Ian “Lemmy” Kilmister, founding member and singer in the British heavy
metal band Motörhead, has died at the age of 70 shortly after learning
he had been diagnosed with cancer.
The band announced on their
Facebook page that Lemmy learned of the disease on 26 December, and was at home when he died.
Lemmy,
born Ian Fraser Kilmister, formed Motörhead in 1975 and was its only
constant member, as singer and bassist. The band released 23 studio
albums and are best known for their 1980 single Ace of Spades.
The band requested fans “play Lemmy’s music LOUD. Have a drink or
few. Share stories. Celebrate the LIFE this lovely, wonderful man
celebrated so vibrantly himself.
“There is no easy way to say this … our mighty, noble friend Lemmy
passed away today after a short battle with an extremely aggressive
cancer. He had learned of the disease on 26 December, and was at home,
sitting in front of his favourite video game from The Rainbow which had
recently made it’s way down the street, with his family.
“We cannot begin to express our shock and sadness; there aren’t words.
“We will say more in the coming days, but for now, please … play
Motörhead loud, play Hawkwind loud, play Lemmy’s music LOUD. Have a
drink or few.
“Share stories.
“Celebrate the LIFE this lovely, wonderful man celebrated so vibrantly himself.
“HE WOULD WANT EXACTLY THAT.”
The band signed off: “Ian ‘Lemmy’ Kilmister
“1945 -2015
“Born to lose, lived to win.”
Tributes poured in for the heavy metal giant, with Ozzy Osbourne
tweeting: “Lost one of my best friends, Lemmy, today. He will be sadly
missed. He was a warrior and a legend. I will see you on the other
side.”
Former Motörhead drummer Phil “Philthy Animal” Taylor
died aged 61 in November.
“Fast” Eddie Clarke, who becomes the last surviving member of the
band’s most famous lineup, wrote on Facebook: “I have just been told
that Lemmy has passed away in LA. Like Phil, he was like a brother to
me. I am devastated. We did so much together, the three of us.
“The world seems a really empty place right now. I am having trouble
finding the words … He will live on in our hearts. RIP Lemmy!”
Lemmy’s public struggles with illness intensified in recent years.
The singer underwent surgery to have an implantable defibrillator placed
in his chest in 2013, and has cancelled shows in recent years due to
exhaustion and a haematoma.
The band had been scheduled to tour the UK and France in early 2016.
Lemmy was born in Burslem, Staffordshire, on Christmas Eve in 1945. His
musical career began in the early 1960s and he was, for a time,
a roadie for Jimi Hendrix.
He played in several rock bands, including the Rockin’ Vickers, Sam
Gopal and Hawkwind, before founding Motörhead (originally named
Bastard).
He wrote in his autobiography, White Line Fever, that he had been fired from Hawkwind for “doing the wrong drugs”.
Motörhead’s loud, fast style was a pioneering force in heavy metal.
Lemmy’s vocal growl and aggressive bass playing has been emulated by
countless other bands, but the singer joked that he largely learned on
the job,
telling Spin in 2012 that “the volume’s loud so nobody really notices that much”.
The band’s highest-rating record was the live album No Sleep ’Til
Hammersmith, which peaked at number one on the UK album charts – a
testament to the band’s crushing onstage performances.
Other highlights from Motörhead’s extensive discography include their
second and third albums, Overkill and Bomber, both recorded in 1979,
and several high-rating singles in the early 1980s. The Ace of Spades
album reached number four in the UK charts, and the single number 15.
The band’s early years are credited with laying the ground for thrash
and speed metal, but Lemmy consistently refused to categorise their
music as either punk or metal, often playing to audiences of both
genres.
Despite the band’s success, Lemmy said in interviews over the years
that he had made more money from writing Osbourne’s 1991 hit Mama I’m
Coming Home than from the entire Motörhead catalogue.
He told the Guardian earlier this year: “I didn’t really want to be
in the lifestyle without the music. And I didn’t want to be in the music
without the lifestyle.”
Among those to pay tribute to Lemmy after his death was announced
were Megadeth founder Dave Mustaine, Gene Simmons, the Kiss frontman,
and Motley Crue’s Vince Neil and Nikki Sixx, and rapper Ice T.
source
