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Motörhead
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Motörhead are a British hard rock band formed in 1975 by bassist, singer and songwriter Lemmy Kilmister, who has remained the sole constant member. Usually a power trio, Motörhead had particular success in the early 1980s with several successful singles in the UK Top 40 chart. The albums Overkill, Bomber, Ace of Spades, and particularly No Sleep 'til Hammersmith, cemented Motörhead's reputation as one of Britain's foremost rock bands.
While Motörhead are typically classified as heavy metal, speed metal or thrash metal (and often regarded as a foundational influence on the later two styles), Lemmy dislikes such labels, preferring to describe the band's music simply as "rock n' roll".
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Encyclopedia
Motörhead are a British hard rock band formed in 1975 by bassist, singer and songwriter Lemmy Kilmister, who has remained the sole constant member. Usually a power trio, Motörhead had particular success in the early 1980s with several successful singles in the UK Top 40 chart. The albums Overkill, Bomber, Ace of Spades, and particularly No Sleep 'til Hammersmith, cemented Motörhead's reputation as one of Britain's foremost rock bands.
While Motörhead are typically classified as heavy metal, speed metal or thrash metal (and often regarded as a foundational influence on the later two styles), Lemmy dislikes such labels, preferring to describe the band's music simply as "rock n' roll". Motörhead's approach has remained the same over the band's career, preferring to play what they enjoy and do best; their appreciation of early rock and roll is reflected in some of their occasional cover songs. Motörhead's lyrics typically cover such topics as war, good versus evil, abuse of power, promiscuous sex, substance abuse, and "life on the road." The band's distinctive fanged-face logo, Snaggletooth, with its oversized boars' horns, chains, and spikes, was created by artist Joe Petagno in 1977 for the cover of the Motörhead album and has appeared in many variations on covers of ensuing albums.
History
Early years
After being sacked from Hawkwind in 1975, supposedly for "doing the wrong drugs", Lemmy decided to form a new band, originally to be called "Bastard." Doug Smith, the band's manager, advised him that, "It's unlikely that we're going to get on Top of the Pops with a name like 'Bastard'". Lemmy concurred and decided to call the band "Motörhead", inspired by the final song he had written for Hawkwind. The name of the song "Motorhead" was derived from a slang term for an amphetamine user, the drug being the subject of the song.
Lemmy's stated aim was for the outfit to be, "the dirtiest rock n' roll band in the world" and that, "if Motörhead moved in next to you, your lawn would die." The first lineup of the band featured Larry Wallis (ex-Pink Fairies) on electric guitar and Lucas Fox on drums. Their first gig was at The Roundhouse, London, on 20 July 1975. On 19 October, having played ten gigs, they became the supporting act to Blue Öyster Cult at the Hammersmith Odeon. The Roundhouse was to feature Motörhead again on 7 November 1976 with Pink Fairies and on 24 April 1977 with The Damned and The Adverts. Under contract with United Artists, they recorded sessions at Rockfield Studios in Monmouth, during which Fox became unreliable and was replaced by drummer Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor. Their record label was not pleased with the recorded material and only released the album On Parole in 1979, when the band had established some success.
Deciding that two lead guitarists were required, the band recruited "Fast" Eddie Clarke, but Wallis quit during the auditions, so the two-guitarists idea was dropped and Clarke stayed on. The trio of Lemmy – Clarke – Taylor is today regarded as the "classic" Motörhead line-up.
Initial reactions to the band were unfavourable; they won a poll for "the best worst band in the world" in the music magazine NME. By April 1977, living in squats and with little recognition, Phil and Eddie wanted to give it up, and after some debate, the band agreed to do a farewell show at the Marquee Club in London. Lemmy had become acquainted with Ted Carroll from Chiswick Records and asked him to bring a mobile studio to the show to record it for posterity. Carroll was unable to get the mobile unit to the Marquee Club but showed up backstage after the gig and offered them two days at Escape Studios to record a single. The band took the chance and instead of recording a single did eleven unfinished tracks, Carroll gave them a few more days to finish the vocals and the band completed thirteen tracks for release as an album. In June the band toured with Hawkwind and in late July began their 'Beyond the Threshold of Pain' tour.
Rise to success
Using eight of the tracks recorded for Chiswick, the band's first official album was the eponymous Motörhead, released in November 1977 it reached #43 in the UK Albums Chart. By this time, the standard of their performances had improved considerably, and the uncompromising nature of their music was beginning to garner a following from enthusiasts of both metal and punk.
Bronze Records signed the band the following year and gave them time at Wessex Studios in London to record some songs for a single. While the band toured to promote the resulting "Louie Louie" single, Chiswick released the Motörhead album in white vinyl to keep up the momentum. On 25 September, the band appeared on the BBC Radio 1 John Peel in session broadcast, which in fact had been recorded on the 18th. These tracks appear on the 2005 BBC Live & In-Session album. Sales of the "Louie Louie" single brought the band their first appearance on a BBC Television's Top of the Pops. It was prerecorded, and broadcast on 25 October 1978. This success gave Bronze the confidence to get the band back into the studio to record an album. A hint of what the band had recorded for the album came on 9 March 1979 when the band played "Overkill" on Top of the Pops to support the release of the single ahead of the Overkill album, which was released on 24 March. It became Motörhead's first album to break into the UK Top 40 album chart, reaching #24, with the single reaching #39 in the UK Singles Chart. A subsequent single was released in June, taking the song "No Class" from the album for the A-side and an unheard track, "Like A Nightmare", for the B-side. It fared worse than both the album and previous single, however, reaching #61 in the charts. These releases were followed by the 'Overkill' tour beginning on March 23.
