos often stretching between five and fifteen minutes.
Notable examples appear on Sacrifice and In the Name of Tragedy from Inferno, tracks that showcase his stamina and precision.
He plays Sonor drums, most notably a Sonor SQ2 Vintage Maple Custom kit, alongside Paiste cymbals and Wincent drumsticks.
That combination of speed and technical control set him apart from many of his hard rock contemporaries.
In April 2006, Dee briefly reunited with King Diamond for a sold out show in Gothenburg, prompting the singer to call him one of the best drummers of all time.
Dee also drummed for Swedish pop artist Martin “E-Type” Eriksson during a national Eurovision Song Contest pre-qualification round in 2004.
What Happened to Motorhead After Lemmy’s Death?
Mikkey announced that Motorhead had disbanded shortly after Lemmy Kilmister’s death in December 2015.
He confirmed to multiple outlets that the band could not continue without its founder.
The announcement closed out Dee’s 23 year run as the band’s drummer, the longest of anyone to hold the position.
It also marked the end of Motorhead’s four decade recording career.
Why Did Dee Join Scorpions?
Mikkey Dee briefly considered joining Thin Lizzy for anniversary shows in early 2016 before deciding not to participate.
Later that year, Scorpions recruited him to fill in for drummer James Kottak across twelve North American dates.
The fill in run included a residency at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas, and Dee was made a permanent member of Scorpions later that year.
As of 2026, Mikkey Dee remains the band’s drummer, having recorded the 2022 album Rock Believer with the group.
Mikkey Dee’s Life Outside of Music
Mikkey is a passionate ice hockey fan and longtime supporter of Frölunda HC, his hometown team in Gothenburg.
He has denied a persistent rumor that he once played for a Swedish national youth hockey team, clarifying he only played recreational hockey for a team in southern California.
Dee lives in Gothenburg with his longtime partner Mia, and the couple have two sons together.
In 2019 he opened a rock themed bar called Alabama in Paris, giving him a second home base outside of Sweden.
Dee has also contributed drums to charity and tribute recordings over the years, including a Metallica tribute cover and an all star Scandinavian benefit project supporting survivors of the 2004 tsunami disaster.
💡 Did You Know?
In 2022, Mikkey Dee appeared in a Volvo advertising campaign for its electric trucks, using his real skill driving articulated vehicles.
Is Mikkey Dee Still Playing Music Today?
Yes, Mikkey Dee continues to play drums for Scorpions as of 2026, a role he has held since joining permanently in 2016.
He remains one of the most respected drummers in hard rock, carrying forward a career built across Motorhead, King Diamond, Don Dokken, and now Scorpions.
In November 2024, Dee had to publicly refute false social media rumors claiming he had died.
The episode only underscored how closely fans continue to follow his career decades after he first picked up the drumsticks.
💡 Did You Know?
In 2009, Mikkey Dee competed on the Swedish reality show Kändisdjungeln, and Guns N’ Roses drummer Matt Sorum filled in on the Motorhead tour while he was away, joking that he wasn’t sure whether Dee would survive the jungle or he would survive the tour.
People Also Ask
How long was Mikkey Dee in Motorhead?
Mikkey Dee drummed for Motorhead from 1992 until the band’s dissolution in 2015, a 23 year run that made him the longest serving drummer in the band’s history.
He played on thirteen studio albums during that time, from Bastards in 1993 through Bad Magic in 2015.
Who did Mikkey Dee replace in Motorhead?
Mikkey Dee replaced drummer Phil “Philthy Animal” Taylor in 1992, joining after Lemmy Kilmister repeatedly asked him to come aboard.
His first live performance with the band came on 30 August 1992 in Saratoga Springs, New York.
What band is Mikkey Dee in now?
Mikkey Dee currently drums for German heavy metal band Scorpions, a role he has held since becoming a permanent member in 2016.
He previously filled in for the band on tour before officially joining, and recorded the 2022 album Rock Believer with the group.
What albums did Mikkey Dee play on before Motorhead?
Before joining Motorhead, Mikkey Dee played on three King Diamond albums, Fatal Portrait in 1986, Abigail in 1987, and Them in 1988.
He also drummed on Don Dokken’s 1990 solo album Up from the Ashes.
Watch Mikkey Dee in Action and Shop Motorhead Albums
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Sacrifice
1995
Features one of Dee’s most celebrated drum solos.
The last album with guitarist Wurzel.
Bastards
1993
Dee’s first full album on the band’s new label deal.
Marked his true arrival as Motorhead’s drummer.
Inferno
2004
Home to In the Name of Tragedy, one of Dee’s noted solo showcases.
Features a guest guitar solo from Steve Vai.
We Are Motorhead
2000
A confident millennium era statement from the trio lineup.
Features a cover of the Sex Pistols.
You Might Also Like
Motorhead Sacrifice: Inside the 1995 Album
Dee’s first album as the trio’s settled, permanent lineup began.
Motorhead Bastards: Inside the 1993 Album
The record where Dee truly established himself as Motorhead’s drummer.
Motorhead Inferno: Inside the 2004 Cameron Webb Rebirth
Home to one of Dee’s most frequently cited drum solo showcases.
We Are Motorhead Album: Inside the 2000 Trio Statement
A confident millennium era record from Dee’s long, steady tenure.
Mikkey Dee’s steady hand behind the kit helped carry Motorhead through its longest and most productive era, giving the band a stability it had rarely enjoyed before he joined.
His story continues today, still touring the world as the drummer for one of hard rock’s most enduring bands.
Read the full lineup history of the members of Motorhead to see how Mikkey Dee’s era fits into the band’s larger story.
As of 2026, Mikkey Dee remains one of the most respected and hardest working drummers in hard rock and heavy metal.
Last updated: July 25, 2026