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Motörhead

From Alfawiki
Motörhead
Company typeBand
IndustryMusic
Founded1975 in London, England
FounderLemmy Kilmister, Larry Wallis, Lucas Fox
Defunct2015
Headquarters
London
,
United Kingdom
ProductsStudio albums, live albums, compilation albums, EPs

Motörhead () was a British rock group established in London in 1975 by bassist and lead singer Lemmy Kilmister, guitarist Larry Wallis, and drummer Lucas Fox. Lemmy served as the chief songwriter and remained the sole consistent member throughout the band's existence. Recognized as a forerunner of the new wave of British heavy metal, Motörhead played a pivotal role in rejuvenating heavy metal during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Although various guitarists and drummers were part of the lineup over time, the most commercially successful albums featured drummer Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor and guitarist "Fast" Eddie Clarke. From 1995 until their dissolution in 2015, the band consisted of Kilmister, guitarist Phil Campbell, and drummer Mikkey Dee.

Over a career spanning four decades, Motörhead produced 22 studio albums, 10 live albums, 12 compilation records, and five EPs. Primarily functioning as a power trio, they achieved notable commercial acclaim in the early 1980s with multiple singles reaching the UK Top 40. Albums like Overkill, Bomber (both released in 1979), Ace of Spades (1980), along with their live album No Sleep 'til Hammersmith (1981), established them as a prominent force in rock music. The band is ranked number 26 on VH1's list of the 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock. By 2025, Motörhead had sold in excess of 25 million albums globally.

While often categorized within heavy metal, Motörhead's influence extended across various subgenres including thrash metal and speed metal. Lemmy consistently described the group as a rock and roll band with strong punk influences, which contributed to their distinctive sound that resonated with both punk and metal fans. Their lyrical themes frequently explored topics such as warfare, abuse of authority, promiscuity, substance addiction, and gambling—the latter exemplified by their signature track "Ace of Spades."

Lemmy passed away on 28 December 2015 due to cardiac arrhythmia and congestive heart failure, following a diagnosis of prostate cancer. The day after his death, remaining members Dee and Campbell announced that Motörhead had officially disbanded. By 2018, all members from Motörhead’s classic lineup—Lemmy, Taylor, and Clarke—had died.

1975–1977: Formation and early years

Following his dismissal from Hawkwind in May 1975 after a drug-related arrest, Lemmy founded Motörhead, naming it after the final song he penned for Hawkwind.[1] His vision was to create music that was "fast and vicious," drawing inspiration from MC5, emphasizing loudness, raw energy, and aggression in rock. Lemmy brought on guitarist Larry Wallis (formerly of Pink Fairies) along with drummer Lucas Fox. Their initial rehearsal took place at Sound Management studios in Chelsea, London, often relying on borrowed gear due to limited resources.[2] Their first live performance was as an opening act for Greenslade in July 1975, soon followed by supporting Blue Öyster Cult at the Hammersmith Odeon.

Through Andrew Lauder—former A&R representative for Hawkwind—they secured a contract with United Artists. Early recording sessions were produced by Dave Edmunds. Due to reliability concerns, Fox was replaced by drummer Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor. United Artists declined to release these initial recordings; they were eventually issued as On Parole in 1979 after Motörhead gained popularity.[3]

In March 1976, guitarist "Fast" Eddie Clarke joined the band, completing what would become the classic power trio lineup alongside Lemmy and Taylor.[4] They recorded "Leaving Here" for Stiff Records, but United Artists prevented its release because of contractual restrictions. Early critical reception was mixed; notably, they were ironically voted "best worst band" by readers of NME.[5]

By April 1977, Taylor and Clarke intended to depart following a final performance at the Marquee Club. During this period, Ted Carroll from Chiswick Records offered studio time instead of recording a live show. The band laid down thirteen tracks over several days with producer Speedy Keen, culminating in their self-titled debut album Motörhead, which came out in August 1977 and reached number 43 on the UK Albums Chart.[6] Subsequently, they toured supporting Hawkwind before headlining their own "Beyond the Threshold of Pain Tour" alongside early punk/pub rock band the Count Bishops.

Management duties shifted to Tony Secunda in August 1977; however, internal challenges led Clarke and Taylor to form a side project called the Muggers with Speedy Keen and Billy Rath by March 1978.[7]

1978–1979: Breakthrough with Overkill and Bomber

In July 1978, Motörhead reconnected with manager Douglas Smith, who negotiated a one-off singles agreement with Gerry Bron's Bronze Records. This collaboration produced the single "Louie Louie", a rendition of the Richard Berry and The Kingsmen classic, released in September and reaching number 68 on the UK Singles Chart. To promote the track, the band embarked on a UK tour, recorded a session for BBC Radio 1's John Peel in session on 18 September (later featured on the 2005 BBC Live & In-Session compilation), and made their inaugural appearance on BBC Television's Top of the Pops on 25 October. Capitalizing on this momentum, early Punk label Chiswick Records reissued their debut album Motörhead on white vinyl via EMI Records.

