Our last album of the twentieth century, We Are Motörhead, opened up the new millennium for us. We went on the usual yearlong tour, which was uneventful – or, rather, no more eventful than usual, other than touring Ireland, which we hadn’t done in many years – until the end. We went back to Russia and our schedule was brutal – two eighteen-hour drives back-to-back and no days off for about a week. Then it took us forever to get out of Russia to Poland. We didn’t get to Warsaw until eleven o’clock at night – our crew were loading into the venue at one in the morning! But the audience stuck around because it was the first time we’d been there. Then we had to drive all the way down to Austria . . . finally I collapsed. Touring is second nature for me, but a person’s body can only take so much. It was the end of the tour anyway, so it didn’t really matter.
After taking a month off, we began working on the new album, Hammered. Phil and Mikkey flew out to LA on 10 September 2001 – the best possible time anyone could have scheduled a plane flight considering what happened the next day! The guys wouldn’t have been in danger, of course – the flight was nonstop from England to Los Angeles – but who knows when they would have arrived in town?
I suppose I should have my say about the terrorist attacks. I don’t suppose it’ll be a popular point of view, but they need to be put into some sort of perspective. They were a horrible tragedy, but also what happened in New York and Washington is the same thing that England and America did to Berlin every day for three years during World War II – and Germany did the same thing to England. And it happened in every other city in Germany and lots of cities in France and Poland, too. But most Americans don’t think about that. They think everything starts and finishes with America. It is the first time this has ever happened to America, so you would expect them to overreact a bit. So let’s not panic too much – it can be got over. Anything can be got over.
But back to Hammered. We recorded it in the Hollywood Hills at Chuck Reid’s house (he was doing rap stuff before, and I think he’s still getting over it!), with Thom Pannunzio producing. It was released in April of 2002. Within a month it had already sold more than the last two records combined and the tour has started off great. We’re getting more money, we’re getting in bigger places, so we’re in excellent shape.
Things have been pretty good for me, and for Motörhead, over the past several years. I bet you thought I was going to say ‘so I can’t complain’ but you should know me better than that by now! There will always be a few things eating away at me. If you’ve gotten this far with the book, you may have noticed that over the past twenty-five or so years, Motörhead have made quite a few albums. So one thing that will always puzzle me are those people who, for some bizarre reason, think our career ended with Ace of Spades. Since I’ve moved to America, we’ve made our best records ever. They far surpass the ones that everybody remembers. Anyone I’ve played our latest records to has been astounded. But most people seem to have gone deaf, as far as we’re concerned, somewhere around 1979 or 1980. ‘Yo, dude, “Ace of Spades”,’ – that’s the famous cry that has come to plague me. Occasionally I get really pissed off. It’d be nice if instead I heard someone say, ‘Have you got anything new out? I’d like to hear it.’ That would be much better. But no, they come up to me and say, ‘You guys were so great!’ And I say, ‘Yeah? If we were so great, how come you stopped listening to us after 1980?’ That’s what I don’t understand – the usual reply is, ‘Oh, I got married.’ People are fucking weird.
If you think you’re too old for rock ’n’ roll, then you are. And it even happens to musicians – you see them on stage and they sound great and everything, but it’s almost like you can tell they’re looking at their watch. ‘Have we finished yet? Let’s go back to the wife and poodle.’ The reason that rock ’n’ roll is such a young thing is . . . because it started with young people, obviously. But then they grew older and their attitude changed – they became more anxious to be accepted by the rank and file. I don’t have any trouble with that myself because I know I’m not gonna be accepted by the rank and file, even in rock ’n’ roll! So I was an outsider from Day One. But it’s all right by me – somebody’s gotta do it.
