Tommy Lee quits Motley Crue following brawl at MTV awards

Tommy Lee has quit his band Motley Crue, the latest episode in a humiliating week.

He was given a public beating at the MTV awards by Kid Rock, another musician - who married Pamela Anderson after she and Lee divorced - for letting Anderson sit on his lap.

Lee had to apologise to singer Alicia Keys for the scuffle, which took place while she was singing. And Kid Rock may face charges following enquiries by the police into the incident.

A Pam in hand: Tommy Lee gets his hands on Pammy

Rock spoke out on a radio programme to explain his side of the story.

Rock, 36, said of the strained relationship between him and Lee: "It's been going on for five years.

He told the radio hosts: "Last contact I had with him was when me and Pam were going through our divorce.

"He picked up her Blackberry and started e-mailing me a lot of horrendous things. It was extremely disrespectful."

"I did what any man would do, any man across the country, across the world would do."

Fired up: the pair both had to be restrained by security

The fight broke out between Pamela Anderson's former husbands at the MTV Video Music Awards earlier this week.

MTV VJ Sway said during the post-show that he saw Kid Rock walk up to the Motley Crue drummer, who was sitting next to Diddy, and "deck him."

Earlier that night the Baywatch star was spotted cosying up to Lee, who is the father of her two sons.

The incident was confirmed by Palms Hotel and Casino public relations representative Larry Fink.

Another eyewitness, rap producer Rich Nice, said although Kid Rock threw the only blows that landed - a backhand slap and a punch - Tommy Lee was the instigator.

Nice said:"It looked like Tommy Lee initiated it because Kid Rock was ignoring him," said Nice, who was two tables away. "And Tommy Lee kind of antagonized him. And then when Tommy Lee stood up, it looked a little weird, like 'Yo, what?"'

Must be kidding: Rock and Lee were involved in a fight at the MTV Video Music Awards

"When Tommy stands up is when Kid hit him the first time with a backhand," Nice continued.

"And then Tommy Lee looked like he was trying to get at him to aggressively retaliate and then Kid Rock hits Tommy Lee again - bong. And then security grabs Tommy Lee in a headlock and pulls him off."

Ex lovers quarrel: Pamela Anderson's former husbands went head to head

It's notable that security guards let Kid Rock stay for the rest of the show while Lee was dragged out.

The incident inspired plenty of mock rebukes from the hip-hoppers in attendance.

"They say it's only rappers," said Sway. "I told you rockers fight too."

Diddy noted: "It's not just the hip-hop artists that sometimes have a problem."