The success of the single prompted Bronze to renew their contract with Motörhead, bringing them back into the studio to work with producer Jimmy Miller at Roundhouse Studios. On 9 March 1979, they performed "Overkill" on Top of the Pops just before releasing the album on 24 March. Overkill marked Motörhead's first entry into the UK Albums top 40, peaking at number 24; its single climbed to number 39. This was followed by a UK tour commencing on 23 March. In June, they released a single featuring "No Class" backed with the previously unreleased "Like a Nightmare," which reached number 61 in the UK singles chart.

During July and August, aside from a short hiatus for the Reading Festival, Motörhead concentrated on recording their next album, Bomber. Released on 27 October, it achieved a peak position of number 12 on the UK Albums Chart. The single "Bomber" was issued on 1 December and peaked at number 34. Their Europe and UK tour supporting the album included opening acts like Saxon, and featured an innovative bomber-shaped lighting rig that enhanced their stage presentation. During this period, United Artists released On Parole, a compilation of earlier sessions recorded at Rockfield Studios between 1975 and 1976, which reached number 65 in December.

While touring Europe on 8 May 1980, Bronze released The Golden Years, which became their highest-selling release up to that point, peaking at number eight on the UK Singles Chart. The band had initially preferred to title it Flying Tonight, referencing their "Bomber" stage rig. On 20 August, Motörhead recorded a 40-minute live performance for the television program Rockstage at Nottingham Theatre Royal alongside Girlschool, which aired on ATV on 4 April 1981.

1980–1982: Success with Ace of Spades and Iron Fist

During August and September of 1980, Motörhead worked with producer Vic Maile at Jackson's Studios. The single "Ace of Spades" was released on 27 October 1980 as a preview to their forthcoming album Ace of Spades, which followed shortly after on 8 November. The single reached number 15 while the album attained number four on the UK charts—marking the band's highest chart position to date. To celebrate its gold certification, Bronze Records issued a limited edition pressing on gold vinyl.

In November 1980, Motörhead performed "Ace of Spades" on Top of the Pops and embarked on their "Ace Up Your Sleeve" UK tour from 22 October to 29 November with support from Girlschool and Vardis. They also appeared on ITV's children's program Tiswas on 8 November. The album’s desert-themed visuals were captured at a sandpit located in Barnet. "Ace of Spades" became synonymous with Motörhead's identity, cementing their reputation while preserving their raw intensity.

Coinciding with the release of Ace of Spades, Big Beat Records issued four previously unreleased tracks from 1977 as part of the Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers EP, which reached number 43 in November.

In early 1981, Motörhead continued chart success with the collaborative EP St. Valentine's Day Massacre, recorded with Girlschool and reaching number five in February; followed by the live single "Motorhead," which peaked at number six in July; and their live album No Sleep 'til Hammersmith, which secured the top spot on the UK Albums Chart in June. The live recordings were captured during their March "Short Sharp, Pain in the Neck" UK tour.

From April through July 1981, Motörhead toured North America as support for Blizzard of Ozz, while promoting "Motorhead" with an appearance on Top of the Pops broadcasted on 9 July. In October, they recorded sessions at BBC's Maida Vale studios for David Jensen’s radio program. Subsequently, they launched a European tour beginning on 20 November, supported by Tank, whose debut album Filth Hounds of Hades was produced by Clarke later that year at Ramport Studios.

Recording sessions for their self-produced album commenced between 26 and 28 January 1982 at Ramport Studios and continued through February at Morgan Studios. The single "Iron Fist", released on 3 April, reached number 29 in the UK Singles Chart; followed by the album Iron Fist, issued on 17 April and peaking at number six in the UK Albums Chart. These releases marked the final output featuring Lemmy, Clarke, and Taylor together. The band toured across the UK from 17 March to 12 April supporting Iron Fist, then undertook their first headline North American tour from mid-May until Clarke’s last performance with them at New York’s Palladium on 14 May.

1982–1985: Lineup Changes, Another Perfect Day and No Remorse

During the recording of the Stand By Your Man cover with Wendy O. Williams and the Plasmatics, Clarke departed, citing concerns that the project compromised the band's core values. After leaving, he went on to establish Fastway. Subsequently, Lemmy and Taylor brought in Brian Robertson, formerly of Thin Lizzy, on a one-album contract, which led to the 1983 release of Another Perfect Day along with singles "Shine" and "I Got Mine".

Throughout 1983, the group toured extensively across Japan, Europe, and the United States. However, Robertson's unconventional stage costumes and reluctance to perform classic Motörhead songs created tension within the band, culminating in his exit following their November concert in Berlin. After his departure, Motörhead recruited guitarists Würzel and Phil Campbell (previously with Persian Risk), restoring a dual lead guitar formation. In February 1984, this lineup recorded "Ace of Spades" for the British TV show The Young Ones. Shortly afterward, Taylor left and was succeeded by Pete Gill, formerly of Saxon.