During July and August, except for a break to appear at the Reading Festival, the band were working on their next album, Bomber. Released on October 27, it reached #12 in the UK Album Chart. On 1 December, it was followed by the "Bomber" single, which reached #34 in the UK Singles Chart. The 'Bomber' tour followed with its spectacular aircraft bomber-shaped lighting rig. During the 'Bomber' tour, United Artists put together tapes recorded during the Rockfield Studios sessions and released them as On Parole. On 8 May 1980, while the band were on tour in Europe, Bronze released The Golden Years, which sold better than any of their previous releases, reaching #8 in the UK charts. The band, however, preferred the title Flying Tonight, referring to the 'Bomber' lighting rig. Later that year Chiswick put together four unused tracks from the Escape Studios sessions and released them as Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers.
Ace of Spades
During August and September 1980, the band were at Jackson's Studios in Rickmansworth, recording with producer Vic Maile. The "Ace of Spades" single was released on 27 October 1980 as a preview of the Ace of Spades album, which followed on 8 November. The single reached #15 and the album reached #4 in the UK charts. Bronze celebrated its gold record status by pressing a limited edition of the album in gold vinyl. Motörhead made two appearances on Top of the Pops in October that year with "Ace of Spades" and between 22 October and 29 November the band were on their 'Ace Up Your Sleeve' tour, making an appearance as guests on the ITV children's show, Tiswas on 8 November. The 'Arizona desert-style' pictures used on the album sleeve and tour booklet cover were taken during a photo session at a sandpit in Barnet. "Ace of Spades", considered to be the definitive Motörhead anthem, "put a choke on the English music charts and proved to all that a band could succeed without sacrificing its blunt power and speed." The album has been described as "one of the best metal albums by any band, ever, period."
The band had more chart hits in the early 1980s with releases such as the St. Valentine's Day Massacre EP, their collaboration with 'apprentices' Girlschool which reached #5; the live version of "Motorhead", which reached #6; and the album it was taken from, No Sleep 'til Hammersmith, which reached #1. During March 1981, the band had been touring Europe, and in the final week of the month they conducted the 'Short Sharp, Pain In The Neck' tour from which the recordings for No Sleep 'til Hammersmith were made.
During April and July, the band were guests of Blizzard of Ozz, an early incarnation of Ozzy Osbourne's band, fitting in an appearance on Top of the Pops on July 9 with the live "Motorhead" single. In October the band recorded tracks at BBC's Maida Vale 4 studio for the David Jensen show broadcast on 6 October. The band recommenced their European tour on November 20.
Between 26 January and 28 January 1982, the band recorded some new material at Ramport Studios, with additions recorded in February at Morgan Studios. On April 3 the single, "Iron Fist", which reached #29 in the UK Singles Chart, was released. The parent album Iron Fist was released on 17 April and rose to #6 in the UK Album Chart. They were the last releases to feature the Lemmy, Clarke, Taylor lineup, though the lineup continued to perform in the Iron Fist tour between 17 March and 12 April, and the American tour from 12 May until Clarke's last gig at the New York Palladium on May 14.
Departures from the band
Clarke left as a consequence of the band recording Stand By Your Man, a cover version of the Tammy Wynette classic, in collaboration with Wendy O. Williams and the Plasmatics. Clarke felt that this compromised the band's principles, refused to play on the recording and resigned, later forming his own band, Fastway. Lemmy and Taylor made numerous telephone calls to find a guitarist, including one to Brian Robertson, formerly with Thin Lizzy, who was recording a solo album in Canada. He agreed to help out and complete the tour with them. Robertson signed a one-album deal resulting in 1983's Another Perfect Day and the two singles from it, "Shine" and "I Got Mine". In June and July the band played five dates in Japan, and from mid-October until mid-November they toured Europe. From late May until early July, the band conducted the 'Another Perfect Tour', followed by an American tour between July and August, and another European tour in October and November. Robertson began to cause friction in the band as a result of his on-stage attire, consisting of shorts and ballet shoes, and, furthermore, with his point blank refusal to play the old standards that every Motörhead audience expected to hear. This led to an amicable agreement that Robertson would leave, playing his last gig with the band at the Berlin Metropol on 11 November.
After Robertson's departure in 1983, the band were sent tapes from all over the world from potential guitarists. The group returned to the concept of dual lead guitars by hiring unknowns Würzel and Phil Campbell (ex-Persian Risk). In February 1984, the Lemmy, Campbell, Würzel and Taylor line-up recorded "Ace of Spades" for the "Bambi" episode in the British television series, The Young Ones. Scenes of the band playing are interspersed with the characters' antics as they rush to the railway station, in a parody of The Beatles' comedy film A Hard Day's Night. Taylor quit the band after that recording, causing Lemmy to quip "Did I leave them or did they leave me?". Before joining Motörhead, Phil Campbell had met ex-Saxon drummer Pete Gill, and the trio decided to call him to see if he would like to visit London. The try-outs went well and Gill was hired.
Bronze and silver
Bronze Records thought the new line-up would not make the grade and decided to 'nail down the lid' on the group with a compilation album. When Lemmy found out, he took over the project, selecting tracks, providing sleeve notes and insisted that Motörhead record four brand new tracks to go at the end of each side of the album. During the sessions between 19 May and 25 May 1984 at Britannia Row Studios, London, the band recorded six tracks for the single's B-side and the album. The single "Killed by Death" was released on 1 September and reached #51 in the UK Singles Chart, the double album No Remorse was released on 15 September and reached silver disc status, attaining the position of #14 in the UK Album charts.
