Lemmy 1945-2015

This is probably as good a run-through of the man and group as could be wanted, from the TV Tropes page on Motörhead.

Always loved them, still have the Bronze singles from the late 70s and early 80s, and still play them (along with Hawkwind – natch! – and see below for his contribution to one of their greatest songs and one he wrote himself for them which has that protopunk/metal steel. Just on that his contribution to their evolving sound was I’d argue much greater than is given credit for).

Saw them only once, in the RDS about a decade and a bit ago at a metal festival which they headlined and he/they were as one would expect, streamlined, efficient, oddly charismatic. When talking about Joey Ramone who had died recently then a small number in the crowd cheered at the mention of his death causing Lemmy to gruffly give out to them before breaking into R.A.M.O.N.E.S (a band who he obviously felt were kindred spirits).

He was a remarkably good-humoured character somehow embodying aspects of that Ladbroke Grove post-hippy environment that were part of his roots and melding them to punk. Small wonder that his group was one that had massive crossover appeal between the originally competing camps of metal and punk. He’d been pretty poorly the last year, but this was still sadly = almost shockingly – unexpected for someone who gave the impression of total imperviousness.

Here’s some of their/his best moments and there were many many.