Bronze Records expressed skepticism about the revamped lineup's prospects and intended to release a compilation album. Lemmy took charge by selecting tracks himself and insisted on adding four new songs per side. Recording sessions in May 1984 yielded six new tracks; the single "Killed by Death" peaked at No. 51 in the UK charts, while the double album No Remorse earned silver certification and reached No. 14 on UK charts.

Conflicts over promotional efforts with Bronze Records escalated into a two-year legal dispute that included a recording ban. Consequently, the band concentrated on live performances for income, touring Australia, New Zealand, Hungary, and conducting the No Remorse "Death on the Road" tour in late 1984. Their UK tour featured a live appearance on the children's program The Saturday Starship, which attracted noise complaints.

On 26 October, Motörhead performed on Channel 4's The Tube, delivering renditions of "Killed By Death" and "Steal Your Face". From November to December they toured North America alongside Exciter and Mercyful Fate before playing additional dates in West Germany.

In April 1985, ITV broadcast further live footage from The Tube. The band also appeared on Channel 4's ECT dressed in tuxedos. Celebrating their tenth anniversary, two concerts at Hammersmith Odeon were recorded and released as The Birthday Party. Following this, they toured Sweden and Norway before returning to the US for shows through mid to late 1985.

1986–1989: Orgasmatron and Rock 'n' Roll

Between 26 March and 3 April 1986, Motörhead embarked on their "Easter Metal Blast" tour across West Germany, the Netherlands, and Denmark, followed by two performances in Bologna and Milan in June. The legal dispute with Bronze Records concluded favorably for the band. Their management subsequently launched an independent label named GWR. Recording sessions at Master Rock Studios in London produced the single "Deaf Forever", released on 5 July as a lead-in to the album Orgasmatron, which was issued on 9 August. On release day, Lemmy and Würzel appeared on BBC Radio 1's Saturday Live, where both "Orgasmatron" and "Deaf Forever" were broadcast. The single reached No. 67 while the album peaked at No. 21 on UK charts.

On 16 August, Motörhead performed at Monsters of Rock at Castle Donington, with BBC Radio 1 recording their set for a Friday Rock Show transmission. The concert concluded dramatically with a flyover by WWII German aircraft. Lemmy was also filmed providing commentary about parody metal band "Bad News" for a Peter Richardson Comic Strip production titled "More Bad News," coinciding with Comic Strip's performance at Donington that day. In September, they supported Orgasmatron with a UK tour featuring Zodiac Mindwarp and the Love Reaction as opening act. October saw them touring America again, followed by December dates in West Germany.

In 1987, during filming of Eat the Rich, which starred Lemmy alongside Robbie Coltrane and Kathy Burke among others, Pete Gill exited; Taylor returned briefly for a cameo appearance alongside Würzel and Campbell as part of the "In House Club Band." The song "Eat the Rich" was written specifically for this film’s soundtrack that also included tracks from Orgasmatron as well as Würzel’s solo single "Bess." Their second release under GWR Records was Rock 'n' Roll, launched on 5 September after an intense studio period. Although containing some fan favorites like "Eat the Rich," band members later acknowledged that it was assembled rather hastily.

On 2 July 1988, Motörhead played at the Giants of Rock Festival in Hämeenlinna, Finland; recordings from this event were issued as No Sleep at All on 15 October. A single was planned featuring "Traitor" as its A-side; however, "Ace of Spades" was substituted instead. Upon learning of this alteration, Motörhead halted its distribution—it was withdrawn from sale except during their "No Sleep at All" tour and via their fan club. Despite continuing live performances through 1989 and into 1990, dissatisfaction grew regarding their career direction, culminating in a legal battle with GWR that was only resolved by mid-1990.

1990–1992: Epic/WTG period: 1916 and March ör Die

Following the resolution of legal disputes, Motörhead inked a deal with Epic/WTG and spent the latter part of 1990 in Los Angeles working on a new album and single. Before recording commenced, former manager Doug Smith released the band's 10th anniversary concert recording without their consent. Initially collaborating with producer Ed Stasium, the band parted ways with him after discovering unauthorized percussion elements on "Going to Brazil." Production duties were then taken over by Peter Solley. The single "The One to Sing the Blues" was launched in late 1990, followed by the album 1916 in January 1991. The single peaked at No. 45, while the album reached No. 24 on the UK charts.

Motörhead embarked on an intense touring schedule, including the "It Serves You Right" tour across the UK, "Lights Out Over Europe," as well as dates in Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and a U.S. tour alongside Judas Priest, Alice Cooper, Metal Church, and Dangerous Toys. Their 1991 concluded with performances in Germany.

On 28 March 1992, Motörhead played what would be drummer Phil Taylor's final concert at Irvine Meadows in California. Amidst managerial shifts, Todd Singerman was appointed as manager, succeeding Doug Banker. During the 1992 Los Angeles riots, the band recorded March ör Die at Music Grinder Studios utilizing three drummers: Taylor (who was dismissed for not mastering "I Ain't No Nice Guy"), Tommy Aldridge (performing on most tracks), and Mikkey Dee (featured on "Hellraiser"). The album included guest appearances from Ozzy Osbourne and Slash.