The band were involved in a court case with Bronze over the next two years, believing that their releases were not being promoted properly, and the record company banned them from the recording studio. The band looked to more touring for income; Australia and New Zealand in late July to late August, a brief tour of Hungary in September, and the No Remorse 'Death On The Road' tour between October 24 and November 7. On October 26 the band made a live appearance on the British Channel 4 music programme The Tube, performing "Killed By Death", "Steal Your Face" (over which the programme's end-credits were played) and the unbroadcast "Overkill", before going on to their next gig that evening. From 19 November to 15 December the band toured America and from 26 December to 30 December performed five shows in Germany.
On 5 April 1985, ITV broadcast three songs that were recorded after the band went off air on their earlier appearance on The Tube programme. A week later the band, dressed in tuxedos, played three songs on the live Channel 4 music show ECT (Extra-Celestial Transmission). To celebrate the band's tenth anniversary, two shows were arranged at Hammersmith Odeon on June 28 and June 29, a video of the second show was taken and later released as The Birthday Party. From early June until early August the band were on their 'It Never Gets Dark' tour of Sweden and Norway, an American tour followed in mid-November until late December.
Monsters of Rock
From 26 March to 3 April 1986, the band toured Germany, Holland and Denmark on their 'Easter Metal Blast' and in June, played two dates in Bologna and Milan in Italy. The court case with Bronze was finally settled in the band's favour. The band's management instigated their own label, GWR. Recording took place in Master Rock Studios, London and the single "Deaf Forever" was released on 5 July as a taster for the Orgasmatron album, which was released on August 9. On the same day as the release of the album, Lemmy and Würzel were interviewed by Andy Kershaw on the BBC Radio 1 Saturday Live show and "Orgasmatron" and "Deaf Forever" were played. The single reached #67 and the album reached #21 in the UK charts. On 16 August, the band played at the Monsters of Rock at Castle Donington and was recorded by BBC Radio 1 for a future Friday Rock Show broadcast. The performance closed with a flyover by a couple of WW2 German aircraft. Also that day Lemmy was filmed giving his views on spoof metal act 'Bad News' for inclusion in a Peter Richardson Comic Strip film entitled 'More Bad News' since the band featuring Rik Mayall, Peter Richardson, Nigel Planer and Adrian Edmondson were also performing at Donington. In September the band conducted their 'Orgasmatron' tour in Great Britain, supported by fledgling act Zodiac Mindwarp and the Love Reaction. In October they toured America and in December were in Germany.
In 1987, during the filming of Eat the Rich — in which Lemmy was taking a starring role alongside well-known comedy actors such as Robbie Coltrane, Katherine Lucy Bridget Burke, the regulars from The Comic Strip ensemble, and various other musician cameo appearances — Gill left the band and Taylor returned to appear in the band's cameo as 'In House Club Band' alongside Würzel and Campbell. The band wrote "Eat the Rich" especially for the film, its soundtrack featured tracks from Orgasmatron and Würzel's solo single "Bess". The band's second album for GWR was Rock 'n' Roll, released on 5 September, after a tight work schedule in the studio. While having some popular tracks and using "Eat the Rich" as its second track, the band commented that the album was virtually "nailed together".
On 2 July 1988 Motörhead were recorded performing at the Giants of Rock Festival in Hämeenlinna, Finland. The tracks were released as No Sleep at All on October 15. A single from the album was planned with the band wanting "Traitor" as the A-side, but "Ace of Spades" was chosen instead. When the band noticed the change, they refused to allow the single to be distributed to the shops, and it was withdrawn and became available only on the 'No Sleep at All' tour and through the Motörheadbangers fan club. The band again felt unhappy with their career, and a court case with GWR followed, which was not resolved until mid-1990.
Los Angeles
With the court case resolved, the band signed to Epic/WTG and spent the last half of 1990 recording a new album and single in Los Angeles. Just prior to the album sessions the band's former manager, Doug Smith, released the recording of the band's tenth anniversary show, much against the bands wishes, having previously told him that they did not want it released, in 1986. In the studio they recorded four songs with the producer, Ed Stasium, before deciding he had to go. When Lemmy listened to one of the mixes of "Going to Brazil", he asked for him to turn up four tracks, and on doing so heard claves and tambourines that Stasium had added without their knowledge. Stasium was fired and Pete Solley was hired as producer. The story according to Stasium was that Lemmy's drug and alcohol intake had far exceeded the limitations of Stasium's patience so he quit. The single "The One to Sing the Blues" issued on 5 January 1991, was followed by the album 1916 in February. The single, which was issued in 7", cassette, shaped picture disc, 12" and CD single, reached #45 in the UK Singles Chart, the album reached #24 in the UK Album Charts.
The band conducted their 'It Serves You Right' tour of Britain in February, the 'Lights Out Over Europe' tour followed, lasting until early April, when the band returned to Britain to play another six venues. In June the band played five dates in Japan and five dates in Australia and New Zealand. Between July and August, they played across the US with Judas Priest and Alice Cooper on the 'Operation Rock 'n' Roll' tour. The band finished the year with six dates in Germany during December.
On 28 March 1992 the band played what would turn out to be Taylor's last gig at Irvine Meadows, Irvine, California. The band had been wanting Lemmy to get rid of their manager, Doug Banker, for some time and after an unsolicited visit from Todd Singerman, who insisted he should manage them despite never having managed a band before, the band met with Singerman and decided to take him on board, firing Banker. In the midst of this, the band were recording an album at Music Grinder Studios, in the city's east part of Hollywood during the 1992 Los Angeles riots. Three drummers participated in the making of the March ör Die album: Phil Taylor, who was fired because he did not learn the drum tracks on the song "I Ain't No Nice Guy"; Tommy Aldridge who recorded most of the material on the album; and Mikkey Dee, who recorded "Hellraiser", a song originally written by Lemmy for Ozzy Osbourne's No More Tears album. The March ör Die album features guest appearances by Ozzy Osbourne and Slash.
