News is coming in that Motorhead frontman Lemmy has died.
The band have published a statement on their Facebook page, confirming that the singer has passed away. Lemmy was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer on Boxing Day (December 26th) and died yesterday (December 28th).
It's a tragic blow for the band, who lost drummer Phil Taylor just one month ago. Lemmy was a true rock icon, someone who walked it like they talked it for almost fifty years. As a roadie and then member of Hawkwind, the bass player was a stalwart of the squat rock / free party scene, essentially an anarchic psychedelic offshoot that carried the spirit of the counter culture into the 70s.
Forming Motorhead – slang for a heavy amphetamine user – the band's brand of loud, obnoxious heavy rock chimed with the opening era of punk. Touring across the globe, Motorhead smashed all before it. Need an example of their influence? Metallica's Lars Ulrich was president of the Motorhead fan club. A tragic, tragic loss to rock 'n' roll,
Motorhead wrote:
There is no easy way to say this…our mighty, noble friend Lemmy passed away today after a short battle with an extremely aggressive cancer. He had learnt of the disease on December 26th, and was at home, sitting in front of his favorite video game from The Rainbow which had recently made its way down the street, with his family.
We cannot begin to express our shock and sadness, there aren’t words.
We will say more in the coming days, but for now, please…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.
Ian ‘Lemmy’ Kilmister 1945 -2015
Born to lose, lived to win.
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