MOTORHEAD is at the music which his founder is at medicine: an enigma. In soon four decades of existence, MOTORHEAD knew so many back, of treasons, of low blows, of lack of understanding, of changes of line-up, met again at the street one knows how many times… only the group would have had, if there was a real logic to the things, disappear since well a long time. Just as Lemmy, to the say medical body… life decided some otherwise.
1975. Ian Fraser KILMINSTER, aka Lemmy, rediscovers his English native soil after being done éjecter of HAWKWIND for drug possession ("bad drugs", it will say later) at the time of a customs check to the Canadian border. It in is necessary more to demotivate the former roadie of Jimi HENDRIX that decides climb his clean group, that it wishes first to call BASTARDS. But a sensible management the persuades that with such a surname, Lemmy will never pass to Top Of The Pops. The chosen bass player/singer then the name of the last song that it wrote for HAWKWIND : Motörhead. The group then is composed, besides his founder, guitarist Larry WALLIS and drummer Lucas FOX, the trio being managedDave EDMUNDS.
The latter hitches itself to the promotion of his new colt and succeeds in do to enter MOTORHEAD in the stable of United Artists. The trio between then in studio to record his first album that does not satisfy the label, United deciding of not to market On Parole. The career of MOTORHEAD begins poorly, so much more than Lucas FOXdoes themselves to turn during the sessions of recording and sees itself replaced by Phil TAYLOR, soon nicknamedPhilthy Animal TAYLOR.
The group repeats intensely and Lemmy thought that a second guitarist is necessary. Eddie CLARKE – or Fast Eddie– enters in scene in 1976 to the great displeasure of Larry WALLIS that decides to rediscover his liberty. The effectiveness of the last arrival is such asMOTORHEAD will remain a trio.
In 1977, the things do not advance. While the trio is by the implosion because of the evident lack of success of their business, the musicians take advantage of two days in a studio to lay the foundation of eleven pieces that all will be located on the first official album of MOTORHEAD that the label Chiswick markets in the month of September. Illustrated by a certain one Joe PENTAGNO that creates War-Pig, the famous monster that will follow forever MOTORHEAD, this first album shows simply that the rage is there, tinged of this Blues of which never Lemmy will not lose. The public is under the shock of the power of the body. How can a trio attain this violence level? Under the shock also of this born voice of the encounter of one grates to cheese and of sandpaper. The result, this is the vigor of Motörhead, the Blues of the return Train Kept A Rollin, the premonitoryWhite Line Fever or Iron Horse/Born To Lose. The album attains soon the 43rd place of the charts, nevertheless MOTORHEAD decides to put an end to his collaboration withChiswick .
THE arrival of Douglas SMITH as to manage of MOTORHEAD in 1978 brand a true turn in the career of the group that professionalizes itself really. The first task to which hitches itself SMITH is simple: to find a home for his group. MOTORHEAD sign then with the label Bronze, starts an English turn of 18 dates, and savors a first passage to Top Of The Pops. Then it is time to propose concrete one to the fans. The trio returns in studio while the world lives under the yoke of the Punk since soon two years. But brutality and the spontaneity of MOTORHEAD upstart, as showed it the turn, to combine any public type, simple hardos that begins going out again to the skinhead while going through the punk or the mod’s. Young to the research of masculinity and of decibels.
Overkill adorned in March 1979. The shock is real. As early as the introduction to the big double cash register of the piece eponym, the public and the media know that the Rock is living a big moment. Salt, violent, stinking the perspiration, tepid beer and the cold ashes,Overkill , grace to a collection of timeless hymns ( Stay Clean, I'll Be Your Sister, No Class, Tear Ya Down, Metropolis, Capricorn...) allows MOTORHEAD to widen his public through Europe. Sustained by two singles, the album climbs to the 24th place of the charts. Bronze rubs themselves the hands. ScarcelyMOTORHEAD it has the time to blow that the label sends back the musicians in studio in the month of July. It is necessary to beat iron as long as it is hot…
as early as the months of October, the public rediscovers the new group one more dangerous of the world thanks to Bomber that climbs to the 12th place. Yes, three small months will have sufficed to conceive this album, that despite his success and despite the piece power as Dead Man Tell No Tales or eponym Bomber semblance very lightly less inspired than his predecessor. If the direct Rock spirit is everywhere present, if MOTORHEAD looks for a little to renew itself, a certain fatigue seems to install itself. That transparait with Lawman or the disturbing Sweet Revenge, slow and heavy titles played without real conviction. Nevertheless, the success begins kindling lusts… You Recall: United Artists had refused go out On Parole in 1976. Three years later, the label does not hesitate to do it.