Hellraiser
Lemmy knew Mikkey Dee from having toured with King Diamond when Brian Robertson had been in Motörhead. He had asked him to join before, around the time that Pete Gill joined the band, but Dee wasn't interested as he was playing with King Diamond. On this occasion, Dee was available and met the band to try out. Playing the song "Hellraiser" first, Lemmy thought "he was very good immediately. It was obvious that it was going to work." After recording "Hellraiser" and "Hell on Earth" in the studio, Dee's first gig with Motörhead was on August 30 at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center. The new line-up then went on tour, playing dates with Ozzy Osbourne, Skew Siskin and Exodus. On 27 September, the band played at the Los Angeles Coliseum with Metallica and Guns N' Roses. The band toured Argentina and Brazil during October and conducted the 'Bombers and Eagles in '92' tour of Europe with Saxon throughout December.
Motörhead played two dates at the Arena Obras Sanitarias in Buenos Aires in April 1993 and toured Europe from early June until early July, returning to the states to play one show at the New York Ritz on 14 August. A new producer was sought for the band's next album and eventually Howard Benson, who was to produce the band's next four albums, was chosen. The band recorded at A & M Studios and Prime Time Studios in Hollywood and the resultant album, Bastards, was released on 29 November 1993. The single "Don't Let Daddy Kiss Me" included the song "Born to Raise Hell" which also appeared on the album and would later be rerecorded and released as a single in its own right. Although Bastards received airtime, the record company, ZYX, would not pay for promotional copies, so the band sent out copies themselves. A further tour of Europe was made throughout December that year.
In February and March, 1994, Motörhead toured the US with Black Sabbath and Morbid Angel. In April the band resumed their tour of the States until early May, playing a gig with the Ramones on May 14 at the Estadio Velez in Buenos Aires, attracting a crowd of 50,000 people. The band toured Japan in late May and Europe in June, August and December.
Sacrifice
The band's 1995 touring schedule began in Europe in late April. In June, they performed a second tour with Black Sabbath, this time with Tiamat, until the band succumbed to influenza and headed back to Los Angeles. The band went to Cherokee Studios in Hollywood to record an album and during the sessions it became clear that Würzel was not extending himself and left the band after the recording. The title track from the album, Sacrifice, was later used in the movie Tromeo and Juliet, a film in which Lemmy appears as the narrator. The band decided to continue as a three-man line-up and a tour of Europe was performed throughout October and the first two days of November. A three day tour of South America followed the week after. Lemmy celebrated his 50th Birthday later that year with the band at the Whiskey A Go Go in Los Angeles, Metallica played at the event under the name "The Lemmy's".
In 1996 the band began touring the States in early January and played thirty venues up to February 15, a seven date tour of Europe in June and July was followed by two gigs in South America during August. A tour of USA with Dio and Speedball began with two shows in early October and concluded in Washington on December 4. During this time the band had recorded their next album, Overnight Sensation, at Ocean Studio and Track House Recording Studio. The album was released on 15 October, it was their first official album with the band as a three-piece since Another Perfect Day and the best distributed album the band had had for years. The band concluded the year's touring with thirteen dates in Germany throughout the rest of December.
During 1997, the band toured extensively, beginning with the first leg of the Overnight Sensation tour in Europe on January 12 at the London Astoria, where the guest musicians were Todd Campbell, Phil Campbell's son, on "Ace of Spades" and Fast Eddie Clarke for "Overkill". The European leg lasted until March and was followed by four dates in Japan from late May to June 1, and a USA tour with W.A.S.P. throughout the rest of June. In August, three dates in Europe were followed by seven dates in Britain, which ended with a show at the Brixton Academy on October 25, where the guest musician was Paul Inder, Lemmy's son, for "Ace of Spades". A further four dates in October concluded the year in Russia.
Snake Bite Love
Lemmy recalled that the touring was going particularly well, with some countries like Argentina and Japan putting the band in larger venues, and the English promoters discovered "they could turn a nice profit with Motörhead shows." In his opinion the three-piece line-up were performing excellently and it was high time they made another live record. The band did eventually, but made another studio album first, Snake Bite Love, recorded in various studios and released on 10 March 1998.
The band joined with Judas Priest at the Los Angeles Universal Amphitheatre on April 3, to begin their 'Snake Bite Love' tour. On May 21, Motörhead were recorded at The Docks in Hamburg. The tracks from this performance were later released as Everything Louder Than Everyone Else. The band were invited to join the Ozzfest Tour and played dates across the States during early July until early August and were in Europe from early October until late November. The British leg of the tour was dubbed the 'No Speak With Forked Tongue' tour and included support bands Groop Dogdrill, Radiator and Psycho Squad, which was fronted by Phil Campbell's son Todd.
In 1999 Motörhead made a tour of the states between April 20 and June 2, before going to Karo Studios in Brackel, Germany to record their next album, We Are Motörhead, which was released in May the following year. During the time the album sessions took place, the band played at venues around Europe, the first of which was at Fila Forum in Assago, near Milan, where Metallica's James Hetfield joined the band on-stage to play "Overkill". In October and early November, the band toured the states with Nashville Pussy. Throughout the rest of November, the band conducted their European 'Monsters Of The Millennium' tour with Manowar, Dio and Lion's Share, ending the Millennium with two shows at the London Astoria. The two shows were billed under the Kerrang! "X-Fest" banner and during the second show guest vocals were provided by Skin from Skunk Anansie and Nina C. Alice from Skew Siskin for "Born to Raise Hell", and Ace from Skunk Anansie played "Overkill" with the band.
