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Motörhead is an iconic British heavy metal band formed in 1975 by bassist, singer and songwriter Lemmy Kilmister (real name Ian Kilmister) after his ejection from space-rock icons Hawkwind. The name was derived from a slang term for an amphetamine user.
Critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine writes that "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 suggests that their blending of punk rock's speed and attitude with more traditional heavy metal music "created speed metal and thrash metal." * Whether they created these genres might be subject to debate, but Motörhead are unquestionably influential.
While the band are typically classified as heavy metal or speed metal, Kilmister has refused such labels, preferring to describe Motörhead's style simply as "rock and roll." Motörhead's lyrics 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."
History
After being sacked from Hawkwind in 1975, supposedly for "doing the wrong drugs," Kilmister decided to form a new band, originally to be called Bastard. Realising that this would preclude them from commercial acceptance, he eventually settled on Motörhead, after a song he had written for Hawkwind. His stated aim was for the outfit to be "the dirtiest rock n' roll band in the world" and that "if this band moved in next door - your lawn would die".
| 1975 Line-up #1 | |
|---|---|
The trio of Kilmister, Clarke, and Taylor is today regarded as the "classic" Motörhead line-up.
Initial reactions to the band were unfavourable: they memorably won a poll for "Worst Band in the World" in one music magazine.
The band's first official album release was the self-titled Motörhead, released in 1977. 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. Follow-up albums Overkill and Bomber cemented their reputation as one of Britain's foremost heavy metal groups.
In the early 1980s, they had UK Top 40 chart hits with singles and EPs such as "Ace of Spades," "Motörhead (live)," "Iron Fist," The Golden Years and the St. Valentine's Day Massacre EP - their collaboration with 'apprentices' Girlschool. Many fans regard "Ace of Spades" as the definitive Motörhead anthem. They also consider the albums Ace of Spades and the live No Sleep 'til Hammersmith to be among the best such works of their era, as well as the band's most commercially successful releases.
In 1982, Motörhead recorded and released Stand By Your Man, a cover version of the Tammy Wynette classic, with Wendy O. Williams and the Plasmatics. Clarke felt that this compromised the band's principles and resigned to be replaced by Brian Robertson, formerly with Thin Lizzy. Robertson only lasted for one album (1983's Another Perfect Day) having caused friction in the band due to his refusal to play their most popular tunes. The group then returned to the concept of dual guitars by hiring Wurzel and Phil Campbell (ex-Persian Risk). In 1984 a rare line-up of Kilmister, Campbell, Wurzel and Taylor played "Ace of Spades" in Bambi, an episode of the British sitcom The Young Ones. Taylor left the band after that recording, and was replaced by Pete Gill, formerly of Saxon.
Taylor returned to Motörhead in 1987 and continued playing in the group until 1992. In 1992, he was fired after recording "I Ain't No Nice Guy" because he didn't learn the drum tracks. Mikkey Dee became his permanent replacement, after the short and disappointing engagement of Tommy Aldridge on the album March or Die. When Wurzel left in 1995, Motörhead returned as a three-man line-up and celebrated Lemmy's 50th Birthday with Metallica.
In 2005, Motörhead picked up their first Grammy Award in the "Best Metal Performance" category for their cover of Metallica's "Whiplash".
On December 10th 2005 in Perth, Western Australia, Motörhead and Mötley Crüe played an encore together onstage of "Anarchy in the UK", a worldwide first.
In 2006, Motörhead have set Kiss of Death as the title of their new album, tentatively due on August 29 via Sanctuary Records.
The umlaut over the ö in their name is a record-cover art conceit, possibly derived from the similar "Heavy metal umlaut" in the name of the Blue Öyster Cult. However, the band's name is not pronounced as the German usage; instead, Lemmy pronounces it (IPA) //. Lemmy is also quoted to have "put the umlaut on the middle-O in order to make the name more 'German-looking,' meaner!"
The band's mainstream success has dwindled since the late 1980s, but Motörhead retains a large and loyal fanbase and continues to record and tour extensively. Many modern hard rock, heavy metal and punk rock groups cite the band as an important influence.
