Lemmy: The Definitive Biography (aka: wrong dickhead, trick question; Lemmy is god)

I finally got my hands on British music journalist/rock biographer Mick Walls' book  "Lemmy: The Definitive Biography".  It was released April 2016 and it took me until a couple weeks ago to land a copy of my own.  I was hoping for the hardcover edition, but I'm fine with the paperback.  What I didn't want was to read the Kindle version.  I read books on Kindle, but there are certain books that I want to read where I have to HOLD the physical book.  This is one of those books.

I'm a huge fan of music related biographies.  Have been since the early 80s and its only become worse since everyone and they're brother/sister is offered a book deal and spew their memoirs.  There are so many good ones out there.  Hook, line and sinker for me - so I'm not complaining.  TAKE MY MONEY!

I know there are many Lemmy books littering the market (pre/post his death), but this one is way above average.  Especially since it's a collection of interviews Mick had with Lemmy over the years; starting in the early 90s. And coincidentally, Mick worked as Motörhead’s publicist for a short period of time. This book started to take shape when Lem's health took a turn.  I believe Mick had a ton of tapes he had to transcribe.  He had Lemmy's blessing of course and dove into piecing this together using the words of the man himself.  I wouldn't go so far to call this extremely in-depth.  But, if you're familiar with the 2002 book "White Line Fever" (by Lemmy and Janiss Garza) then it does fill in some gaps left in that one. Plus there are friends/musicians who are brought in as well.

It does get hard to read towards the end of the book since this includes Lem's passing. So I spent the last portion of the book just gearing up for the inevitable.  It's like knowing the ending to a movie you've watched a hundred times. You know the ending but you still immerse yourself into it and become attached for a moment in time.

I wouldn't call this "definitive" because Mick does gloss over many areas/years, including Lem's side band The Head Cat (Google that band if you're unfamiliar - classic stuff).  So I wasn't too happy about that being left out entirely.

There are many gaps here too, but what this book does is it captures Lemmy’s own unique philosophy of life.  His life and the life which surrounded him.

From the 1994 movie "Airheads"
"Wrong dickhead, trick question; Lemmy is god....."

A Few Good CD Rips

Ripping a few CDs for my iGod today and figured I'd throw a quick blog on them.  Especially since they're not your average CD releases.

'Operation Rock & Roll' was a compilation released prior to the 1991 tour of the same name. Great lineup - Judas Priest, Motörhead, Alice Cooper, Metal Church and Dangerous Toys. 

Icon's  '1984: Live Bootleg' is a nice gem capturing them on their 1984 tour. I attended this very show since it was recorded in my hometown. I have the DVD of this one as well. Icon was a damn good band at the time. Their self-titled debut is an all-time top album for me. I liked MAYBE half of their follow-up album 'Night of the Crime'.  What a disappointment for them to go from Metal to Pop Rock. I'm sure it was pressure from the label to try and be the next Bon Jovi, White Lion etc.

Heathen 's second release 'Victims of Deception' is a Metal masterpiece. So overlooked by many and one I've listened to extensively. Guitarist Lee Altus still keeps this band of his going, even since joining Exodus some ten years ago. Just check out the last release from 2010 entitled 'The Evolution Of Chaos'  It'll rip your damn head off.

Varga's 'Prototype' is another one of those "little engine that could" releases. I can't say enough good things about this one. Back in the day I used to listen to the Rock/Metal radio station Z-Rock and they played "Unconscience" and "Freeze Don't Move". Loved the riffs but didn't care for the some of the sampling.  I also enjoyed their third album, 'Oxygen'.  The two EPs they released a few years ago; 'Enter The Metal' (2013) and 'Return Of The Metal' (2014), are top notch.  Glad they reformed and got the band back together for a short period of time.

Lemmy Kilmister Laid To Rest Today

Finished watching the memorial service for Lemmy Kilmister about an hour ago (live stream off Motörhead's YouTube page).

First and foremost, it was one of the most amazing tributes I've witnessed.  I didn't know if this was going to be a train wreck or not.  And so very glad it wasn't.

Lots of people in attendance and many had their chance to say a few words or share stories and jokes regarding their time with Lemmy.  Lem's son Paul gave a heartwarming eulogy at the very beginning of the service. Then it was one after another....Motörhead's drummer Mikkey Dee, guitarist Bob Kulick, Slim Jim from The Head Cats, Lemmy's personal assistant Ian, a European publicist, Lemmy's buddy Scotty, girlfriend Cheryl, a German promoter, journalist Steffan Chirazi, drummer Matt Sorum, Slash, Motörhead's stage Manager Roger, Ugly Kid Joe vocalist Whitfield Crane, Alice In Chains bassist Mike Inez, Rob Halford, Scott Ian, wrestler Triple H, Robert Trujillo, Lars Ulrich, and finally Dave Grohl.