MOTORHEAD does not have the time to worry about the welcome received by Bomber ; already the trio leaves in turned to conquer the continent in company of SAXON (eleven dates in Holland, Germany and France) while the United Kingdom begins yielding to the blows of snouts of this phenomenon that one will name soon the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal (to read our complete file with this linkFiles NWOBHM ). We are in 1980 and the world of the Rock connait a new mutation. MOTORHEAD will draw from it widely profit, as shows it the huge success met by Ace Of Spades that adorned in November. This time, no weakness. MOTORHEAD sign the perfect album of Rock one on which nothing is to be thrown… Produce byVic MAILE, paying homage to the men of the shadow (We Are The Road Crew), talking about the pleasures of life ( Ace Of Spades, The Chase Is Better Than The Catch, Love Me Like A Reptile …) Ace Of Spades soon is certified disc of now, and enters into the closed circle of the essential classics of the kind.
MOTORHEAD sets off again on the roads. Criss-crossing his native soil, the trio records here and there which will become his first album live. But before, Lemmy and Co. offer themselves a small pleasure and record a max single of three titles with the new friends of GIRLSCHOOL . St Valentine’s Day Massacreis propelled n° 5, confirming the capital sympathy obtain by the trio. All goes for the better, and before to fly away itself for the new continent (vast territory that still remains to conquer, the discs of MOTORHEAD not there being distributed) in order to open for Ozzy OSBOURNE, MOTORHEAD savors the pleasure of the summits of the podium. No Sleep ‘Til Hammersmith is the perfect testimony of devastating effectiveness of MOTORHEAD facing his public at first of the years 80. Recorded on several dates during his last one turned in date, the 11 pieces figuring on this album show thatMOTORHEAD did not usurp his group title the most dangerous one of the world. And this group hoists itself to the first place of the charts! Was rather well for a formation that by the implosion four small years beforehand, no?
such a success deserves itself only to force of work and of implication. The turn did not happen without collisions, Eddie and Phithy fighting uniformly. When rings again the hour to record, there are real tensions within the group that decides to produce his future album itself. Fast Eddie is therefore in charge of to give forms to the sound of Iron Fist. The guitarist will see later in this choice the destined existence of a trap to find a reason to replace it. For, yes, Iron Fist satisfies not as much the fans at the time of his exit in April 1982. Without disastrous being, the returns are ambivalent. Of course, pieces as Iron Fist, Loser or (Don’t Need) Religion are pure one MOTORHEAD. But the body fishes by lack of sonorous dynamism doubtless. May 14, Fast Eddie leaves Lemmyand Philthy, and leaves to be founded, in company of Pete WAY (bass player of UFO) FASTWAY.
A "long" hearing period begins then. The happy elected official is other only the former one-THIN LIZZY Brian ROBERTSON. Immediately, the newly restored trio returns in studio to attempt to make to forget the semi failure met by Iron Fist . In June 1983 adorned Another Perfect Daythat marks the spirits for the simple reason that never MOTORHEAD was not so technical, or musical. This was nevertheless well the in demand goal with the integration of ROBERTSON… THE album suffers nevertheless of these more worked aspects and the public verdict is irrevocably: the album reaches only to the 20th shy place and will be rehabilitated only years later. For Another Perfect Day is part of the better productions of the group, and still remains an album to rediscover. As if that sufficed not, the worse one is to be come. The trio was involved itself in a Japanese turn during which tension climbs of several notches in opposition to Brian ROBERTSON that refuses to follow record them vestimentaires desired by Lemmy, takes a walk in pink spandex and refuses even to play the former titles of MOTORHEAD ! Those even that are the identity of the group! Lemmy not being the kind of guy to dither for years and years takes his decision as early as the return of the group: farewell ROBERTSON !
while of new research start up in order to find THE guitarist to the game and to the compatible behaviors with MOTORHEAD, a new album adorned. What’s Words Worth is in reality the recording of a concert that MOTORHEAD data to the Roundhouse February 18 1978. under the name – premonitory – of IRON FIST & THE HORDES FROM HELL.
Not succeeding in do a choice among the guitaristic elite that presents itself to him, Lemmy decides to integrate two six cordistes: an unknown young one that does itself to callWürzel and the former one-PERSIAN RISK Phil CAMPBELL. MOTORHEAD becomes then quartet, but the black series continues: this time, it is Phil TAYLOR that throws the sponge, deciding to rejoin Brian ROBERTSON that wishes to be founded a new group one. It isPhil CAMBPELL that suggests the name of the former one-SAXON Pete GILL that quickly is kept for the post.