Motörhead in WWE
Motörhead is well-known in the professional wrestling community for performing popular wrestler Triple H's entrance music, "The Game," beginning in 2001. In addition to the track being heard live nearly every Monday on WWE RAW and at numerous other pay-per-view wrestling shows, the band has 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 Hammered album and WWF The Music Volume 5, and the Evolution theme song was released on the The Music, Vol. 6 album. Since then, Motörhead has 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 CD. Motörhead has also announced that they will be recording a new track for the WWE Pay-Per View SummerSlam called "Heat of the Day".
Triple H has said that he has been a lifelong Motörhead fan. Lemmy Kilmister and Phil Campbell were both in the audience on the May 8, 2006 Anaheim, California edition of RAW along with Luke Perry and Billy Gibbons.
Discography
Albums
| Year | Title | UK Chart | Label | Other information | Line-up # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Motörhead | Chiswick Records | Recorded in two days | #4 | |
| 1979 | Overkill | No.24 | Bronze Records | #4 | |
| 1979 | Bomber | No.12 | Bronze Records | #4 | |
| 1979 | On Parole | United Artists | Unofficial release of 1975 recording sessions | #1/#2 | |
| 1980 | Ace of Spades | No.4 | Bronze Records | #4 | |
| 1981 | No Sleep 'til Hammersmith | No.1 | Bronze Records | Live album | #4 |
| 1982 | Iron Fist | No.6 | Bronze Records | #4 | |
| 1983 | Another Perfect Day | No.20 | Bronze Records | #5 | |
| 1984 | No Remorse | No.14 | Bronze Records | Two disc compilation album | #7 |
| 1986 | Orgasmatron | No.21 | GWR | Working title was Ridin' With The Driver | #7 |
| 1987 | Rock 'n' Roll | No.24 | GWR | Guest appearance by Michael Palin | #8 |
| 1988 | No Sleep at All | GWR | Live album | #8 | |
| 1991 | 1916 | No.24 | WTG | Nominated for a Grammy | #8 |
| 1992 | March ör Die | No.60 | Epic Records | Guest appearances by Ozzy Osbourne and Slash | #8/#9/#10 |
| 1993 | Bastards | ZYX | #10 | ||
| 1995 | Sacrifice | CMC | #10 | ||
| 1996 | Overnight Sensation | CMC | #11 | ||
| 1998 | Snake Bite Love | CMC | #11 | ||
| 1999 | Everything Louder Than Everyone Else | SPV GmbH | Live, two disc album | #11 | |
| 2000 | We Are Motörhead | CMC | #11 | ||
| 2000 | The Best Of | Metal-Is/Sanctuary | Two disc compilation album | #11 | |
| 2002 | Hammered | Steamhammer/SPV | Guest appearance by Triple H | #11 | |
| 2003 | Live at Brixton Academy | Steamhammer/SPV | Live, two disc album | #11 | |
| 2004 | Inferno | No.95 | Steamhammer/SPV | Guest appearance by Steve Vai | #11 |
| 2005 | BBC Live & In-Session | Sanctuary | 2CD, various live recordings from 1978-1986 | #4/#7 | |
| 2006 | Kiss of Death | Steamhammer/SPV | Announced, Guest appearance by Zoli Teglas | #11 |
Singles
| Year | Single | UK singles chart | Album | Line-up # |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | "Leaving Here" | #4 | ||
| 1977 | "Motörhead" | Motörhead | #4 | |
| 1978 | "Louie Louie" | #4 | ||
| 1979 | "Overkill" | No.39 | Overkill | #4 |
| 1979 | "No Class" | Overkill | #4 | |
| 1979 | "Bomber" | No.34 | Bomber | #4 |
| 1980 | "Ace of Spades" | No.15 | Ace of Spades | #4 |
| 1981 | "Motörhead (live)" | No.6 | No Sleep 'til Hammersmith | #4 |
| 1982 | "Iron Fist" | No.29 | Iron Fist | #4 |
| 1983 | "I Got Mine" | Another Perfect Day | #5 | |
| 1983 | "Shine" | Another Perfect Day | #5 | |
| 1984 | "Killed By Death" | No Remorse | #7 | |
| 1986 | "Deaf Forever" | Orgasmatron | #7 | |
| 1987 | "Eat The Rich" | Rock 'n' Roll | #8 | |
| 1988 | "Ace of Spades (live)" | No Sleep At All | #8 | |
| 1991 | "The One To Sing The Blues" | 1916 | #8 | |
| 1992 | "Hellraiser" | March ör Die | #10 | |
| 1993 | "Don't Let Daddy Kiss Me" | Bastards | #10 | |
| 1994 | "Born To Raise Hell" | Bastards | #10 | |
| 2000 | "God Save the Queen" | We Are Motörhead | #11 | |
