Motörhead

Motörhead are a London, United Kingdom rock band formed in 1975 by bassist and lead vocalist Lemmy Kilmister, guitarist Larry Wallis and drummer Lucas Fox. Kilmister is the group’s main songwriter and the only constant member across its history. The band performs as a group, most often as a power trio, and remains associated with hard rock, heavy metal, metal, NWOBHM, rock and speed metal.

Line-up and development

Motörhead’s line-up changes over the years include several guitarists and drummers. The best-known recordings feature drummer Phil “Philthy Animal” Taylor and guitarist “Fast” Eddie Clarke. From 1992 until the band ends in 2015, the line-up consists of Kilmister, guitarist Phil Campbell and drummer Mikkey Dee. Other members associated with the band are Brian Robertson, Pete Gill and Würzel.

Style and influence

The band is often treated as a precursor to the new wave of British heavy metal and as an influence on the later thrash metal and speed metal scenes. Although commonly classified as heavy metal, Kilmister describes Motörhead as a rock and roll band with more in common with punk groups, while still retaining a distinctive sound. The band is recognised in both punk and metal circles.

Recordings and commercial success

Motörhead release 24 studio albums, 21 live albums, 16 compilation albums and five EPs over a career spanning four decades. Their early 1980s singles reach the UK Top 40, and their most significant albums include Overkill and Bomber in 1979, Ace of Spades in 1980, and the live album No Sleep 'til Hammersmith in 1981. The lyric themes across their songs include war, morality, abuse of power, promiscuity, substance use and gambling, which is central to “Ace of Spades”.

Recognition

Motörhead rank number 26 in VH1’s 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock and are named by Loudwire as the eighth-best metal band of all time in 2016. They sell more than 25 million albums worldwide.

End of the band

Lemmy Kilmister dies on 28 December 2015 after cardiac arrhythmia and congestive heart failure following a diagnosis of prostate cancer. The next day, Dee and Campbell confirm that Motörhead have disbanded. By 2018, the three best-known members of the classic line-up — Lemmy, Taylor and Clarke — have all died.