25 & Alive
In May 2000, the release of We Are Motörhead and the single from it, "God Save the Queen", coincided with the start of the band's 'We Are Motörhead' tour across South and North America during May and June, with a further nine shows across in Europe in July. Shows in the USA and France were followed by the release of a double-disc compilation album, The Best Of, on September 12. Four dates in Japan preceded the band's 25th Anniversary concert on October 22 at the Brixton Academy in London, where guest appearances were made by "Fast" Eddie Clarke, Brian May, Doro Pesch, Whitfield Crane, Ace, Paul Inder and Todd Campbell. The show also featured the return of the Bomber-lighting rig. The event was filmed and released the following year as the 25 & Alive Boneshaker DVD, and the CD of the show, Live at Brixton Academy, was released two years after that. Lemmy states the reason for the DVD as wanting "to record it for the posterity or whatever it is. I nodded off through the tenth anniversary, we never did anything on the twentieth, so the twenty-fifth made sense."
A tour of West and East Europe followed the anniversary concert, taking the band through October, November and December. The schedule for the Eastern European tour was quite brutal, involving two eighteen-hour drives back-to-back and little time off, at the Warsaw venue the band did not arrive until eleven o'clock and the crew were still loading into the venue at one in the morning, while the fans waited.
After taking a month off, the band began working on a new album at Chuck Reid's house in the Hollywood Hills. This album, Hammered, was released the following year. On 1 April 2001 the band gave a one song performance for Triple H's entrance at WrestleMania X-Seven at the Reliant Astrodome in Houston. The second leg of the 'We Are Motorhead' tour began in May in Ireland, moving across to the United Kingdom. In Manchester, the band were supported by Goldblade, and by Pure Rubbish at the two London shows. The second London show also included Backyard Babies and Paul Inder, who was guest musician for "Killed By Death". Between June and August, Motörhead played at a number of rock festivals in Europe; including as the Graspop Metal Meeting in Belgium, the Quart Festival in Norway, and the Wacken Open Air on August 4, where four songs were recorded for the 25 & Alive Boneshaker DVD. The band returned to the States for a seven show tour between late September and early October.
In April 2002 a DVD of some of Motörhead's performances from the '70s and '80s along with some stock footage of the band was released as The Best of Motörhead. Two weeks earlier, the Hammered album was released and supported by the 'Hammered' tour, which kicked off in the States at around the same time. The USA dates continued until late May, and a European leg followed between June and August. In October, the band played five dates in Great Britain with Anthrax, Skew Siskin and Psycho Squad. The final venue was the Wembley Arena in London, where instead of Psycho Squad, the band were supported by Hawkwind, with Lemmy performing "Silver Machine" on stage with them. Throughout the rest of October and better part of November, the band were on a European tour with Anthrax.
In April and May 2003, the band continued to promote the Hammered album in the States, and on the three dates Phil Campbell had to miss, his mother having died, Todd Youth stood in for him. Between late May and mid-July the band played seven dates at Summer Festivals in Europe and from late-July until the end of August, they were touring the USA with Iron Maiden and Dio. On October 7 a comprehensive five-disc collection of the band's recordings covering 1975–2002 was released as Stone Deaf Forever!. On 1 September 2003, the band returned to Hollywood's Whisky A Go-Go club for the Hollywood Rock Walk Of Fame Induction. During October, the band performed a tour of Great Britain with The Wildhearts and Young Heart Attack. The band performed seven shows across Belgium, Holland and Spain between October 21 and October 28 and from late-November until early-December they were in Germany and Switzerland, touring with Skew Siskin and Mustasch. On 9 December, the previously recorded Live at Brixton Academy album was released.
On 22 February 2004 Motörhead performed an invitation only concert at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, London; at Summer Festivals in South America during May; and also Europe during June, July and August. The band had already spent time in the recording studio, working on their next album, Inferno, which was released on June 22 and was followed by the 'Inferno' tour of Ireland with Class Of Zero for three dates, before being joined by Sepultura and taking it to Great Britain. Some of the London show at the Hammersmith Apollo was filmed for TV as Gene Simmons introduced the extra opening act, The Class – a band made up of school children appearing in his Channel 4 series, Rock School – and Wurzel joined as guest musician for "Overkill". The band continued the tour with Sepultura across Europe through the rest of November and December. At the show in Magdeburg, Germany on 4 December Motörhead joined Sepultura on stage during their support slot playing the song "Orgasmatron", in celebration of Sepultura's 20th Anniversary. The show on December 7 at the Philipshalle in Düsseldorf was recorded and later released as the Stage Fright DVD.
Grammy Award
Motörhead picked up their first Grammy in the awards of 2005 in the Best Metal Performance category for their cover of Metallica's "Whiplash" on Metallic Attack: Metallica - The Ultimate Tribute. From March until early May, the band toured the USA, and in June and August were on the '30th Anniversary' tour in Europe. On 22 August, the band were the subject of an hour-long documentary entitled Live Fast, Die Old which was aired on Channel 4 as part of The Other Side series of documentaries, filmed by new and established directors. On 20 September, a compilation album containing the band's appearances on BBC Radio 1 and a concert recording from Paris Theatre, London was released as BBC Live & In-Session. In October, the band toured Europe with Mondo Generator before returning to Great Britain to tour with In Flames and Girlschool in October and November. During the show at the Brixton Academy on November 19, Lemmy joined Girlschool on stage to play "Please Don't Touch". Motörhead finished the year's tours in December, with two gigs in New Zealand and five in Australia with Mötley Crüe.
