Lemmy Kilmister

Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister (born Ian Fraser Kilmister, December 24 1945, also known as Ian Fraser Willis) is an English bass player and singer. He is known primarily as the founding member and leader of the heavy metal band Motörhead. His unmistakable appearance, with his facial warts, lank hair and gravelly voice have made him a cult figure known well beyond the world of rock music.

Career

Lemmy spent the sixties in a number of small-time bands including Opal Butterfly, Sam Gopal's Dream, and the Rocking Vickers as well as working as a roadie for Jimi Hendrix in 1967 for about six months, and as a roadie for Emerson, Lake & Palmer. In 1971 he joined archetypal space rock UK Underground outfit Hawkwind who were centred around the very in Ladbroke Grove. His distinctive style of bass playing, involving the use of chords rather than the single notes preferred by most players, was a fundamental part of the Hawkwind sound during his tenure. He also provided lead vocals on a number of songs including the band's only UK chart single, Silver Machine, which reached No.3 in 1972.

Related Topics:
Opal Butterfly - Sam Gopal's Dream - Rocking Vickers - Roadie - Jimi Hendrix - 1967 - Emerson, Lake & Palmer - 1971 - Space rock - UK Underground - Hawkwind - Ladbroke Grove - 1972

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By 1975 Lemmy's forceful personality and propensity for ingesting copious quantities of amphetamines were leading to conflict with other members, and this culminated with his sacking after being arrested for drug possession while on tour with the band in Canada. Lemmy went on to form a new band with guitarist Larry Wallis and drummer Lucas Fox. Wallis's former bands included the Pink Fairies, Steve Took's Shagrat and UFO. Lemmy's connection with Took (formerly of T Rex) was not limited to Wallis, as they were personal friends and Took was the step-father to Lemmy's son Paul. This new band was named Motörhead.

Related Topics:
1975 - Amphetamine - Canada - Larry Wallis - Lucas Fox - Pink Fairies - Steve Took - UFO - T Rex

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After a short period both Wallis and Fox were replaced with guitarist "Fast" Eddie Clarke and drummer Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor, and with this line-up the band began to achieve success. The uncompromisingly intense nature of their sound appealed to both Lemmy's original metal/rock constituency as well as the new punk fans — intrigued, perhaps, by Lemmy's brief stint in The Damned — and Lemmy's guttural vocals were unique in the world of rock at that time. The band's success peaked in 1980 with a number of U.K. chart hits, including the classic Ace of Spades — still a crowd favourite today. Motörhead have since gone on to become one of the most influential bands on the heavy metal scene and, although Lemmy is the only constant in a changing line-up, are still performing and releasing records to this day. Despite Motorhead's many member changes over their 30 year history the current lineup of Lemmy, Phil Campbell and Mikkey Dee has remained constant since 1992.

Related Topics:
"Fast" Eddie Clarke - Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor - Punk - The Damned - 1980 - ''Ace of Spades''

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Lemmy has also worked with a number of other musicians over his career, and occasionally guests with Hawkwind.

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He has made a number of appearances in film and television, including the 1990 science fiction film Hardware and the 1987 comedy Eat the Rich, for which Motörhead also recorded the soundtracks. In the 1994 comedy Airheads (in which he is credited as "Lemmy von Motorhead"), he shouts (truthfully) about being the editor of his high school newspaper. He has also appeared in several movies from the Troma studio. Having a predilection for self-deprecating parody, he once appeared in an advertisement for Kit Kat chocolate bars, miming a piece of chamber music on the violin, in an upper-class tea-room. Motörhead performed the entrance theme song "The Game" for WWE's Triple H, as well as "Line in the Sand" for his now defunct wrestling stable, Evolution.

Related Topics:
1990 - Hardware - 1987 - Eat the Rich - 1994 - Airheads - Troma - Kit Kat - Chamber music - Violin - WWE - Triple H - Line in the Sand

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Lemmy collects Nazi memorabilia and has an Iron Cross encrusted on his bass, which has led to accusations of right-wing extremist tendencies. However Lemmy considers himself to be an anarchist.

Related Topics:
Nazi - Iron Cross - Anarchist

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He published his autobiography, White Line Fever in November 2002.

Related Topics:
Autobiography - 2002

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