Nearly nine years after his passing, Lemmy Kilmister remains a towering figure in rock music—a legend who not only embodied the spirit of rock ’n’ roll but also delivered some of its most memorable interviews. Back in 2013, as Motörhead was gearing up to release their 21st studio album, Afterlife, Lemmy sat down for an unforgettable conversation. The topics ranged from wild tales of driving on LSD while wearing fly-eye glasses to debating the timeless rivalry between The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.
In the dim, atmospheric control room of Paramount Studios in Hollywood, California, Lemmy, clad in his signature black attire and cowboy hat, leans back as the thunderous sounds of new Motörhead tracks blast through the speakers. With a glass of red wine in one hand and his beloved Jack and Coke in the other, he listens intently, occasionally adjusting the volume to what must be earth-shaking levels. Meanwhile, the mixing desk lights up as if dancing to the music, and somewhere, seismologists might be feeling a slight tremor—Motörhead is back with new material.
Lemmy, the iconic frontman and bassist of Motörhead, may have shown signs of aging, but the rumors of his decline were greatly exaggerated. Yes, he had slowed down a bit, and the silver-tipped cane he carried hinted at his advancing years. However, knowing Lemmy, there was a good chance that cane was as much a statement piece as it was a walking aid—perhaps even hiding a dagger, crafted in Germany.
Motörhead: A Lifetime Commitment
For nearly four decades, Motörhead wasn’t just Lemmy’s band—it was his life. “I am Motörhead all the time,” he declared. “When you work in a factory, you get to clock out, but I don’t. I’m Motörhead 24 hours a day, so I think like that. I think Motörhead. That’s all I am to a very large extent. I know intellectually that there was a time when I wasn’t in Motörhead, but I can’t actually remember what it felt like.”
Lemmy’s dedication to Motörhead was unyielding, guiding the band through highs and lows with a relentless drive that few could match. When asked about the challenges of leading the band, he didn’t sugarcoat it, but his passion for Motörhead was undeniable. He was more than just the leader—he was the living embodiment of the band’s raw, unapologetic ethos.
4o