1993–1997: Bastards, Sacrifice, and Overnight Sensation

Lemmy had been acquainted with Mikkey Dee since King Diamond toured with Motörhead. Although Dee initially declined Motörhead’s offer due to commitments with King Diamond, he joined the band after impressing them with his work on "Hellraiser." Dee's debut performance took place on 30 August at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center. The revamped lineup toured alongside Ozzy Osbourne, Skew Siskin, and Exodus, highlighted by a significant show on 27 September at the Los Angeles Coliseum featuring Metallica and Guns N' Roses. Subsequent tours included Argentina, Brazil, and Europe through December.

In April 1993, Motörhead performed in Buenos Aires and continued touring Europe until July before returning to the U.S. for a show at New York's Ritz. Seeking a new producer for their next project, they selected Howard Benson, who would produce four consecutive albums for them. Sessions held at A&M and Prime Time Studios in Hollywood culminated in the release of Bastards on 29 November 1993. The single "Don't Let Daddy Kiss Me" featured "Born to Raise Hell," which was later re-recorded with Ice-T and Whitfield Crane for the Airheads soundtrack, where Lemmy also made a cameo appearance. Despite receiving airplay, ZYX Music declined to provide promotional funding, prompting the band to distribute copies independently. A European tour wrapped up the year.

Early 1994 saw Motörhead touring the U.S. alongside Black Sabbath and Morbid Angel, continuing American dates through May. On 14 May, they played to an audience of 50,000 at Buenos Aires' Estadio Velez with support from the Ramones. Tours in Japan and Europe followed over subsequent months.

The year 1995 began with European dates in April, followed by a second tour with Black Sabbath alongside Tiamat until illness necessitated a return to Los Angeles for recording sessions at Cherokee Studios. During this period, Würzel left due to his limited involvement with the band. The album Sacrifice included its title track featured in Tromeo and Juliet, narrated by Lemmy himself. Operating as a trio thereafter, Motörhead toured Europe and South America later that year. Lemmy’s 50th birthday was celebrated at Whisky a Go Go with Metallica performing under the name "the Lemmy's."

Motörhead's early 1996 itinerary involved a U.S. tour followed by European and South American legs mid-year. From October to December, they toured the U.S., supported by Belladonna and Speedball. Recording sessions for Overnight Sensation took place at Ocean Studio and Track House Recording Studio; released on 15 October, it marked their first official trio album since Another Perfect Day and represented their best-distributed release in several years. The year concluded with thirteen concerts across Germany.

In 1997, extensive touring commenced with the European leg of Overnight Sensation, starting on 12 January at London Astoria and featuring guest appearances from Todd Campbell (Phil Campbell’s son) and "Fast" Eddie Clarke. After completing European dates through March, they toured Japan from late May until June 1 before embarking on a U.S. tour with W.A.S.P. through June. August included additional European and British shows culminating at Brixton Academy on 25 October where Lemmy’s son Paul Inder made a guest appearance. Four concerts in Russia during October rounded out their schedule for that year.

1998–2003: Snake Bite Love, We Are Motörhead, and Hammered

Lemmy highlighted the band's growing success on tour, noting that countries such as Argentina and Japan were now hosting larger-capacity shows, while promoters in England increasingly recognized the financial benefits of staging Motörhead concerts. The trio's strong performance inspired the release of another live album, but first, they unveiled the studio album Snake Bite Love on 3 March 1998.

The "Snake Bite Love" tour kicked off alongside Judas Priest at Los Angeles' Universal Amphitheatre on 3 April. On 21 May, a concert in Hamburg was recorded for the live album Everything Louder Than Everyone Else. The band participated in the U.S. Ozzfest Tour from July to early August, followed by a European leg between October and November. The UK portion, dubbed the "No Speak With Forked Tongue" tour, featured supporting acts Groop Dogdrill, Radiator, and Psycho Squad, with Todd Campbell—Phil Campbell's son—fronting the latter.

In 1999, Motörhead embarked on a U.S. tour from April through June before heading to Karo Studios in Germany to record We Are Motörhead, which was released in May 2000. During these sessions, they also performed across Europe, including a show near Milan where Metallica’s James Hetfield made a guest appearance on "Overkill". Later that year, they toured the U.S. with Nashville Pussy in October and November, then continued with the "Monsters of the Millennium" European tour alongside Manowar, Dio, and Lion’s Share. Two final London Astoria gigs concluded the year as part of Kerrang! "X-Fest", featuring guest vocalists Skin (Skunk Anansie), Nina C. Alice (Skew Siskin), and Ace (Skunk Anansie).

May 2000 saw the release of We Are Motörhead along with its single cover of "God Save the Queen". The band launched tours across South and North America from May to June and followed with nine European performances in July. On 26 August, they issued a double-disc compilation titled The Best Of.