In 2006, the band performed a four date House Of Blues tour in the States in March with Meldrum and from June until early August playing at European open-air festivals with some indoor headlining shows. On October 28, the band performed at The Rock Freakers Ball in Kansas City before heading off to tour Great Britain with Clutch and Crucified Barbara. While that tour was still going, their next album, Kiss of Death, was released on 29 August via Sanctuary Records, a video was made for the song "Be My Baby". The tour ended with a gig on 25 November at the Brixton Academy, where Phil Campbell was guest guitarist for "Killed By Death" played during Crucified Barbara's support set. A further twelve shows in Europe with Meldrum took them through the end of November to early-December, the first two shows also featuring Skew Siskin. In November, the band agreed a sponsorship deal with the Greenbank B under-10s football team from North Hykeham, Lincoln, putting the band's name as well as Snaggletooth on the team's shirts. The under-10s also run out to the "Ace of Spades" song. The deal was made due to Lemmy knowing Gary Weight, the team's manager, from years before. Weight "sent an email off to them and they came back and said it was a great idea" and hopes the deal will draw inspired performances from his team. On April 25, 2007 the band played at the Estacionamiento del Poliedro in Caracas, Venezuela and on April 29 played at the Fundiçao Progresso, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In June, Motörhead played a gig at the Royal Festival Hall as part of Jarvis Cocker's Meltdown.
From March through to June 2008, the band convened in Los Angeles, California, with producer Cameron Webb to begin work on the Motörizer album. The drum tracks were recorded at Dave Grohl's studio. In an interview on the band's official site, Lemmy confirmed that the album will not feature artwork from Joe Petagno, the artist who designed many of their classic album covers. The album was released on August 26.
Between August 6 and August 31, Motörhead joined with Judas Priest, Heaven and Hell and Testament on the Metal Masters Tour. On August 20 the band played one date at the Roseland Ballroom, New York, as part of 'The Volcom Tour 2008' which continued with bands The Misfits, Airbourne, Valient Thorr and Year Long Disaster at House of Blues, Anaheim, California on September 2, playing a further thirteen dates. The band concluded the tour without the supporting bands, playing one more show at the Roseland Ballroom on September 20, and the final gig, at the The Stone Pony, Asbury Park, New Jersey on September 21.
On September 30, Reuters reported that NEVERDIE Studios had signed a deal with Lemmy and Motörhead to develop and market Lemmy's Castle and Motorhead Stadium inside the virtual world of Entropia Universe created by Swedish software company, MindArk.
The year's touring ended with a 34 date tour of Europe with a variety of support bands including Danko Jones, Saxon, Witchcraft and Airbourne between October 31 and December 16.. On March 06 2009, the band played in the Middle East for the first time at the annual Dubai Desert Rock Festival in Dubai.
Current band members
- Lemmy Kilmister - lead vocals, bass guitar (1975-present)
- Phil Campbell - lead guitar, backup vocals (1984-present)
- Mikkey Dee - drums and percussion (1992-present)
Style
Though the band are typically classified as heavy metal or speed metal, Lemmy has stated that he never considered Motörhead a metal band. When asked if he has a problem with Motörhead being called a metal band, he replied: "I do because I come from way before Metal. I’m playing Rock n’ Roll and I think Rock n’ Roll should be sacred – it is to me. I don’t see why it should not be for everybody else."
In a biography of the band, senior editor for Allmusic, Stephen Erlewine, wrote: "Motörhead's overwhelmingly loud and fast style of heavy metal was one of the most groundbreaking styles the genre had to offer in the late '70s." and though "Motörhead wasn't punk rock...they were the first metal band to harness that energy and, in the process, they created speed metal and thrash metal." Whether they created these genres might be subject to debate, but Motörhead were unquestionably influential.
Lemmy has stated that he generally feels more kinship with punk rockers than with metal bands: Motörhead had gigs with fellow Brits The Damned, with whom he played bass on a handful of late '70s gigs, as well as having penned the song "R.A.M.O.N.E.S." as a tribute to The Ramones. Motörhead, Lemmy states, have more in common aesthetically with the Damned than Black Sabbath, and nothing whatsoever in common with Judas Priest. Lemmy says he feels little kinship with the speed metal bands Motörhead have inspired:They've just got the wrong bit. They think that being fast and loud is the whole thing and it isn't. The guitar solos are not really difficult for a guitar player, it's just playing scales. To feel a solo and bend into it & I mean Hendrix is the best guitarist you've ever seen in your life. And he learned from people like Buddy Guy, Lightnin' Hopkins and people like that inspired Hendrix. To be influenced by something, you're gonna have to play it the same.
Of the genre debate itself Lemmy is more forthright, when Joel McIver spoke to him for an interview published in the January 2000 edition of Record Collector, he asked him if he thought some people get confused between hard rock and soft metal and all the other categories, Lemmy replied "Cunt metal? Spunk metal? Left-handed metal? Right-handed metal? Upwardly-mobile metal? This term "heavy metal" is only rock'n'roll anyway, because metal bands are the logical successors to Eddie Cochran and Buddy Holly".
The NME stated that their brief solos were just long enough "...to open another bottle of beer", while a 1977 Stereo Review commented that "they know they're like animals, and they don't want to appear any other way. In view of the many ugly frogs in heavy metal who think they are God's gift to womankind these Quasimodos even seem charming in their own way". Motörhead's approach has not changed drastically over the band's career, though this is a deliberate choice: erstwhile Motörhead drummer Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor said that rock icons like Chuck Berry and Little Richard never drastically altered their style, and, like them, Motörhead preferred to play what they enjoyed and did best. This fondness for the first decade of rock and roll (mid-1950s to mid-1960s) is also reflected in some of Motörhead's occasional cover songs from that era.