Like I was saying before, we’ve been making the best records of our career but hardly anybody seems to hear them. I keep waiting for us to be rediscovered, but it hasn’t happened quite yet. But as long as I can keep making records and touring, I can soldier on. Not being a huge success doesn’t bother me – after all, I have been there and done that. Sometimes people ask, ‘What about these bands that you inspired making it over you?’ They’re not making it over us: they’re just making it, and you get inspired by anything you listen to. It doesn’t matter. It’s just that kids are getting in bands and making it, like they always have. I don’t have any problem with that. It’s great that we inspired them – it proves we were right!
One thing I am very glad of is that I went through the sixties. People who didn’t really don’t know what they missed. We pushed a certain consciousness, a way of life and it was exciting – no AIDS, people weren’t dying so much from drug abuse and it was truly a time of freedom and change. The only time I’ve seen any rebellion was in the fifties, sixties and early seventies. The rest of it you can keep. The kids now have attitudes more like the parents we were all trying to fight! They’ll probably raise a bunch of fucking freaks. We raised a bunch of estate agents, a bunch of fucking accountants. God knows how we did it. I guess it’s because most people give up. As I pointed out earlier, a lot of people say, ‘I used to listen to Motörhead,’ implying that when you grow up, you can’t. Well, I’m glad they say that, man, ’cause I don’t want no grown-ups listening to me. Grown-ups are the ones who fuck everything up. Since I was about twenty-five, nothing changed, except I got smarter and wiser and things have an effect on you. But I never thought I was any older, really. It was just a very long twenty-five! I can’t imagine being fifty. If I’d lost all my hair or something, I might believe it, but I haven’t.
I lost my father a couple of years ago – rather careless of me, don’t you think? Actually, I lost both of them, my biological father and my stepfather. They died within seven months of each other. It was kind of sudden. You would think they had conspired just to piss us off! My stepfather, who saved us from the difficulties put on us by my real father, left me debts, and my real father left me money, so there you go. I didn’t like either one of them, actually, and as far as I’m concerned, my biological dad will always be an asshole – he left a young girl on her own to bring up a child and she had her mother living with us as well! Fuck this ‘Don’t speak ill of the dead’ shit! People don’t become better when they’re dead; you just talk about them as if they are. But it’s not true! People are still assholes, they’re just dead assholes!
Anyhow, I’m very much alive, and this is certainly not the last you will be hearing from me!
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
brave new world
What did I tell you?
Hello and welcome to the end of the book. As we are well past the deadline, I’ll keep it short (about five foot two).
In my life so far, I have discovered that there are really only two kinds of people: those who are for you, and those who are against you. Learn to recognize them, for they are often and easily mistaken for each other.
Also, it seems that our brave new world is becoming less tolerant, spiritual and educated than it ever was when I was young; of course we are all susceptible to the ‘good old days’ syndrome, but this is not an example of it . . . Inherited hatred (i.e. hatred your parents schooled you in) is not only stupid, it is destructive – why make your only driving force hate? Seems really fucking dumb to me.
Finally (and this is good advice), buy our albums. You won’t be sorry!
