Local Heroes

Lemmy and Motorhead are back!  Their World Tour, which passes through all known rock centres will return 'home' on 29th November 2009, when the band comes to the Civic at Wolverhampton. It's the nearest Lemmy comes to his home area. See more on the Motorhead website (link on right of this page).
We welcome you, o Rock God.

Make your comment by using the message board at the bottom of this page.

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Photo by Steve Plimmer

Addicted to Rock

"That's the way I like it honey - I ain't gonna live forever...! DUR-DUR-DUR-DOW-DOW-DOW"

In 1946, Ian Fraser Kilminster - or Lemmy to his friends and fans - was born in Burslem, one of Stoke-on-Trent's northern-most towns. He then lived in Newcastle and Madeley in the early years of his life.

And that's where the story of the 'frontman of the loudest rock band ever ever' started.

Son-of-a-vicar, Lemmy by degrees then became front man, singer/song-writer and bassist in the rock business - as one leather-clad, cigarette-smoking, Jack Daniels-swilling rock monster.

His career began in the early sixties with long forgotten bands the Rainmakers, Rockin' Vicars and Opal Butterfly.

Jimi's roadie

After being a roadie for guitar legend Jimi Hendrix, Lemmy joined psychedelic rock band Hawkwind in 1971, playing bass and occasionally singing.

You can hear him on their 1972 classic 'Silver Machine'.

Motörhead classic line-up

In 1975 Lemmy was sacked from the band when he got caught in possession of drugs at the Canadian border while on tour.

But a year later he had formed Motorhead, named after the last song he ever wrote for Hawkwind (and also British slang at the time for a speed freak), although Lemmy had wanted to call the band Bastard at first!

Motorhead

Although there have been many line-up changes, the classic Motorhead line-up that people remember includes Phil 'Philthy Animal' Taylor on drums and 'Fast' Eddie Clarke on guitar.

However, Lemmy has been the only constant band member of Motorhead, and still tours extensively. After a triumphant US and European tour in 2008 (which included a gig at the Donwload Festival) Motorhead are out on the road again at the back end of 2009, including their first trip to Russia in a decade.

Photo by Steve Plimmer

Lemmy has confirmed that after that it's back into the studio to record album number 20, which will mark the 35th anniversary of the band. But will anything special be done in recognition?

Lemmy told bravewords.com: “I don’t think so. It’s only the 35th anniversary of Motörhead. I’ve been in music longer. It’s my 43rd (anniversary) or something like that. Our management will probably think up something embarrassing for us to do.”

Movies and Merchandise

You can now buy your own plastic effigy of Stoke's most famous rocker, after an officially licensed action figure was launched. He also appears as a character in the video games Guitar Hero: Metallica, and Brutal Legend.

There is also talk of a Lemmy movie, in the form of a rockumentary due for release in 2010. It's entitled simply "Lemmy", and is two years in the making featuring interviews with friends, band-mates peers, and admirers including Dave Grohl, Ozzy Osbourne, and Alice Cooper.

The producers say the film will set the record straight on many rumours and myths regarding Lemmy's lifestyle.

Intoxicated, in video games, immortalised in plastic, and coming to a stage or cinema near you - Lemmy. May the Potteries boy rock forever....

Photo by Steve Plimmer

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Local music journalist Kirsty Bosley has written in with her thoughts about legendary Lemmy...

In 1975, before heavy metal, and when rock and roll was at its height, a man from Stoke-on-Trent called Ian Kilmister created a band. The man was Lemmy, the band was Motorhead, and the rest is history.

Heard of them? Of course you have. Everyone has. Regardless of whether you like rock and roll or not, because Motorhead are a band that can pull in thousands of fans at one of their gigs today, just as they could in 1977.

And those fans are not only people’s dads. For example, my first experience of Motorhead was a truly epic one.

Watching a repeat of The Young Ones on TV, aged six, I didn’t really get it. The jokes didn’t make any sense, Alexei Sayle wasn’t funny, but the slapstick fights captivated me enough to stop me from wandering off and causing trouble. And then, all at once, I realised what it was that would truly keep my captivated for the next fifteen years.

Chugging guitar riffs

Lemmy came on the screen, wheezing like an engine. Chugging guitar riffs, a makeshift bit of moshing in The Young Ones’ student accommodation, and the band had unknowingly gained a new fan in the TV episode that they had filmed four years prior to my birth.

Photo by Steve Plimmer

There’s just something about vocalist/bassist Lemmy that grips you. Over the years, Motorhead have had five guitarists, five drummers but only one Lemmy.

Alan Burridge is a writer, who has been working with Motorhead for almost thirty years as the band's fan club organiser and editor. Once described by Lemmy as part of ‘The Motorhead Family’, Alan is proud to have seen the band change and adapt over the years.

A love of touring

“Motorhead's penchant for touring keeps them in the public eye”, explains Alan. “And along with being icons for our/Lemmy's generation, they are legends to go and see or buy their albums for the younger fans.”

And Alan is right, Phil Campbell, Mikkey Dee and Lemmy Kilmister have had a major impact on young fans, and their musical developments.

Ben Pigot, 16, from Lincolnshire has been a fan of the band since he was 13, after seeing them, like I did, on TV.

He said: “The bands down to earth approach to music, the rawness and uncompromising simplicity of their songs, and the real life story based lyrics are what make Motorhead so great. You can't ask for anything more than that!”

Thanks for your messages. Here's a selection of your tributes...

MOTORHEADBANGER, BELGIUM:
Lem,please get back together with Philty and Eddie

TIN:
Lemmy was so FAB!!!!! at the concert in S'hampton a few weeks ago I can't belive and even my 15 yr old daughter was headbanging!!! Lemmy is STILL going VERY STRONG!

ALEXANDRA VICTORIA HUME:
Saw Lemmy & co last night in Leicester, my hearing has returned but what a great night out! Just as rocking as they ever were, and glad to see a sell out. Best stop short of saying lemmy looked as good as ever, but up to the task none the less. Rock on Lemmy! xxx

ANON. COZ SENDING THIS FROM WORK!:
Lemmy: One of the few real rebels in rock. As real as real can be, and twice as genuine.

RICH:
Saw then at Manchester Apollo this time last year. They were class. Thanks for giving me very painful tinitus. It was worth it.

TEL:
Lemmy rocks!!! The one true gig every year.

GINGE PORTER:
Pardon!!?! Was the result of probably one of the most underrated, yet best rock acts of the late seventies an early eighties. I saw them back in the seventies in Stafford supported by the Count Bishops (who or where ever they were or went to) but the only classic Motorhead line up for myself would be the Kilminster/Clarke/Taylor one.

DEC BRENNAN:
I have to thank Lemmy and the guys for my hearing impairment....what did you say??? I was there for Overkill, nevermind Ace Of Spades!! Love me like a reptile.