White Line Fever: Lemmy: The Autobiography

by Kilmister, Lemmy

  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