Now a father of two, the 'Wasabi' singer - who has been a support act for INXS and Shannon Noll since his time on Idol - looks unrecognisable from the youngster who wowed Australians in 2005.
And while Lee has swapped his neon-tips for long ringlets, his lip piercing and trademark tattoos remain - and his love for music hasn't wavered.
Speaking to 9Honey Celebrity about his decision to return to a TV talent show, Lee revealed: “It's been 14 years, and when you're evolving and changing as an artist it's good to be able to do that away from the spotlight for a little bit, and then be able to come back with such a fresh look and sound."