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Lemmy Kilmister is the real deal. For more than 31 years, Motörhead's grizzled frontman has been the biggest bad-ass in metal, living an unapologetic existence of sex, booze, volume, fights and rock n' roll. Lemmy doesn't act like a rock star — he just is one, through and through.
Unlike many bands — including Judas Priest — Kilmister epitomized the leather-clad biker look without having to purchase anything that he wasn't already wearing offstage. And when he sang lines like, "He rides a whirlwind, that cuts to the bone" ("Iron Horse/ Born to Lose"), it came across like a mission statement, not inflated bravado.
Even without the lyrics, his live-fast/die-young spirit rips through Motörhead's music: a driving blend of punk-rock tempos, biker attitude and metal aggression. Above all, the band's sound is fast and furious, leaving the listener breathless and exhilarated.
Through the years, Motörhead have undergone numerous personnel shifts. Their 11th and current lineup is a trio composed of Lemmy, guitarist Phil Campbell and drummer Mikkey Dee. But (with the exception of 1983's slightly more melodic Another Perfect Day), whichever musicians have stood beside Kilmister, the band's sound has changed little from one album to the next — and that's a good thing. It's what the fans want, and their influence on metal can't be overestimated. Metallica, Anthrax and Slayer have all credited Motörhead with motivating them to amp up their music and speed up their songs, and numerous hardcore punk bands were inspired to add metal elements to their sound after hearing the mighty 'Head.
Looking to the future, two things are certain: As long as Lemmy's standing, you'll be able to find him at the Rainbow Bar and Grill in L.A. — and Motörhead will continue to roar.
"Everyone knows the band, but they're not very mainstream. They're like the Sex Pistols. My mom knows who the Sex Pistols are, but Motörhead are such pioneers and such legends, but only hardcore fans know their music. I think they're so loved because what you see is what you get: There's no fancy pants with Motörhead, and they're the link between punk and metal. When they came out they were so fast and raw, no-nonsense and no frills. No one played that fast or that heavy. They kind of enabled Metallica to take flight." — Fozzy frontman/ WWE champion Chris Jericho
Overkill (1979), Ace of Spades (1980), No Sleep 'Til Hammersmith (live; 1981), Orgasmatron (1986).
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