Motörhead's lyrics typically cover such topics as war, good versus evil, abuse of power, promiscuous sex, substance abuse, and "life on the road" — the latter is portrayed in songs like "(We Are) The Road Crew", "Iron Horse/Born to Lose", and "Keep Us on the Road".
Supporters
Motörheadbangers
During the 1979 'Bomber' tour of Great Britain, the band met with writer Alan Burridge who then produced the first 'Motorhead Magazine'. Around the same time, drummer Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor's sister, Helen Taylor, had started the Motörheadbangers fan club. Burridge and Taylor worked together to print the latest news for Motörhead fans, the first fanzine was published in January 1980. The Motörheadbangers fanzine is printed three times a year, and has 3,000 subscribers.
Paul Hadwen, who had worked on the 'cartoon' style of the early Motorheadbangers fanzines with Chris Harris during Helen Taylor's leadership, and also drew the 'comic strip' art included with the 'Another Perfect Day' album, died at his home in Leeds in late July, 2007, aged 50.
WWE
Motörhead are well-known in the professional wrestling community for performing popular wrestler Triple H's entrance music, "The Game", from Christmas 2000. In addition to the track being heard on numerous occasions on WWE Raw and at other pay-per-view wrestling shows, the band have performed the song live at two WrestleMania events, WrestleMania X-Seven and WrestleMania 21. They also provided the entrance music for Triple H's (now defunct) faction "Evolution" titled "Line in the Sand". "The Game" was released on both the American version of Hammered album and WWF The Music Volume 5, and the Evolution theme song was released on the WWE ThemeAddict album. Since then, Motörhead have performed a new track titled "King of Kings", emphasizing Triple H's new "King of Kings" character, which made its debut at WrestleMania 22. "King of Kings" is also featured on the WWE Wreckless Intent compilation album. "The Game" and "Line in the Sand" are also featured on the RAW 15th Anniversary compilation CD.
Triple H confessed on his 2002 DVD release The Game that he has been a lifelong Motörhead fan, and that it was a huge honour to have Motörhead play him down the ring at WrestleMania X-Seven. Furthermore, on the extras section of the WrestleMania 21 DVD Release, there is a segment that features Triple H hanging out in the lockeroom area with Motörhead who perform an acoustic version of "The Game", without vocals. Also in segments and video shoots that feature Triple H outside of the ring (usually segments in the gym) he is often wearing Motörhead merchandise—most commonly t-shirts. Triple H previously sported a handlebar moustache/beard, which was often said to be in homage to Lemmy.
Motörhead performed the theme song for Unforgiven 2008, "Rock Out".
Tribute bands
UK tribute band Motörheadache was formed in May 2003 and embarked on its first "Beyond the Threshold of Pain" tour of the UK from August of that year. Based in Sheffield, the band features original members Rob (Lemmy) and Nigel Plant (more Phil Campbell than 'Fast Eddie') and has had many different drummers. During the course of their career they have been joined onstage by 'Fast' Eddie Clarke and supported Girlschool.
Other Motörhead tribute bands include "We're Not Motörhead" from Portsmouth, "Ace Of Spades" from Varberg, Sweden, "Motorkill" from the Midlands, United Kingdom, "Motorheat" of Belgium, "Bömbers" from Norway, featuring Abbath (Immortal), "Lemmy's Wärt", "Mauro Tolot Kilmister" and the "Reptiles" from Italy, "Motorheads" from Moscow, Russia, "Motörhead Tribute" formed by UCLA and USC students out of the Los Angeles area, "Bastradi" from Italy, "Overhead" from Norway, and "Elderhead" from New York City.
Tribute albums
Motörhead have been the subject of several tribute albums, markedly in the years since 1999. Genres range from hardcore punk and rock, to black and death metal and industrial.
- Built for Speed: A Motorhead Tribute: 1999, Victory Records, various (hardcore, punk) artists.
- A Motorhead Tribute: 2000, Pink Honey Records, various (?rock?) artists.
- Tribute to Motorhead: 2006, Crimson Mask, various (black/death metal) artists.
- Dead Forever: Tribute to Motörhead: 1999, Dwell, various (death metal and industrial artists)
- Killed By Death: 1997, MAKE 'EM DEAF FOREVER - A TRIBUTE TO THE LOUDEST BAND IN THE WORLD - MOTORHEAD.
- Homenaje a Motörhead: Spanish release, 2005, El Diablo.
- Remember Me Now... I'm Motörhead: 2005, Scatboy Records, USA.
- Motörmorphösis – A Tribute to Motörhead Part 1 2001, Remedy Records.
- Saint Valentine's Day Massacre - Tribute to Motorhead: 2005, Bad Reputation Records.
- Strength to Endure – A Tribute to Ramones and Motorhead by Rioygun and Bullet Treatment: 2002, Basement Records.
- Sheep In Wolves' Clothing 2008. Compiled and released by the band's Fan Club, Motorheadbangers World; features contributions from The Deviants with Philthy Animal Tayor and Girlschool with Fast Eddie Clarke.
Cover art
The band's name is usually printed in a lowercase form of blackletter, the umlaut over the ö is possibly derived from the similar "Heavy metal umlaut" in the name of their 1975 acquaintances Blue Öyster Cult. However, this umlaut does not alter the pronunciation of the band's name. When asked if Germans pronounced the band "Motuuuurhead", Lemmy answered "No, they don't. I only put it in there to look mean".
