Lemmy Kilmister didn't care about genre boundaries. He played rock and roll, fast and loud, and if people wanted to call it metal or punk, that was their problem. Fired from Hawkwind for 'doing the wrong drugs,' he formed Motörhead and spent four decades delivering the most uncompromising rock and roll on the planet.
Motörhead existed at the intersection of punk and metal, embraced by both camps and beholden to neither. Ace of Spades became their signature, a song so fast and reckless it made punk bands seem timid. Lemmy's death in December 2015 ended an era.
Key Albums
The title track is the fastest, most dangerous song in rock. The album is relentless.
The double-kick drum on the title track influenced every thrash band that followed.
Live album that captures the band's ear-destroying power.
Why They Matter
Motörhead was the missing link between punk and metal. Lemmy's refusal to slow down, clean up, or compromise created a template for extreme music that both genres claimed as their own.