• 1975-2015

  Lemmy KilmisterBass, vocals1975-2015

  Eddie ClarkGuitar1975-1982

  Phil TaylorDrums1975-1983

  Brian RobertsonGuitar1982-1983

  Phil CampbellGuitar1983-2015

  WurzelGuitar1983-1995

  Pete GillDrums1983-1991

  Mikkey DeeDrums1991-2015
• A "Motorhead" is someone who is addicted to amphetamines (speed).
• Lemmy used to be the road manager for Emerson, Lake and Palmer. He was also briefly a roadie for Jimi Hendrix. Lemmy told Rolling Stone in 2010 regarding working for the guitar icon: "Whenever they needed an extra pair of hands I was right there. I didn't get the job for any talent or anything. But I did see Jimi play a lot. Twice a night for about three months."
• Lemmy collected Nazi memorabilia.
• Iron Maiden have a mascot named "Eddy," Motorhead have "Snaggletooth." Artist Joe Petagno came up with the idea of a gorilla-dog hybrid with wild boar tusks. Lemmy then added the helmet, chains and spit. Snaggletooth appears on most Motorhead album covers.
• Lemmy's real name was Ian Fraser Kilminster. He acquired his nickname as a child as he was always asking to borrow money. >>

  Suggestion credit:
  Tom - Trowbridge, England, for all above
• Kilmister formed Motorhead in 1975 after being fired from the band Hawkwind in 1975. Motorhead's original name was "Bastard," but was changed to "Motorhead" after the last song Lemmy wrote for Hawkwind. >>

  Suggestion credit:
  Jeff - Seaville, NJ
• Lemmy acted in several movies directed by Lloyd Kaufman and released by Troma Studios, among them Tromeo & Juliet and Terror Firmer. >>

  Suggestion credit:
  Jeff - Haltom City, TX
• Lemmy's father was a vicar.
• Lemmy didn't pick up a bass until he was 23. He had previously played guitar but, in his own words, he was "mediocrity squared." >>

  Suggestion credit:
  Tom - Trowbridge, England, for above 2
• Motorhead provided the entrance music for both WWE wrestler Triple H ("Play The Game"), and Triple H's wrestling stable, Evolution ("Line In The Sand"). >>

  Suggestion credit:
  Adam - Wrexham, Wales
• Lemmy was often seen as the most hedonistic artist on earth. He claimed to have done speed for over 20 years. Even past age 60 he claimed he still did drugs every day, eats lot of junk food, watched pornography on the tour bus, and drank a bottle of whiskey a day. He said he had sex with over 3000 women during his life.
• Rumor has it that when Lemmy asked a doctor for blood purification, the doctor said that his body is so adapted to speed that pure blood would kill him.
• Lemmy had his own game machines at home to help control his gambling compulsion. >>

  Suggestion credit:
  Gerrit - Belfast, Northern Ireland, for above 3
• Lemmy died of cancer on December 28, 2015 at age 70. Before his passing, Lemmy asked for his ashes to be put in some bullets and handed out to his closest friends. Among those who received the memento of the bullet-belted frontman were MTV's Headbanger's Ball host Riki Rachtman and Ugly Kid Joe's Whitfield Crane.