The new group formulates constructs itself during the year 1984. Bronze decides to profit from it to capitalize on the passed of MOTORHEAD and foresees go out a compilation. Lemmy proposes (imposes) to add some novelties – of which Killed By Death – in order to reassure the fans. No Remorse adorned in a luxurious envelope in leather in the month of September, and hoists itself to the 14th place of the charts, position more respectable for a double compilation. But MOTORHEAD is not satisfied anymore of the manner in which Bronze takes care of the group and looks for to put an end to the contract. The matter finishes in justice, and the verdict is irrevocably: MOTORHEAD no longer has the import duty in studio for there to record futures albums. As much to say thatBronze has just managed to murder artists…
IF IT is forbidden to record, no verdict prevents MOTORHEAD to play and to turn. It is what decides to do the quartet during the months that follow. Criss-crossing Australia, passing in Europe and wherever it is possible to give a concert, MOTORHEAD becomes a scene phenomenon. The year 1985 pass in the same conditions, with a small event in the month of June: the group organizes to the legendary one Hammersmith of London, a concert event in order to celebrate its ten years of existence. The occasion to do to return each of the musicians having participated in the adventure. Then after a new turned one European, the formation flies away itself to criss-cross the WORE in company of Wendy O'WILLIAMS, the statuesque screaming torn one of thePLASMATICS.
Turns, turn and turn again. Untiringly... Of others would have since a long time stopped but MOTORHEAD screws for and by the scene. 1986 brings a new hope: Bronze goes bankrupt and the disappearance of the label returns fact the null judgement. Doug SMITH, to manage it, climbs his own label, GWR and diffuse his first tart, the new MOTORHEAD, in the month of August 1986: Orgasmatron. The album is welcomed with an enthusiasm by a pack of fans somewhat reassured by the effectiveness of Deaf Forever, of Claw or Mean Machine (two titles to the worthy tempo of Overkill on which these Pete GILL shows that it can effectively and efficiently to hold the rhythm of Phil TAYLOR) or piece eponym that becomes a classic of the scene. But in two years, the world of the music to changed, and MOTORHEAD no longer is the group more noisy of the world… OF others arrived, the Thrash of METALLICA or of SLAYER found his public and dug into in the one of MOTORHEADwithout bothering itself. Of more, the picture that gives the quartet (to see the photos promo of the era) shows a very clean group, to the opposed of what was the legendary trio, salts and neglected. Egalement, his absence discographique forced plays against Lemmy and his band. The English public, and European, although reassured, remains distrusting while offering to Orgasmatron only a 21st small place, but the public massively goes to the concerts, everywhere in the world.MOTORHEAD foam again the United States before criss-crossing Europe.
little by little, to perseverance force, grace also to the almost devotion that carries him the new stars ( METALLICA in head) Lemmy becomes an icon sort. To the point that even the movie is very interested in him. 1987 the view done a short apparition in the film Eat The Rich. While MOTORHEAD offers themselves – at last – a pause, Lemmy pose...
Nevertheless, a new mess comes to make unstable MOTORHEAD : Pete GILL decides to leave its companions. Between then a new drummer that names itself… « Philthy Animal » TAYLOR . The public rubs itself the hands and proclaims his satisfaction to see the original drummer to resume service. But this public is almost desperately to the absent subscribers when it is a matter to welcome Rock’N’Rollthat adorned in September on GWR. Lemmy always refused thatMOTORHEAD door another label that the one of group of Rock one and proclaims it with this album to the long one of which one feels the doubts that assail the quartet. The album falls to the 43rd place of the charts despite the presence of actually effective songs (the piece entitles) and fist blow.
MOTORHEAD pass the major party of the year 1988 on the roads and holds the head of poster of the Finnish festival Giants Of Rock that is held in July. Better which timeliness than the presence of several thousands of people to a concert to record a new album live and thus to show than the beast is well in life facing his public? No Sleep At All becomes, at his marketing in October 88, source of a new dispute between Lemmy and his label. The object of the different one? A disagreement as for the single that must represent the album. It is a new time the justice that will split, in favor of the leader of the group. But MOTORHEAD not seduced one more. Of new beasts of scene, as METALLICA, SLAYER, MEGADETH, ANTHRAX among of others collect the thirsty favors of a public of powerful riffs and of Heavy Metal hard-line one. While the decade touches soon to his at the end of MOTORHEAD connait a new back of fortune, a new dégringolade in visionary his album, far from being essential, let's recognize it, to arrive only in 79th place!