After completing four dates in Japan, Motörhead commemorated their 25th anniversary with a special concert at London's Brixton Academy on 22 October. The event featured guest appearances by "Fast" Eddie Clarke, Brian May, Doro Pesch, Whitfield Crane, Ace, Paul Inder, and Todd Campbell. This show revived the iconic Bomber lighting setup and was recorded for the 25 & Alive Boneshaker DVD released the following year; a CD version appeared two years later. Lemmy regarded this celebration as an important preservation of the band's legacy after previously skipping milestone anniversaries.

Following this, the band undertook an intense East and West European tour throughout late 2000 that involved challenging logistics. After a brief hiatus, they recorded Hammered at Chuck Reid’s residence in Hollywood Hills; this album was released in 2002. On 1 April 2001, Motörhead performed a single track for Triple H’s entrance at WrestleMania X-Seven held at Houston’s Reliant Astrodome. The "We Are Motörhead" tour resumed in May across Ireland and the UK with support from Goldblade and Pure Rubbish; select London shows also featured Backyard Babies and Paul Inder.

Between June and August 2001, Motörhead appeared at several major European rock festivals including Graspop Metal Meeting (Belgium), Quart Festival (Norway), and Wacken Open Air—where four songs were recorded for their anniversary DVD. A short U.S. tour followed during September and October.

In April 2002, alongside releasing a DVD compilation titled The Best of Motörhead, they supported Hammered with a U.S. tour through May and a European leg extending until August. October included a British tour with Anthrax, Skew Siskin, and Psycho Squad; at Wembley Arena, Hawkwind replaced Psycho Squad with Lemmy joining them on "Silver Machine." The remainder of October into November was spent touring Europe alongside Anthrax.

Early 2003 saw Motörhead continuing promotion of Hammered in the U.S., with Todd Youth filling in for Phil Campbell during his bereavement. Summer festival appearances across Europe took place from late May to mid-July before they toured the U.S. with Iron Maiden and Dio throughout August. On 7 October, they released Stone Deaf Forever!, an extensive five-disc anthology covering their work from 1975 to 2002. Earlier that year on 1 September, Motörhead was inducted into Hollywood’s Rock Walk of Fame at Whisky A Go-Go.

October featured a UK tour supporting The Wildhearts and Young Heart Attack; later that month included shows in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Spain. A German-Swiss tour followed from November through December with Skew Siskin and Mustasch as support acts. On 9 December, they released the previously recorded live album Live at Brixton Academy.

2004–2009: Inferno, Kiss of Death, and Motörizer

On 22 February 2004, Motörhead performed an exclusive concert at London's Royal Opera House, followed by appearances at summer festivals across South America and Europe. They issued Inferno on 22 June and subsequently toured Ireland alongside Class of Zero, then the UK with Sepultura. A London performance was recorded for television, featuring Gene Simmons introducing Class, a youth band from his show Rock School. Würzel made a guest appearance on the track "Overkill". The band continued touring Europe with Sepultura through November and December; their Düsseldorf concert was captured for the Stage Fright DVD.

In 2005, Motörhead secured their inaugural Grammy in the Best Metal Performance category for their rendition of Metallica's "Whiplash" on Metallic Attack: The Ultimate Tribute. Lemmy recognized this accolade as commemorating their 30 years but expressed a desire for acknowledgment of their original material. The group toured the United States from March through May, followed by a European "30th Anniversary" tour in June and August. On 22 August, Channel 4 broadcast an hour-long documentary titled Live Fast, Die Old, chronicling the band's journey.

A collection combining BBC Radio 1 sessions with a live London concert was released as BBC Live & In-Session on 20 September. October featured European tours with Mondo Generator, In Flames, and Girlschool; during a Brixton Academy show, Lemmy joined Girlschool on stage. The year concluded with tours in New Zealand and Australia alongside Mötley Crüe, plus a performance at the Vaya Con Tioz festival.

In 2006, Motörhead embarked on a four-date US tour at House of Blues venues in March, followed by summer festival appearances across Europe. On 29 August, they launched Kiss of Death through Sanctuary Records, accompanied by a music video for "Be My Baby" and a European tour culminating at Brixton Academy. Additionally, the band sponsored Lincoln’s Greenbank B under-10s football team, which featured Motörhead branding and used "Ace of Spades" as entrance music.

During April 2007, Motörhead performed in Venezuela and Brazil before appearing at London’s Royal Festival Hall as part of Jarvis Cocker's Meltdown festival. A re-release of No Sleep 'til Hammersmith was issued in February 2008.

Between March and June 2008, the band recorded their 19th studio album, Motörizer, in Los Angeles with producer Cameron Webb; drum parts were tracked at Dave Grohl’s studio. Released on 26 August, this album marked a shift away from Joe Petagno’s traditional cover artwork. Motörhead played prominent festivals including Download and joined Judas Priest, Heaven & Hell, and Testament for the Metal Masters Tour. They conducted an extensive North American tour throughout August and September.

On 30 September 2008, Neverdie Studios revealed plans to create Lemmy-themed virtual assets within Entropia Universe. The year concluded with a 34-date European tour supported by Danko Jones, Saxon, Witchcraft, and Airbourne.

