Motörhead
Biography
Motörhead were an English rock band formed in London in 1975 by bassist, singer, and primary songwriter Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister. After being fired from the space rock band Hawkwind in May 1975, Lemmy decided to form a new band, originally to be called "Bastard." He soon changed the name to Motörhead, inspired by the last song he wrote for Hawkwind. The band is considered a precursor to the new wave of British heavy metal, which revitalized the genre in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Although their music is often classified as heavy metal, speed metal, and thrash metal, Lemmy always insisted they were simply a rock and roll band. Over their 40-year career, Motörhead released 23 studio albums and sold over 15 million albums worldwide.
Career Highlights
The classic Motörhead lineup, which included Lemmy, guitarist "Fast" Eddie Clarke, and drummer Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor, released a series of successful albums in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The albums Overkill and Bomber, both released in 1979, were followed by the iconic Ace of Spades in 1980. The live album No Sleep 'til Hammersmith (1981) became their first UK number-one album. The band's lineup changed several times over the years, but Lemmy remained the sole constant member. From 1995 until their dissolution, the lineup consisted of Lemmy, guitarist Phil Campbell, and drummer Mikkey Dee.
Musical Style and Influence
Motörhead's sound was characterized by its speed, volume, and raw power. They were a foundational influence on numerous heavy metal subgenres, particularly thrash metal and speed metal. Many notable bands, including Metallica and the "Big 4" of thrash metal, have cited Motörhead as a major influence. Lemmy's gravelly voice, distorted bass sound, and songwriting themes of war, gambling, and life on the road became trademarks of the band. Despite their heavy sound, Lemmy often stated he felt more in common with punk rock than heavy metal.
Later Years and Lemmy's Passing
Motörhead continued to record and tour consistently throughout the 2000s and 2010s, releasing albums such as Inferno (2004) and their final studio album, Bad Magic (2015). On December 28, 2015, just four days after his 70th birthday, Lemmy Kilmister died at his home in Los Angeles from prostate cancer, cardiac arrhythmia, and congestive heart failure. His cancer had been diagnosed only two days prior. Following Lemmy's death, drummer Mikkey Dee confirmed that Motörhead had disbanded.
Discography
Studio Albums
Motörhead (1977)
Overkill (1979)
Bomber (1979)
Ace of Spades (1980)
Iron Fist (1982)
Another Perfect Day (1983)
Orgasmatron (1986)
Rock 'n' Roll (1987)
1916 (1991)
March ör Die (1992)
Bastards (1993)
Sacrifice (1995)
Overnight Sensation (1996)
Snake Bite Love (1998)
We Are Motörhead (2000)
Hammered (2002)
Inferno (2004)
Kiss of Death (2006)
Motörizer (2008)
The Wörld Is Yours (2010)
Aftershock (2013)
Bad Magic (2015)