Snaggletooth, full name Snaggletooth B. Motörhead, (and erroneously called Warpig by many merchandise vendors), is the fanged face that serves as the symbol of Motörhead. Artist Joe Petagno created it in 1977 for the cover of the band's debut album, having met Lemmy while doing some work with Hawkwind. Petagno stated; The inspiration came from just being a naturally pissed off bastard! And Lemmy's the same way! So it was bound to be an alchemal wedding of a more "primordial nature". I did a lot of research on skull types and found a x-breed gorilla-wolf-dog combination would work nicely with some oversized boars horns. Lemmy added Helmet, chains, spit, spikes and grit.
Eddie Clarke was less sure about the imagery to begin with:
I shuddered when I saw it the first time. I thought, "Blimey, this ain't gonna go down that well", because it was just way over the top, then. But I grew to love it... [At first] it was not scary or horrifying, it would've been, in those days, deemed bad taste.
It has remained a symbol of Motörhead throughout the years, with Petagno creating many variations of Snaggletooth for the covers of ensuing albums. To date, only two of the original covers for Motörhead's 19 studio albums do not feature any variation of Snaggletooth on the cover: On Parole and Overnight Sensation, of which On Parole was re-released with a black snaggletooth on a white background. Phil is wearing a Snaggletooth badge on the cover of Ace of Spades. The cover of 'Iron Fist' depicts a metal gauntlet wearing four skull-shaped rings, one of which is Snaggletooth, while the rear of the album-sleeve shows a fully detailed 3-D metal sculpture of the symbol. Originally the Snaggletooth design included a swastika on one of the helmet's spikes. This was painted out on later re-releases of the albums on CD.
On September 21, 2007 Petagno announced that "there will be no more "HEADS" from my hand", citing irreconcilable differences between himself and the band's current Management, Singerman Entertainment. Petagno stated:It has been a long, exciting and industrious journey, full of art and intuition, difference in repetition, and creative innovation. I feel I accomplished something unique in Metal history over the last 31 years by breathing life again and again into a figment of my own imagination, an image or better an entity which has taken on a life of it's own, which I actually believe goes beyond the music it was created to represent. I'm damn proud of that! In reply Lemmy stated:As many of you know, we have been working with Joe Petagno for 31 years. We always treated Joe fairly, and I would like to stress that at no time did my manager demand what Joe thinks he demanded - it is all a colossal misunderstanding. We have always loved his artwork, obviously, and if he now decides to stop working with us, we have no choice but to use someone else. However...if he will not discuss this personally and try to work things out, I think it's a great tragedy. If Joe continues with us, no one would be more delighted than me. If it's goodbye, Joe, I wish you well, but I hope, even at this stage, to be reconciled and continue our association.
Discography
Filmography
- 1982 UndeRage: performing "Ace of Spades" — Contemporary Films Ltd
- 1985 Phenomena also known as Creepers: performing "Locomotive" — Genesis Home Video
- 1986 Zombie Nightmare: performing "Ace of Spades" — New World Pictures.
- 1988 The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years: performing "Cradle to the Grave" — RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video
- 1988 Eat the Rich: performing "Nothing up My Sleeve", "Built for Speed", "Orgasmatron", "Doctor Rock", "On the Road", "Eat the Rich" and "Bess" — New Line Home Entertainment. Halfway through shooting, the idea of gradually replacing the members of the ballroom band with Motörhead was hit upon. At first there are no Motörhead personnel, then Phil Campbell appears, followed by Würzel and Phil Taylor. The scene involving Lemmy riding a motorcycle is played by female stunt double as Lemmy was on tour with Motörhead in America at the time the scene had to be shot
- 1992 Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth: performing "Hellraiser" and "Hell on Earth". "Born to Raise Hell" was recorded in the same session, to play over the end credits, although it did not appear on the film's original soundtrack album — Directed by Anthony Hickox
- 1994 Airheads: performing "Born to Raise Hell" — 20th Century Fox Distribution
- 1990 Hardware: In his role, Lemmy plays "Ace of Spades" on the riverboat taxi's hi-fi — HBO Home Video
- 1996 Tromeo and Juliet: performing "Sacrifice" — Troma Team
- 1996 The Boy's Club: A-pix Entertainment
- 1997 Grosse Pointe Blank: performing "Ace of Spades" — Hollywood Pictures Home Video
- 1997 Wishmaster: also known as Wes Craven's Wishmaster: performing "Listen to the Heart" — directed by Robert Kurtzman
- 1998 Whatever: performing "The Chase Is Better Than The Catch" — Sony Pictures Classics/Columbia TriStar Home Video
- 1998 Bride of Chucky : performing Love For Sale — Universal Pictures
- 1998 Urban Legend : performing Deaf Forever — Sony Pictures
- 1999 Mrs. Death: performing "Born to Raise Hell" — directed by Jack Williams
- 2002 Ash Wednesday: performing "Shoot 'em Down" — directed by Edward Burns
- 2004 The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie: performing "You Better Swim" — United International Pictures based on their previously released song "You Better Run". The words were changed to being about fishes avoiding hooks, sharks, and killer whales.
- 2005 Metal: A Headbanger's Journey: performing "Ace of Spades" and "Killed by Death" — Seville Pictures/Warner Home Video
- 2006 Free Jimmy: performing "Ace of Spades" — directed by Christopher Nielsen
- 2006 Starter For 10: performing "Ace of Spades" — Picturehouse (awaiting release)
- 2007 Smokin' Aces: performing "Ace of Spades" — Universal Pictures Distribution
- 2007 Life on the Road With Mr. and Mrs. Brown: — La Vie En Rose (post-production)
- 2007 Shoot 'Em Up : performing "Ace of Spades" — New Line Cinema
Further reading
- Lemmy, White Line Fever. Simon & Schuster (2002). ISBN 0-684-85868-1
- Harry Shaw, Lemmy... In his own words. Omnibus Press 2002. ISBN 0-7119-9109-X
External links
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