Comments: 9

• Dan Gillespy from Courtenay British Columbia Canada Motorhead played a big role in creating Thrash Metal and Lemmy will always be a legend in the Metal and Rock N Roll music scene.
• Nigel from Blackpool , United KingdomMost people have known Lemmy as the main driving force for Motorhead as he's been in the band since the beginning and most of the other members have come and gone. However, few people know that the cocoa puffs on his face are actually the living remains of a conjoined twin named "Benny" who is active in co-writing many of the Motorhead songs and does have royalty rights. Lemmy sings with his head pointed up to show he's above Benny and in charge during shows. A few die hard fans have thrown various objects including wart remover at Benny during some shows. Lemmy is protective of his twin brother but has to keep in line at times often threatening to have him seperated from his face and being sold on ebay. Lemmy has also had to resort to dousing him in whiskey and once was seriously hurt when he smashed a whiskey bottle on the side of his face. (editor's note: we would delete this, but we think it's kind of funny)
• Marcelo from Santiago, ChileMötörhead's blend of heavy metal, hard rock and speed metal make them my most favourite 'heavy' band, i´m not a big fan of heavy metal, but these guys are a great vitamin to start the day with energy.
• Lordkelvin from San Antonio, TxMotorhead had a sound that was just awesome. Please note past tense! I have to admit something here! Motorhead is Lemmy, eddie & talyor period. Lemmy is god and there is no motorhead without him; however, he can't do it alone. The reason that all the eddie albums are a hit (this is what made Motorhead's career) is because the song writing style of Clarke, Kilmister, Taylor worked.. also eddie wrote many of the riffs and music! You take away eddie then it is just not motorhead anymore!! Sorry guys. Just listen to Eddie's solo man, it is all blues but I can tell his solos apart from anyone. He solo style is completely different!! he is a god!! Motorhead had a great success with Wurzel he is a bad ass!! I really his solos too. Wurzel was keeping up the eddie tradition.. Phil campbell is a mediocre guitarist. yeah, he had a few hits with his solos back then!! true but after wurzel left the band is just not the same. Phil Campbell can't do it alone man!! He can't even play the old songs right!! Actually he kinda sucks (sorry). In the 25th reunion I wish Phil would have just stepped aside! and let eddie play!! You can see the difference in the video when eddie and campbell play old songs together. Campbell can't cop that song's feel even if he tried.. while eddie is just standing there cool and just ripping it up!! What I'd really like to see is a reunion and an album with the Kilmister, Clarke, Taylor line up before Lemmy dies. (I hope he doesn't).. Man I have met Motorhead, hung out with them in the 90s. I partied hard with them (I flunked out of college shortly after that.. but that's a different story). Point is.. Eddie rips.. get rid of Campbell!! or simply just hang it up guys!
• Matt from Cherry Hill, NjMotorhead is one of the greatest metal bands of all time, and they are greatly underappreciated. If you don't beleive me pick up an import (if you live in the U.S.) album called "Aces". This automatically starts good with hits like Ace of Spades, Iron Fist, Overkill, and Bomber... not to mention good old Snaggletooth on the cover.
• Danny from Sydney, AustraliaSnaggletooth doesn't appear on Ace Of Spades either, which of course is a LEGENDARY album.
• Ken from Dupont, PaLEMMY IS GOD!!
• Alen from Senj, CroatiaPhil Taylor also played in Motorhead after 1983! "The Animal" returned on 1987's ("Rock And Roll", "No Sleep At All" in 1988 and "1916" released in 1991!!! He guested on 1992's "March Or Die" too!
• Alen from Senj, CroatiaSnaggletooth does NOT appear on every Motorhead album cover (unfortunately!). Check out the 1996 Overnight Sensation!

More Songfacts:

Everything ZenBush

After Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale coupled up in 1996, Rossdale's Bush bandmates referred to their hit song "Everything Zen" as "Everything Gwen."

Watching The DetectivesElvis Costello

Lyrically, Elvis Costello's "Watching The Detectives" was inspired by American detective shows; musically, it was inspired by The Clash.

Enter SandmanMetallica

The original "Enter Sandman" lyric was about crib death, with the "sandman" killing a baby.

That Don't Impress Me MuchShania Twain

Brad Pitt and Elvis both get mentions in the 1997 Shania Twain hit "That Don't Impress Me Much."

White as SnowU2

Bono came up with the idea of focusing on a soldier's last thoughts as he dies from his wounds in the U2 song "White As Snow" after reading William Golding's 1956 novel Pincher Martin.

Lady MarmaladeLabelle

"Lady Marmalade" is the only song to hit #1 twice in both the UK and US.

Editor's Picks

We Will Rock You (To Sleep): Pop Stars Who Recorded Kids' AlbumsSong Writing

With the rise of Kindie rock, more musicians are embracing their inner child with tunes for tots - here, we look at pop stars who recorded kids' albums.

Creedence Clearwater RevivalFact or Fiction

Is "Have You Ever Seen the Rain" about Vietnam? Was John Fogerty really born on a Bayou? It's the CCR edition of Fact or Fiction.

Ian Anderson: "The delight in making music is that you don't have a formula"Songwriter Interviews

Ian talks about his 3 or 4 blatant attempts to write a pop song, and also the ones he most connected with, including "Locomotive Breath."

Songs Discussed in MoviesSong Writing

Bridesmaids, Reservoir Dogs, Willy Wonka - just a few of the flicks where characters discuss specific songs, sometimes as a prelude to murder.

Susanna Hoffs - "Eternal Flame"They're Playing My Song

The Prince-penned "Manic Monday" was the first song The Bangles heard coming from a car radio, but "Eternal Flame" is closest to Susanna's heart, perhaps because she sang it in "various states of undress."

P.F. SloanSongwriter Interviews

P.F. was a teenager writing hits and playing on tracks for Jan & Dean when he wrote a #1 hit that got him blackballed.