All had very touching, warm, endearing, funny stories to tell.  Some short, some very long.  And the video/sound feed cut off during the early part of Dave Grohl's portion when he was talking about the first time he introduced himself to Lemmy outside the Rainbow Bar.  It cut off right as Dave was to tell everyone the first words Lem ever said to him.  Well, I found out later Lemmy said, "Sorry about Kurt". Dave also had an autographed photo of Little Richard he wanted to give Lem for his birthday last month and never had a chance to do so.

If you're not familiar with Motörhead's music, then do yourself a favor and go to YouTube, Spotify, iTunes, Amazon and start now.  It's never too late to get into this band.  And if you've never watched the Lemmy movie '49% Motherfucker. 51% Son Of A Bitch' then check that out as well because you won't be disappointed.  And there are a ton of Motörhead concerts on YouTube and documentaries as well.  All fun to watch.  The movie will prove how intelligent and remarkable Lemmy truly was.

Rock In Peace, Lemmy.

Born To Lose / Live To Win

Motörhead Forever!

Lemmy Is God!

It wouldn't be right if I didn't post something about the passing of Ian 'Lemmy' Kilmister.

He was a force to be reckoned with anytime he stepped foot on stage or if you were in his mere presence.

Lemmy was a god in his own right and probably smarter than most people you've met in your life.

If you meet any Metal head, rocker, punk or any hesher and you ask them to name a Motörhead song, most will name, "Ace of Spades" without thinking about it.  That was their calling card song right there.  The mighty Motörhead had a ton of other tunes that ran circles around that one, but it's one you never forget and the lyrics are pretty easy to remember.

What we lost was a the last of the great gunfighters.  Lemmy lived the way he wanted his entire 70 years in existence.  Even when he was hit with serious health issues a few years ago, he slowed down a little, but not to the extent most would.  For example, he was told by doctors to lay off the alcohol. So he traded in his Jack Daniels for vodka. Typical Lemmy fashion.

Many of the legends still with us (Ozzy, Rob Halford, Tony Iommi etc) don't party at all anymore due to their own health issues (ie. they've slowed down in life).  Lem lived life to the fullest until the very end.  He was in no shape to tour and he died two weeks after completing a leg of the recent Motörhead 40th anniversary tour.

I had the opportunity to see Motörhead perform a number of times in my life and very grateful. I lost partial hearing in my right ear at a Motörhead show in 1998 (Anthrax vocalist Joey Belladonna's solo band was support - he wasn't in Anthrax at the time).  It was a smaller venue, (smaller than what they would normally perform) but intimate, sold out and so fuckin' loud.  I was right in front of Lemmy and his Marshall stack.  Back in the day, I didn't wear ear protection and having almost lost some hearing at a Rainbow show a number of years ago, this one sealed the deal.  I remember it vividly.  As soon as they launched into "Orgasmatron" I was screwed.  I had been to my fair share of concerts prior to 1998 (a ton to be exact) and I had never heard a concert so loud in my life.  I was deaf.  And of course Motörhead released a compilation album in 2000 entitled, 'Deaf Forever'.  Yeah, that was me.

Aside from Motörhead, I was also into his side band The Head Cat.  They released two CDs

[Fool's Paradise (2006) and Walk the Walk...Talk the Talk (2011)] and one DVD

[Rockin' The Cat Club: Live from the Sunset Strip (2007)].  It's straight-up rock and roll/rockabilly.  Always hoped I'd get a chance to see them one time, but it never happened.  If Motörhead wasn't on tour, Lemmy was either on tour, in the studio or at The Rainbow playing his favorite video game.

It was an aggressive form of cancer that took Lemmy from us sooner than later and four days after his 70th birthday.  The guy lived a lot of life.  He also had a lot of friends who came out in droves to offer condolences and funny Lemmy stories.

Hard to believe he's no longer with us,  He's been around my entire life and it's just like when we lost Ronnie James Dio.  Losing fuckin' legendary people like this always feels like losing a family member.  So weird.  And the end of Motörhead.

Also, Lemmy's memorial will be streamed live from Los Angeles tomorrow (Sat Jan 9th) at 3PM (PST): https://youtu.be/qSAXVdIj6jY

And more coverage of after party at the Rainbow Bar and Grill in West Hollywood to follow at imotorhead.com

Thank you, Lemmy!  

It's been a fun ride.  Although I'm sure the ride from your side was a lot more enjoyable than most of us will ever know.

"Born To Lose, Lived To Win"