LEMMY
Now, you may notice the title of this essay is “Lemmy.” But if you don’t know who I’m referring to when I say “Lemmy” then I suggest you immediately click off this site, join the “Bi-curious Televangelists for Jesus” website and let us carry on. ‘Cause Lemmy is the person who showed Andy and I the light, who showed us the way. And any non-believers need to be cast away, immediately, or stoned. (Goddamn hippies!)
Roughly, thirty-five years ago, Andy & I were sitting in his car on a weekend night, drinking before we went into a punk show- probably at The Rat or The Channel.
“I’m gonna play a cassette I made of Motorhead,” Andy said.
“I don’t think I’ll like it.” I said. ” I don’t really like metal stuff.”
“Well, just give it a try. This is different.”
This was the Ace Of Spades album. Andy was quick to point out the humor in many of the lines. This was not the usual ponderous, metal music I had heard before. No “cosmic” imagery here- just funny, biting lyrics. And none of the usual ponderous, “progressive” rhythms either. This stuff was fast and full of energy, this was similar to punk. And the vocals- this was not the usual soprano, operatic vocals of the metal music I had heard previously but something sounding more like someone who gargled with razorblades and whiskey after he brushed his teeth. This was wild and fun and funny. This was punk masquerading as metal to me.
(An interviewer is interviewing Lemmy, asking about “progression” from album to album and states-” Like with Radiohead, every new record is new, it’s like they’re trying to redefine themselves each time.”)
Lemmy replies, “Yeah, but none of them, none of the albums are good.”
Lemmy was actually a roadie for Jimi Hendrix at one time, then he was a bass player in the psychedelic rock band Hawkwind.
But then he started Motorhead. And though the word is an English term for “speed freak” and Lemmy certainly indulged a lot, more in his younger days, he was very anti-heroin, seeing so many friends die of it.
In fact, in the early days of punk he was mates with a lot of the punks. He wasn’t hanging around with Judas Priest! He knew The Damned and was the bass teacher for Sid Vicious (I guess, Lemmy’s calling was not as a bass instructor.)
I’d like to point out, as a bass player myself, Lemmy had the most unique style I’ve witnessed. He played bass like strumming a guitar, more like a rhythm guitarist, and though his band had a huge influence, I don’t know of anyone who copped his style- it’s as unique as the man who played it. And his singing below the mike was a representation of the underdog, indeed.
I mentioned earlier about Motorhead being considered metal. Fair enough- and most of the players who played in that band come from that genre or play with that style. But Lemmy always started every show with the proclamation, “We are Motorhead and we play rock’n’roll!”
I feel that’s exactly what Motorhead played, Lemmy said several times he was just trying to sound as much like Little Richard as he could and as absurd as that may sound, I think, if you pay attention to his phrasing you can see it. And with the many classic rock bands claiming to be “rock’n’roll”, to my ears The Rolling Stones, AC/DC and Motorhead are the only ones playing it.
Motorhead was never a “popular” band with hit songs and albums but survived because they represented and delivered the pure essence of rock’n’roll. Not the rock “shite” the classic rock bands paraded out but the real thing of Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis and Chuck Berry.
And what is rock’n’roll but the guts and power of American music? R&B from the black culture and country from the white culture. Rock’n’roll was not invented in England or Egypt or Istanbul but in the lives and feelings of regular, working class Joe’s of America.
And American music reaches the most hearts on our planet today.
And Motorhead represents the best music of our time- meaning, punk, metal and hardcore. Not just because of the music but what the sound represents- honesty, integrity, passion and guts.
This is no small thing as the media and “accepted” arts are filled with pretentious, meandering, pandering, lifeless forms that may generate money but little of remembrance or worth.
“I think if you don’t get Motorhead you don’t “get” metal, you don’t get “punk”, you dont get anything TNB is about.”- an irate, drunken Boston rock scribbler.
When I listen to Lemmy’s song “R.A.M.O.N.E.S.”, I like to imagine Lemmy’s “up there” playing with The Ramones as Dee Dee still won’t have anything to do with them (though he still writes their songs.)
So no tears about Lemmy. We’re brave boys and girls here. Though Lemmy is God even gods must die, ask Nietzsche. Though what has made the gods so great, so appealing, does not need to die- in fact, it doesn’t.
Because their memory, what they mean to us, what they mean in the art they worked in, in the life that they lived, that we live- lives on. ‘Cause lives and bodies are fragile but perfect ideals are not.
So no cry-ee-eyes for Lemmy. He was a speed-riddled alcoholic that road the flame of our love and passion for the music for as long as he was able, road it into the sunset, but that doesn’t mean out love or our passion fades away into the night.
What’s not lost is the guts, emotions, integrity and feelings that live on, that will live on. What is won is that younger people will continue to embrace and be influenced by all that he expressed and meant because it was important and what is important is, that his work lives on.
And what is wonderful, to me, is that someone seemingly so obscure, can create so much influence and generate so much love in his passing.
Andy & I were lucky to see him play Boston just a few years ago. We both knew with his recent health reports he wasn’t gonna be around much longer, that we would never see him alive again. I’m sure he realized this, too. He was a bright guy. I suppose he should’ve stopped touring, maybe get on a health kick, add a few years onto his life. He had switched from Jack and Coke to Vodka and Orange Juice but not because of the alcohol, but because he had been diabetic for ten years and wanted to ditch the soda! And he decided to play out his life just the way he lived it, playing on a stage.
Lemmy: “As long as I can walk from the back of the stage to the front without using a stick I’ll keep on doing this. Eh, even maybe if I have to use one.”
In his last interview- “Do you think you’ll always keep performing?”
Lemmy: “After death? No. I’ll have to stop then. I think. But… you never know.”
(You know I’m born to lose, and gamblings for fools, but that’s the way I like it, baby, I don’t want to live forever.)
Sorry, Lemmy, you don’t get your wish.
You don’t get to die, Lemmy, not really. This ain’t no hallmark card but you do get to play and live on forever in our hearts.
(Slimedog)
