Music on TV This Week: Motorhead

By Drake Lelane

January 23, 2011 / 10:45 PM

Heavy metal trailblazers Motorhead have been the embodiment of 'Rock n' Roll' now for 35 years, thanks in part to its hard living frontman Ian Fraser Kilmister, best known to the rock world as Lemmy. With two new releases for 2011 (The World is Yours, Motorhead's 20th release; and new one from the side project The Head Cat -- featuring Stray Cats' Slim Jim Phantom -- slated for later this year), and a full-fledged documentary currently running the film festival circuit, Lemmy has no intention of slowing down anytime soon.

While Motorhead play Conan this Wednesday in support of their release, it was also announced that VH1 would be debuting the aptly titled documentary Lemmy: 49% Motherf**Ker, 51% Son Of A Bitch, on February 11th, as part of their Emmy winning Rock Doc series. Besides telling the story of the rock icon, the film features interviews with a long list of rock's greats, including Ozzy Osbourne, Alice Cooper, Slash, Mick Jones (The Clash), Dave Grohl (Nirvana/Foo Fighters), Peter Hook (Joy Division/New Order), Dee Snider (Twisted Sister), Jarvis Cocker (Pulp) and more along with the great Lemmy himself.

Meanwhile, listening to the latest release from Cold War Kids, Mine is Yours, I get the impression that the band's artistic patience has been used up and they're more than ready to play whatever game it takes to push some product. To that end, they hired producer Jacquire King, who's experience in the indie-to-mainstream journey is undeniable, having worked on Modest Mouse's Good News for the People Who Love Bad News and, more relevant in this case, Kings of Leon's Only By The Night. Aside from the angular "Sensitive Kid," there's little here to remind us of the band's promising debut. Instead, when the Long Beach natives play Kimmel on Tuesday, they'll have their new polished mainstream sound on full display with "Louder Than Ever." Here's hoping it helps them pay the bills.

Elsewhere, Conan is welcoming plenty of acts we've previously featured in this space this month, with Iron & Wine on Monday (featured 01/03), Wanda Jackson with Jack White on Tuesday (featured 01/17) and The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger on Thursday (featured 01/03). Is it possible Conan's music booker is reading this weekly post? I've been told somebody out there in the Internet is (you know who you are, and hello!).

Picks for the week

Monday, January 24

ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: The Script

CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: The Walkmen (REPEAT)

FUEL: The Daily Habit: Dawes

NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Local Natives (REPEAT)

NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Menomena (REPEAT)

TBS: Lopez Tonight: Grace Potter & the Nocturnals

TBS: Conan: Iron & Wine

Tuesday, January 25

ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Keri Hilson

CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: The Walkmen (REPEAT)