Love,
Lem
March, 2003
INDEX
acid (LSD) ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8, ref9
acupucture ref1
<
br /> Adverts, The ref1
album covers ref1, ref2
Aldridge, Tommy ref1
Alice Cooper ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5
Alice in Chains ref1, ref2
Alice, Nina C. ref1
Allen, Ronald ref1
Almighty, The ref1
Amen Corner ref1
Amon Duul II ref1
Anderson, Dave ref1
Andromeda ref1
Araya, Tom ref1
Arnold, P. P. ref1
Artwoods, The ref1
Bad News ref1
Baker, Ginger ref1, ref2
Bandwagon Heavy Metal Soundhouse, London ref1
Banker, Doug ref1, ref2, ref3
Barker, Clive ref1
Barrett, Syd ref1
Barron, Duane ref1
Beach Boys, The ref1, ref2
‘Here Today’ (from Pet Sounds) ref1
Beatles, The ref1, ref2
Sergeant Pepper ref1
Beck, Jeff ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
Beirut, Lebanon ref1
belladonna (atropine sulphate) ref1
Bender, Ariel (Luther Grosvenor) ref1
Benllech, Anglesey ref1
Bennett, Susan (Sue) ref1
Benson, Howard ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5
Berry, Chuck ref1, ref2
‘Louie Louie’ ref1, ref2
Bidmead, Guy ref1, ref2, ref3
Biff (Saxon singer) ref1
Big Three, The, ref1
‘Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah’ ref1
Bill Haley and the Comets ref1
‘Razzle Dazzle’ ref1
‘Rock Around the Clock’ ref1, ref2
‘See You Later Alligator’ ref1
‘Skinny Minnie’ ref1
Birds, The ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
Black Sabbath ref1, ref2, ref3
naps ref1
Blackpool Tower ref1
Blue, Vicki ref1
Blue Oyster Cult ref1, ref2, ref3
Bolton, Roger ref1
Bolton Wanderers ref1
Bond, Graham ref1, ref2
Bonzo Dog Doodah Band ref1, ref2
Boone, Pat ref1
Bosnia ref1
Bowie, David ref1
Boys Don’t Cry, ‘I Wanna Be a Cowboy’ ref1
Bradford City Football Stadium Fire Disaster Fund ref1
Brock, Dave ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7
Bron, Gerry ref1, ref2
Bron, Lillian, ref1
Bronze Records ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8, ref9
Brown, Dez ref1
Brown, James ref1
Bruce, Jack ref1
Bubbles, Barney ref1
Burnett, Johnny ‘Train Kept A-Rollin’’ ref1
Burns, John ref1
Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent ref1
Burston, Mick ‘Wurzel’ ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8, ref9, ref10, ref11, ref12, ref13
CMJ convention ref1
evening of terror ref1
joins Motörhead ref1, ref2, ref3
kidney stones ref1
leaves Motörhead ref1, ref2
personal problems ref1
Toots (dog) ref1
Byrds, The ref1
Calvert, Bob ref1, ref2, ref3
Captain Lockhead and the Starfighters ref1
Campbell, Phil ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8, ref9, ref10, ref11, ref12, ref13, ref14, ref15, ref16, ref17, ref18
attempts to quit Motörhead ref1
breaks ankle in fight ref1
David Letterman Show ref1
and Fat-O-Gram ref1
hospitalised by ‘brown speed’ ref1
joins Motoörhead ref1, ref2
manic behaviour on tour ref1
new-found energy on stage ref1
playing on Overnight Sensation ref1
Captain Sensible ref1
Carey, Mariah ref1, ref2
Carroll, Ted ref1, ref2
Carson, Phil ref1, ref2, ref3
Cavern club, Liverpool ref1, ref2
CBH, German record label ref1, ref2
CBS ref1
Chesters, Neville ref1
Chiswick Records ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
Churchill, Winston ref1
Ciggy (Cyril, drummer with Rocking Vicars) ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
Clapton, Eric ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6
Clarke, Eddie ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8, ref9, ref10, ref11, ref12, ref13, ref14
berates Lemmy’s drinking, ref1
excessive salad ref1
fights ref1
joins Motörhead ref1
leaves Motörhead ref1, ref2
reluctantant singer ref1
solo for ‘Capricorn’ ref1
on TisWas ref1
Clary, Julian ref1