In March 2009, Motörhead made their debut Middle Eastern appearance at the Dubai Desert Rock Festival and entered into a two-year sponsorship agreement with the UK Roller Derby team Lincolnshire Bombers Roller Girls. In September, Matt Sorum substituted for Mikkey Dee during a US tour; Sorum commended Lemmy's professionalism.

Tours in November 2009 included support from NWOBHM pioneers Sweet Savage in Ireland—marking three decades since first sharing a stage—and punk/goth icons The Damned in the UK. Captain Sensible described collaborating with Lemmy as “the real deal” and anticipated a rock ’n’ roll celebration throughout the tour.

2010–2015: The Wörld Is Yours, Aftershock, and Bad Magic

In November 2009, Lemmy revealed that Motörhead would begin recording their 20th studio album in February 2010. The sessions for The Wörld Is Yours took place at Longwave Studio in Cardiff, with production handled by Cameron Webb and Romesh Dodangoda. The album, comprising 11 tracks, initially launched exclusively through Classic Rock magazine on 14 December 2010, before receiving a wider CD release on 17 January 2011 under the Motörhead Music label.

To support the release, Motörhead embarked on an extensive touring schedule, including a UK tour celebrating their 35th anniversary in November 2010, followed by a European leg later that year and a tour across the Americas in 2011. In October 2010, the band recorded a slow blues rendition of "Ace of Spades" for a Kronenbourg beer advertisement. The single "Get Back in Line" was issued in December 2010 accompanied by a music video. Additionally, plans for a box set featuring DVDs were announced for release in 2011.

Early in 2011, Motörhead performed at major festivals such as Sonisphere and Brutal Assault and made an appearance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Former guitarist Würzel passed away in July of that year. The band also released the live DVD The Wörld Is Ours – Vol 1 – Everywhere Further Than Everyplace Else, which showcased performances from Manchester, New York City, and Santiago de Chile. They confirmed their participation in the German festivals Rock am Ring and Rock im Park scheduled for June 2012.

Between January and February 2012, Motörhead toured North America as part of Gigantour alongside Megadeth, Volbeat, and Lacuna Coil but had to miss the final shows due to Lemmy suffering from laryngitis. They also took part in the Mayhem Festival during June through August and performed at the Rock-A-Field Luxembourg Open Air Festival.

Lemmy announced intentions to produce a follow-up to The Wörld Is Yours aiming for a release around 2013. Recording commenced early that year, culminating in the announcement of the album Aftershock in June. Prior to this, in September 2012, they released another live DVD titled The Wörld Is Ours – Vol. 2 – Anyplace Crazy As Anywhere Else.

A European tour planned for late 2013 was first postponed and eventually canceled due to Lemmy’s health complications related to diabetes. Nonetheless, Motörhead performed at Coachella Festival in April 2014 and conducted a summer European tour with eight shows across France, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Russia, and Ukraine. In September of that year, they launched the inaugural Motörboat cruise event featuring Megadeth and Anthrax.

Toward the end of 2014, Lemmy announced that work on their 22nd studio album would begin in January 2015. Recording started in Los Angeles with Cameron Webb producing in February. Teasers released during May hinted at the upcoming album Bad Magic, which became available for pre-order in June and was officially released on 28 August 2015 to commemorate Motörhead's 40th anniversary. The band appeared at Glastonbury Festival and played their final UK show at the Eden Project in June.

During the "40th Anniversary Tour," health challenges forced Motörhead to shorten or cancel several US performances between August and September 2015 due to Lemmy experiencing altitude sickness and respiratory difficulties. Despite these setbacks, they delivered two full sets aboard the annual Motörboat heavy metal cruise traveling from Miami to the Bahamas later that month.

The tour resumed across Europe throughout November and December with concerts held in Germany, Sweden, Norway, and Finland. Their last performance occurred in Berlin on 11 December 2015. Drummer Mikkey Dee later reflected on Lemmy’s enduring determination despite his worsening health conditions. Although the "40th Anniversary Tour" was planned to continue with UK dates in January 2016, it never proceeded following Lemmy’s death.

2015: Passing of Lemmy and band's dissolution

Lemmy passed away on 28 December 2015, just four days after celebrating his 70th birthday. He was the second member of Motörhead to die that year, following the death of Phil Taylor in November. The band shared the news on their Facebook page:


The following day, drummer Mikkey Dee confirmed that Motörhead would cease to exist: "Motörhead is finished, naturally. Lemmy was Motörhead. There will be no further tours or albums. However, the legacy endures, and Lemmy remains alive in the hearts of fans everywhere." Two days later, guitarist Phil Campbell echoed this sentiment, stating that "Motörhead no longer exists."