1990 brand a new departure. First, Lemmy takes one engraves decision that will perturb its English fans to the more top not at all: it decides to move to Los Angeles, city of all the visual excesses, earth of MOTLEY CRUE, RATT and other permed formations, sworn énemies of any amateur of "true" Metal… The founder of MOTORHEAD there sees the advantage of benefit from all the musical and logistical opportunities. For if THE. is the city of the Glam, of the Hair Metal, she is also a city that lives and breathes theRock’n’Roll. All there is, stores of music to the recording studios, while going through the clubs where the group will be able to play will between two turns.
before setting off again on the roads, MOTORHEAD hitches themselves to the realization of a new tart after finding refuge with Epic. 1916 adorned in February 1991 and, at last, the public seems to return. The piece power as I’m So Bad (Baby I Don’t Care), Going To Brazil or No Voices In The Sky, that become hymns together, and the high raised challenge the hand by 1916, a long oppressive lament very difficlement accepted by the fans at the time of the go out of the album. Think therefore: a ballad with MOTORHEAD!), is reassuring and allows the album to win 10 places, since in comparison with the last effort studio 1916 classifies themselves n° 24. MOTORHEAD shows to always be able to write folk songs, without taken of head. The return so awaited did it arrive? 1916 sees themselves even named among the claiming to aGrammy, it is to say the impact that can have this album. Then, this is a new one turned in known and familiar lands.
while the quartet records March Or Die, of which gone out it is foreseen for the months of August 1992, Phil TAYLOR takes the door. It soon is replaced by Mikkey DEE, notably known for its weapon facts with KING DIAMOND. But while awaiting to find it, the sticks are held by a ténor of the battery, Tommy ALDRIDGE. Despite the presence of prestigious guests (among which these Ozzy OSBOURNE and Slash participants on walk bluesy I Ain’t No Nice Guy ) and the return of the hymn ofTed NUGENT Cat Scratch Fever, the public is a new time to the absent subscribers. The 60th position affects doubtless the morale of Lemmy that takes the bad habit to leave the scene after 1h15 together… The morale is all the more affected since Epic decides to separate itself on one hand groups of his catalog, andMOTORHEAD is part of the cart. Without label, his future is again compromise.
If the three years that come are same kind (none of the following albums will enter into the top 40 English up to 2006…), the things resume progressively a positive turn thanks to the dynamism of Mikkey DEE. For it seems evident that the sly devil decided to leave a track of his passage within MOTORHEAD. That jumps to the ears as early as the publication of the named good Bastards (it is useful to explain the why of this title?) in November 1993 that marks a true return to the sources. If Lemmy did themselves to tattoo " Born To Lose, Live To Win " on the before arm, this time, it scans Born To Raise Hell ! It seems well returned the sly devil, and the proves with Burner andLost in The Ozone. And so worse if the public continues of not to buy in mass, at least it moves himself to the concerts. And more and more, Lemmy transforms itself in a sort of icon of the Rock one, of essential monument that even the Americans adopt.
THE instant adorned ideal for that Roadrunner, that some repurchased the rights, publishes, in 1994 the Live At Brixton ’87, describes as an album pirate official. Pirate, for at his recording, Bronze was possessor of the rights. The things changed and Roadrunner takes advantage of godsend. So better, for even if this recording dates back to the turn Rock’N’Roll, the sound is powerful and MOTORHEAD data the better one of itself. The classics march, and the pieces of the last album in date take on scene a very other dimension.
But come back to the present, with a new album studio. The eleven proposed pieces on Sacrifice in July 1995 confirm that MOTORHEAD return the things in hand. Sacrifice, War For War, Sex And Death, Over Your Shoulder… Every song shows the face more powerful of a MOTORHEAD obviously in form… that nevertheless undergoes a new hard blow when Würzel announcement his departure. Lemmy, Phil CAMPBELL and Mikkey DEE decide then to preserve the form of the trio. Since, the formation connait an unequalled stability, which, unquestionably, plays positively on the morale of all. The end of the year is marked by a surprised concert that gives METALLICA to the Whisky a Gogo of Los Angeles to celebrate the 50 years of Lemmy. The Four Horsemen climb on scene all of black clothed ones (even there, no surprise) but of more, they are themselves all the four disguised ones inLemmy ...
MOTORHEAD has since found his rhythm of cruise and seems to have become a severe group: every other year takes out an album, then the group embarks itself for a new turned one, interrupted, sometimes, by a participation to festivals in Europe or by the go out of a new recording in public. These concerts, henceforth, last not far of two hours. MoreLemmy aged one, more it holds the form… even if one notices often setlists that resemble themselves, established without true taken of risks.