Clash, The ref1, ref2
Clooney, Rosemary ref1
CMC, American record label ref1, ref2
CMJ convention, New York ref1
cocaine ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6
Cochran, Eddie ref1
Cocker, Joe ref1
Colwyn Bay ref1, ref2
Comic Strip team ref1, ref2
Conwy, N. Wales ref1, ref2
Corsaro, Jason ref1, ref2
Count Bishops, The ref1
Coverdale, David ref1
Crane, Whitfield ref1
Cream ref1
Crest Hotel, Edinburgh ref1
Cycle Sluts, The ref1
Daily Mirror ref1
Damned, The ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
‘Ballroom Blitz’ ref1
‘I Just Can’t Be Happy Today’ ref1
‘Over the Top’ ref1
Dangerous Toys ref1, ref2
Dave Road Warrior ref1
Davidson, Leo ‘Angry Faces’ ref1
Decca in Finland ref1
Decline of Western Civilization, Part II: The Metal Years, ref1
Dee, Mikkey ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
homophobia ref1, ref2
joins Motörhead ref1
miraculous playing ref1, ref2
Deejays (Sundowners), The ref1, ref2
Deep Purple ref1
D’Elia, Roger ref1
Dettmar, Del ref1, ref2
Dexedrine ref1, ref2, ref3
Dick, Will Reid ref1, ref2
Dikmik (Hawkwind musician) ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5
Docks, The, Hamburg ref1
Doctor Hook ref1
Dokken ref1, ref2
Donovan ‘Season of the Witch’ ref1
Dorn, Ryan ref1
Downey, Brian ref1, ref2
Downlines Sect, The ref1
Drifter ref1
Drug Store, Chelsea ref1
Dufort, Denise ref1, ref2, ref3
Duke, Phil ref1
Dylan, Bob ref1
Eat the Rich ref1
Eddy, Duane ref1
Edmunds, Dave ref1
Eire Apparent, The ref1
Eko guitars ref1
Electric Ballroom, London ref1
Electric Garden, London ref1
Electric Light Orchestra, The ref1
Elsmore, Andy ref1
Emerson, Keith ref1
Emil Ford and the Checkmates ref1
‘What Do You Want to Make Those Eyes at Me For’ ref1
Eno, Brian ref1
Entertainment Weekly ref1
Epstein, Brian ref1, ref2, ref3
Escape Studio, Kent, ref1
Eurythmics, The ref1
Everly Brothers ref1,
Feeney, Harry (Reverend Black) ref1, ref2, ref3
Fender guitars ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
Finland ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5
Florida ref1
Flowers of Romance, The ref1
Foghat ref1
Ford, Lita ref1, ref2, ref3
Four Pennies, The ref1
Fox, Lucas ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
Fox, Samantha
ref1
Foxton, Bruce ref1
Frankie Goes To Hollywood ref1, ref2
‘Relax’ with Lemmy ref1
Fryer, Fritz ref1
Garcia, Gerry ref1
Gardner, Kim ref1
Gerry and the Pacemakers ref1, ref2
Giant, record label ref1
Gibson guitars ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
Gill, Pete ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
born-again jogger ref1
comes out ref1
fired from Motörhead ref1
joins Motörhead ref1
waves dick around ref1
Gilligan, Dave ‘Giggles’ ref1
Girl Guides ref1, ref2,
Girlschool ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6
‘Bomber’ (cover) ref1
‘Emergency’ ref1
‘Please Don’t Touch’ (cover) ref1
‘Take It All Away’ ref1
The St Valentine’s Day Massacre EP (with Motörhead) ref1
TisWas (TV show) ref1
Glitter, Gary ref1
Gloucester Road flat, London ref1
Glyn, (Glun), bass player ref1
Gopal, Sam ref1
Gorham, Scott ref1
Grammy Awards ref1
Grant, Peter ref1
Grease Band, The ref1
Greek Street Chinese food store, Soho ref1
Green, Mick ref1, ref2, ref3
Greenberg, Jerry ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
Greenslade ref1
Greenslade, Dave ref1
Griffiths, Brian ‘Griff’ ref1
Groves, Brian ref1
Grower, Alex ref1
Guns N’ Roses ref1, ref2, ref3
Gustafson, Johnny ref1
GWR, record label ref1, ref2, ref3
Hadwen, Paul ref1
Hagen, Nina ref1
Hallesy, Trevor ref1
Hammersmith Odeon, London ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5
Hanneman, Jeff ref1
White Line Fever: Lemmy: The Autobiography Page 24