EPs
| Year | EP | Label | UK Chart | Other information | Line-up # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | The Golden Years | Bronze | No.8 | Recorded live | #4 |
| 1980 | Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers | Big Beat | Unreleased tracks from the Chiswick sessions | #4 | |
| 1981 | St. Valentine's Day Massacre EP | Bronze | Collaboration with Girlschool, using the monicker Headgirl | #4 | |
| 1982 | Stand by Your Man (EP) | Bronze | Collaboration with Plasmatics | #4 | |
| 1992 | The '92 Tour EP | Epic Records | Tracks from March or Die and 1916 | #8/#10 |
Videography
VHS
- 1982 Live in Toronto
- 1984 Another Perfect Day EP
- 1985 The Birthday Party (The DVD was released in 2003)
- 1986 Deaf Not Blind
- 1988 EP
- 1991 1916 Live...Everything Louder than Everything Else (The DVD was released in 2004)
DVD
- 2001 25 & Alive Boneshaker
- 2002 Motörhead EP
- 2002 The Best of Motörhead
- 2003 The Special Edition EP
- 2005 Classic Albums: Motörhead - Ace of Spades
- 2005 Stage Fright
Audio samples
Snaggletooth
Snaggletooth (full name Snaggletooth B. Motörhead, A.K.A Warpig) is the name of the fanged face that serves as a symbol of Motörhead. Artist Joe Petagno created it in 1977 for the cover of the band's first released album. Snaggletooth's broken tooth mirrors Lemmy's own broken tooth.
It has remained a symbol of Motörhead throughout the years, with Petagno creating many variations of Snaggletooth for the covers of ensuing albums (e.g., Overkill, Another Perfect Day, and Orgasmatron).
See also
Trivia
- There is a town in Alabama called Phil Campbell.
- The main riffs of "No Class" and "Stone Deaf in the USA" are each other backwards, while the riff in "No Class" was borrowed from ZZ Top's "Tush".
- At the age of 12, Phil Campbell got Lemmy's autograph after a Hawkwind gig.
- Phil and Persian Risk supported Motörhead at some of their last dates with Brian Robertson.
- Both Mikkey and Phil's first concerts were Deep Purple.
- Lemmy and Philthy hosted the very first Headbangers Ball on MTV.
- Wurzel started out his musical life as a drummer and didn't start learning the guitar until the age of 24.
- Phil also used to play drums, backing caberet acts and strippers around South Wales.
- Wurzel earned his nickname due to his rather untidy hair (Wurzel Gummidge).
- Lemmy was a roadie for The Nice and Jimi Hendrix.
- Lemmy was originally a guitarist. He didn't play bass until he joined Hawkwind.
- Lemmy's last name is often misspelled as "Kilminster".
- Philthy once stabbed himself in the foot in a fight.
- Phil Campbell is a Manchester United fan.
- Neither Lemmy nor Phil can swim.
- Lemmy is the only member of Motörhead who has been in all of the line-ups, although Phil Taylor has played with all of the guitarists (Larry Wallis, "Fast" Eddie Clarke, Brian Robertson, Phil Campbell and Wurzel).
- The solo on "Capricorn" was recorded while Eddie was tuning his guitar.
- Frank Zappa released an album called Over-Nite Sensation. Also, Euclid James Sherwood, saxophone player of The Mothers of Invention, had the nickname "Motorhead".
- Motörhead's song Ace of Spades is featured as a track on the popular video game "Guitar Hero."
- In Children of Bodom's music video for the song Are You Dead Yet, a man with a Motörhead tank is paying the policeman.
- Motörhead performed a song entitled "You Better Swim" for the Spongebob Movie, and is featured on the movie's soundtrack
- Will Ferrell's character on Old School, Frankie, is seen wearing a Motörhead T-Shirt at the scene where he is debating on a sex doll.
External links
- Motörhead official website
- Motörhead official forum
- Motörhead on SPV.de
- Gigwise band profile
- BBC Gig Review
- Motörhead Forever
- Motörhead at Encyclopaedia Metallum
Motörhead | English musical groups | Speed metal musical groups
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