THE year 1996 is therefore marked by the go out of the effective one Overnight Sensation on the envelope of which a size surprise (to the own one as in the figurative sense, the size…) awaits the fans: Lemmy is shaved! Bye bye moustache and legendary rouflaquettes! New era, new departure, new head also. But always this unique spirit that is the one of MOTORHEAD. The album is followed two years later by Snake Bite Love of which one date back to the turn that follows (Hamburg, in Germany) will be immortalized on a new double live, Everything Louder Than Every One Else (1999) that indicates the return in force of MOTORHEAD, more in form than never. Which happiness to hear Lemmy to ask the public to do the more of possible noise, "so never someone raw again that one does not have any success" and to confront this rediscovered fishing to the listens classics (it is necessary to quote them?) or of more recent titles as On Your Feet Or On Your Knees, Burner, Born To Raise Hell, Lost In The Ozone… Two full discs to crack of a fury all both saving and devastating.
THE year 2000 is the occasion for Metal-Is records, affiliate of Sanctuary music, go out in September a long best of of 40 pieces while CMC diffuse the new album studio simply entitled We Are Motörhead, again illustrated by Joe PENTAGNO. Doubtless lightly less inspired, the album contains nevertheless his batch of Rock Hard and of blues. This new ravages continues is worth that is worth in the musical vein that decided to follow the three partners.
essential Returned one to normalcy, MOTORHEAD decrease doubtless lightly his guard. Hammered that adorned in 2002 disappoints somewhat the fans, that, for as much, do not desert. Putting a dark look on our small world,Lemmy succeed in maintain a high content in its texts ( Brave New World, Voices From The War). The music, heavy and dark, remains perfectly identifiable.
Simultaneously, Lemmy publishes its memories, messing the hair, often, stretch and surprising: White Line Fever adorned in November 2002 is allows entering into the intimacy of the maitre, and although it writes or says, this is without taboo but always with respect. For even an "alternative fuck" pronounced by Lemmy is full of respect. ...
MOTORHEAD became a true institution that, even without attracting as much world as of the METALLICA, IRON MAIDEN , ACDC or other BON JOVI, does totally left the essential ones of the world-wide musical landscape. To the point that Sanctuary decides to do a very beautiful one "gift" to the fans while preparing for the months of October 2003 a gigantic casket of 5 CD (of which a live) that summarize the superb career of MOTORHEAD since its beginnings up to 2002. The fans besides are spoiled since the end of the year see to arriveLive At Brixton Academy, new testimony of the fidelity and madness of the fans. Attention nevertheless to not to confuse this album with the one mentioned previously. It is a matter well here of a recent recording...
2004 brand a new return to the sources with the publication ofInferno. The scathing articles of this albums ( Terminal Show, Killers, Down On Me, In The Black, Fight, In The Name Of Tragedy) continue to regild the reputation of a MOTORHEAD vigorous, and in the middle of the possession of its means. Two years later, the results of the this determinations to hold the bar against winds and tides brings his satisfaction batch: practically irreproachable, Kiss Of Death more better is perceived again since the public offers to the trio – this had not arrived since more than ten years – a place within the charts where the album climbs to the 45th place, and will be the object of a new album in public, Better Motörhead Than Dead (2007). The given concert – and recorded – in the month of June 2005 to the mythical one Hammersmith Odeon had for goal to celebrate the 30th birthday of MOTORHEAD, the digging one into trio in almost all the of his discography (which explains that the CD contains only two pieces of Inferno, then their more recent ravages)
Motörizer fact better again in 2008 than his predecessors, the CD succeeding in the 32nd position. Yes, the sky seems henceforth released for Lemmy and his band, despite the Fact that a new timeMOTORHEAD meet again without label…
It exists a saying that says that one "more better is never served only by oneself". The occasion is therefore there for Lemmy climb a label. UDR will accommodate henceforth MOTORHEAD, of course, but welcomes equally some groups friends of long date: SAXON and GIRLSCHOOL. 2010 will be marked by two major events: the go out of a film totally devoted to the myth, and simply entitled Lemmy. The DVD wins a huge success through the planet. Then, this went out of it The Wörld Is Yours, that undergoes a light decline since it falls again in 45th position. But little imports. For the public is there, well present, faithful to the post. MOTORHEAD, during the years 2000, foamed the European festivals the most important ones and rediscovered the place that is hers in the heart of the fans. A history that does not seem ready to stop itself.
MOTORHEAD banger for life !
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