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Motorhead frontman, hard-rock hero ‘Lemmy’ Kilmister dies Motorhead frontman, rock icon ‘Lemmy’ Kilmister dead at 70
(about 4 hours later)
LOS ANGELES — Ian “Lemmy” Kilmister, the Motorhead frontman whose outsized persona made him a hero for generations of hard-rockers and metal-heads, has died. He was 70. LOS ANGELES — Lanky and long-haired, with mutton chops and moles, Ian “Lemmy” Kilmister looked and lived like a hard-rock hero. He founded Motorhead in 1975, and continued recording and touring with the band until his death.
Agent Andrew Goodfriend tells The Associated Press that Kilmister died on Monday in Los Angeles after a brief battle with aggressive cancer. He began every legendary live show with the announcement, “We are Motorhead, and we play rock and roll!”
Known simply as “Lemmy” to most, he was as famous for his mustache, mutton chops and the mole on his face as he was for his music. The singer and bassist died Monday at age 70 after a brief battle with aggressive cancer, said his agent Andrew Goodfriend. He had learned of the diagnosis just two days earlier, according to a statement from the band.
But he was deeply respected and revered as a rock master and innovator, from his time with the seminal psychedelic band Hawkwind in the early 1970s to his four decades in Motorhead, best known for their 1980 anthem “Ace of Spades.” “We cannot begin to express our shock and sadness, there aren’t words,” the band said in announcing the death on its Facebook page. “Play Motorhead loud, play Hawkwind loud, play Lemmy’s music LOUD. Have a drink or few. Share stories. Celebrate the LIFE this lovely, wonderful man celebrated so vibrantly himself. HE WOULD WANT EXACTLY THAT.”
The band announced Kilmister’s death on its Facebook page, describing him and “our mighty, noble friend” and urging fans to “...play Motörhead loud, play Hawkwind loud, play Lemmy’s music LOUD. Have a drink or few. Share stories. Celebrate the LIFE this lovely, wonderful man celebrated so vibrantly himself. HE WOULD WANT EXACTLY THAT.” Born on Christmas Eve, 1945, in Staffordshire, England, Kilmister was deeply respected and revered as a rock master and innovator, from his time with the seminal psychedelic band Hawkwind in the early 1970s to his four decades in Motorhead, best known for the 1980 anthem “Ace of Spades.” The band won a Grammy for 2004’s best metal performance.
Born on Christmas Eve, 1945, in Staffordshire, England, Kilmister founded Motorhead in 1975. Its bassist and lead singer ever since, Kilmister was royalty even among fellow rockers.
Ozzy Osbourne called him “one of my best friends.”Ozzy Osbourne called him “one of my best friends.”
“He will be sadly missed,” Osbourne wrote on Twitter late Monday. “He was a warrior and a legend. I will see you on the other side.”“He will be sadly missed,” Osbourne wrote on Twitter late Monday. “He was a warrior and a legend. I will see you on the other side.”
Tall and lanky, with his distinct look, “Lemmy” lived rock music — he was a regular at Sunset Strip rocker hangout The Rainbow and never stopped recording and performing. And he wasn’t just culturally revered, he was critically acclaimed: Motorhead won a Grammy for 2004’s best metal performance. Metallica tweeted: “Lemmy, you are one of the primary reasons this band exists. We’re forever grateful for all of your inspiration.”
Kilmister had suffered numerous health issues in recent months. According to the band’s statement, he learned of his cancer diagnosis just two days before his death. And numerous other rock musicians took to social media to pay tribute, including Queen guitarist Brian May, Black Sabbath’s Geezer Butler, Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue and Aerosmith drummer Joey Kramer, who tweeted, “RIP #Lemmy heaven is Rockin tonight.”
Kilmister had suffered numerous health issues in recent months.
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AP Entertainment Writer Sandy Cohen contributed to this story. Associated Press writer Christine Armario contributed to this story.
Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.