According to band manager Todd Singerman, Lemmy began experiencing chest discomfort two days after his 70th birthday celebration at Whisky a Go Go, prompting an emergency room visit and a brain scan due to deteriorating speech abilities. On 26 December, doctors informed him he had between two and six months left to live. Lemmy accepted this prognosis with composure. Arrangements were made for palliative care at home; a video game console from the Rainbow Bar and Grill, one of his favored pastimes, was delivered to his residence. Lemmy spent several hours playing on 28 December before passing away peacefully in his sleep later that day.

The autopsy revealed that the cause of death was a combination of prostate cancer, cardiac arrhythmia, and congestive heart failure.

2016–present: Legacy and releases after disbandment

Following Motörhead's end, Campbell and Dee continued their musical pursuits. Campbell established Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons, initially performing Motörhead material at major festivals. The group has supported acts such as Guns N' Roses, Hawkwind, Saxon, and Airbourne. After releasing their debut album The Age of Absurdity in January 2018, they have produced several well-received albums and earned a solid reputation for live performances. Dee briefly performed with Thin Lizzy during anniversary concerts in January 2016 but departed in April. Subsequently, he substituted for James Kottak during twelve North American dates with Scorpions—including the notable "Scorpions blacked out in Las Vegas" shows—and later became a permanent member of Scorpions.

On 10 June 2016, UDR Music released Clean Your Clock, a live Motörhead album featuring recordings from a November 2015 concert at Munich's Zenith venue. Later, on 1 September 2017, Motörhead unveiled Under Cöver, an album compiling covers spanning their career along with various tribute tracks.

Former Motörhead guitarist "Fast" Eddie Clarke died on 10 January 2018 at age 67 after suffering from pneumonia; he was the last surviving member of the classic lineup to pass away. Original guitarist Larry Wallis died on 19 September 2019 at age 70 due to undisclosed causes.

On 27 June 2025, the previously unreleased album The Manticore Tapes was issued. This collection features tracks recorded in August 1976 at Emerson, Lake & Palmer's Manticore Studio located in Fulham and represents the earliest known recordings of the lineup consisting of Lemmy, Taylor, and Clarke.

Musical style

AllMusic editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine recognized Motörhead’s loud and rapid heavy metal sound as pioneering during the late 1970s, laying groundwork for genres such as speed metal and thrash metal.[8]

Although commonly categorized under heavy metal, Lemmy himself referred to Motörhead’s music simply as "rock and roll," stressing that they identified primarily as a rock 'n' roll band rather than heavy metal.[9][10] He expressed a stronger affinity with punk rock artists, collaborating with British punk group the Damned and composing "R.A.M.O.N.E.S." as an homage to the Ramones. Lemmy noted that Motörhead shared more stylistic elements with the Damned than with heavy metal bands like Black Sabbath or Judas Priest, distancing themselves from the speed metal acts they influenced.

He criticized speed metal’s emphasis on rapid, technical guitar solos, prioritizing emotional expression over virtuoso scale playing; his influences included Hendrix and blues musicians.[11]

The NME characterized their brief guitar solos as “just long enough... to open another bottle of beer,” while a 1977 issue of Stereo Review described them as “charming in their own way” compared to other heavy metal performers.[12]

Motörhead deliberately maintained a consistent musical approach throughout their career—drummer Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor likened this commitment to rock legends such as Chuck Berry and Little Richard, who also preserved their original sound.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name This preference for early rock and roll styles from the mid-1950s through mid-1960s is evident in some of their cover songs.

Lemmy’s bass technique incorporated power chords and open strings, producing a tone more akin to that of a "deep guitarist" rather than a conventional bassist.[13]

The term "Motörhead" alludes to individuals who consume amphetamine. The band's distinctive emblem, a snarling fanged face adorned with prominent boar tusks, chains, and spikes, was designed by artist Joe Petagno in 1977 for their inaugural album Motörhead. This emblem, commonly referred to as "War-Pig" or "Snaggletooth," has been a recurring motif on numerous album covers throughout their career. The band's name is usually displayed in lowercase blackletter font, featuring an umlaut above the "ö," a stylistic choice inspired by peers like Blue Öyster Cult, without altering pronunciation. Lemmy clarified that the umlaut was included solely for aesthetic reasons.

Petagno conceived Snaggletooth after collaborating with Lemmy during his tenure with Hawkwind. He described the image as a hybrid of a gorilla, wolf, and dog skull combined with exaggerated boar horns, further personalized by Lemmy’s additions such as a helmet, chains, spikes, and a gritty texture:

Initially, guitarist Eddie Clarke considered the symbol somewhat over the top but eventually recognized its powerful visual effect. Snaggletooth has been featured on nearly all of Motörhead’s 22 studio albums except for On Parole and Overnight Sensation (the former being unauthorized by the band). Noteworthy appearances include Ace of Spades, where Phil Taylor sports a Snaggletooth pin, and Iron Fist, which showcases metal gauntlet rings shaped like skulls, one modeled after Snaggletooth. Early versions of the logo included a swastika on the helmet spike, which was later removed in CD reissues.

On 21 September 2007, Petagno announced his decision to cease creating new "HEADS," citing irreconcilable conflicts with the band’s management company, Singerman Entertainment. Reflecting on his 31-year involvement, he regarded it as a singular artistic accomplishment within heavy metal history.

Lemmy responded by highlighting their longstanding collaboration and disputing allegations regarding management pressures. While expressing disappointment over the potential separation, he acknowledged the band’s willingness to work with new artists if needed and hoped for future reconciliation with Petagno.

Professional wrestling

Motörhead holds a prominent place within professional wrestling due to their performance of wrestler Triple H’s entrance theme, "The Game," which has been in use since January 2001. This track is regularly featured on WWE shows such as Raw and SmackDown, and was performed live at major events including WrestleMania X-Seven and WrestleMania 21. Their song "Rock Out" was selected as the theme for WWE’s 2008 pay-per-view event Unforgiven. Additionally, Motörhead composed "Line in the Sand" as entrance music for Triple H’s faction Evolution.

"The Game" is included on the U.S. release of Hammered as well as on the compilation WWF The Music, Vol. 5. Meanwhile, "Line in the Sand" appears on WWE ThemeAddict: The Music, Vol. 6. Another track titled "King of Kings" made its debut at WrestleMania 22 in 2006. Triple H has introduced Motörhead at live performances and credited Lemmy as an influence on his facial hair style; he also delivered a eulogy at Lemmy’s funeral.

In 1998, Motörhead recorded a cover of Metallica’s "Enter Sandman" for the compilation album ECW Extreme Music.

Classic Rock Roll of Honour Awards

|- | 2005 || Lemmy Kilmister || Living Legend || |- | 2011 || Lemmy (documentary on Lemmy Kilmister) || Film/DVD ||

Carouser Awards

Year Nominee / work Category Outcome
2017 Road Crew (beer) Best Newcomer Template:Won

Echo Awards

|- | 2016 || Bad Magic || Best International Rock/Alternative ||

Grammy Awards

|- | 1992 || 1916 || rowspan="4"|Best Metal Performance || |- | 2000 || "Enter Sandman" || |- | 2005 || "Whiplash" || |- | 2015 || "Heartbreaker" ||

Kerrang! Awards

|- | 2000 || Motörhead || Silver K Award || |- | 2019 || Motörhead || Inspiration Award ||

Loudwire Music Awards

Year Nominee / work Category Result
2013 Aftershock Metal Album of the Year Template:Nom
"Heartbreaker" Metal Song of the Year Template:Nom
Lemmy Kilmister Bassist of the Year Template:Won

Los Angeles City Council Honor

Year Recipient / work Recognition Result
2015 Motörhead Council Honor celebrating 40th Anniversary Template:Won

Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards (UK)

|- | 2005 || Lemmy || Golden God Award || |- | 2013 || Motörhead || Golden God Award ||

Metal Storm Awards

Year Nominee / work Category Outcome
2008 Motörizer Best Heavy Metal Album Template:Nom
2013 Aftershock Best Heavy / Melodic Metal Album Template:Nom
2015 Bad Magic Template:Nom
"Sympathy for the Devil" Best Cover Song Template:Nom
"When the Sky Comes Looking for You" Best Video Template:Nom

Revolver Music Awards

|- | rowspan="2"|2010 || Motörhead || Best Live Band || |- | rowspan="2"|Lemmy Kilmister || Revolver Golden Gods Lifetime Achievement Award || |- | 2013 || Paul Gray Best Bassist Award ||

The Ox & The Loon

Year Recipient / work Award title Result
2014 Lemmy Kilmister 'John Entwistle Bass Legend Award' Template:Won

The Metal Hall of Fame

Year Inductee / work Honor Result
2017 Lemmy Kilmister 'The Metal Hall of Fame' 'Template:Won Inducted'

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

|- | 2020 || Motörhead || Performer category ||

Final line-up

Former members

Discography

Studio Albums


Tours

Filmography

  • 1987: Eat the Rich: The soundtrack includes tracks such as "Nothing Up My Sleeve", "Built for Speed", "Orgasmatron", "Doctor Rock", "On the Road" (live), "Eat the Rich," and "Bess" – released by New Line Home Entertainment. Throughout filming, Motörhead gradually took over scenes initially featuring a ballroom band. Due to tour obligations, Lemmy’s motorcycle stunt was performed by a female stunt double.

Video game

In 1992, a side-scrolling beat 'em up titled Motörhead was launched exclusively in the UK for the Amiga. This game was developed by Kaitsu Software and published by Virgin Games, Ltd..

Sources

Further reading

External links

  • German/Swiss/Austrian cultural broadcaster 3sat "Kulturzeit"
  • featured in Sabotage Times
  • covered by UnRated Magazine
  1. ↑ White Line Fever, p. 99.
  2. ↑ Make 'em deaf forever
  3. ↑ Record Collector
  4. ↑ AllMusic
  5. ↑ Rolling Stone
  6. ↑ Official Charts Company
  7. ↑ Rock Family Trees
  8. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Allmusic
  9. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Independent
  10. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  11. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  12. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named MKM
  13. ↑ Template:Usurped
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