Editing Lemmy

{{Short description|English rock musician (1945–2015)}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{other uses}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Lemmy
| image              = Lemmy-02.jpg
| caption            = Lemmy performing in 2005
| birth_name         = Ian Fraser Kilmister
| alias              = {{hlist|Lemmy Kilmister|Ian Willis}}
| birth_date         = {{birth date|df=yes|1945|12|24}}
| birth_place        = [[Burslem]], Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England
| death_date         = {{nowrap|{{Death date and age|2015|12|28|1945|12|24|df=y}}}}
| death_place        = Los Angeles, California, U.S.
| resting_place      = [[Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills)|Forest Lawn Memorial Park]]
| occupation         = {{hlist|Singer|musician|songwriter}}
| years_active       = 1960–2015
| children           = 2
| module             = {{Infobox musical artist
| embed               = yes
| genre               = {{hlist|[[heavy metal music|Heavy metal]]|[[hard rock]]|[[rock and roll]]|[[speed metal]]|[[space rock]] (early)}}
| instrument          = {{hlist|Vocals|bass}}<!-- If you think an instrument should be listed, a discussion to reach consensus is needed first -->
| label               =
| past_member_of      = {{hlist|[[Motörhead]]|[[Hawkwind]]|[[The Rockin' Vickers]]|[[Opal Butterfly]]|[[The Damned (band)|The Damned]]|[[The Head Cat]]|[[Sam Gopal]]}}<!-- Please read [[Template:Infobox musical artist#associated acts]] before adding other acts; occasional collaborations, such as with Slash or Probot, do NOT qualify-->
}}
| website            = {{URL|imotorhead.com}}
}}

'''Ian Fraser Kilmister''' (24 December 1945 – 28 December 2015), better known as '''Lemmy Kilmister''' or simply '''Lemmy''', was a British musician. He was the founder, lead vocalist, bassist and primary songwriter of the metal band [[Motörhead]], of which he was the only continuous member, and a member of [[Hawkwind]] from 1971 to 1975.

A foundational force in the genre following the advent of the [[new wave of British heavy metal]], Lemmy was known for his appearance, which included his signature [[sideburns|friendly mutton chops]],<!--FRIENDLY IS CORRECT – please see Talk page archive--> his military-influenced fashion sense and his gravelly rasp of a voice. It was once declared "one of the most recognisable voices in rock".<ref name="qthemusic">{{Cite magazine |last=Blake |first=Mark |date=March 2016 |title=Lemmy: 1945-2015 |url=http://www.qthemusic.com/13703/david-bowie-q356/ |magazine=[[Q (magazine)|Q]] |publisher=Bauer |issue=356 |pages=8–10 |access-date=22 February 2019 |archive-date=22 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160122231412/http://www.qthemusic.com/13703/david-bowie-q356/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> He was also noted for his unique posture when singing, which was once described as "looking up towards a towering microphone tilted down into his weather-beaten face".<ref name=telegraph>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/12072476/Lemmy-Motorhead-frontman-obituary.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/12072476/Lemmy-Motorhead-frontman-obituary.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Lemmy, Motörhead frontman – obituary |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=29 December 2015 |access-date=29 December 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref> He was also known for his bass playing style, using his [[Rickenbacker]] bass to create an "overpowered, distorted rhythmic rumble".<ref name=telegraph/> A notable aspect of his bass sound was his guitar-like riffing, often playing [[power chord]]s using heavily overdriven [[Bass amplifier|tube stacks]] by [[Marshall Amplification|Marshall]].

Lemmy was born in [[Stoke-on-Trent]] and grew up between there, the nearby towns of [[Newcastle-under-Lyme]] and [[Madeley, Staffordshire|Madeley]], and later the Welsh village of [[Benllech]], [[Anglesey]].  At a later point, Lemmy remembers living briefly at [[Gwrych Castle]], [[Abergele]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/bonus-content-full-lemmy-interview|title = Lemmy: The Classic Rock interview|date = 3 November 2014}}</ref> He was influenced by rock and roll and the early works of [[the Beatles]], which led to him playing in several rock groups in the 1960s, such as [[the Rockin' Vickers]]. He worked as a [[Road crew|roadie]] for [[Jimi Hendrix]] and [[the Nice]] before joining the [[space rock]] band [[Hawkwind]] in 1971, singing lead vocals on their hit "[[Silver Machine]]". In 1975, he was fired from Hawkwind after an arrest for drug possession. That same year, he founded Motörhead. The band's success peaked around 1980 and 1981, including the hit single "[[Ace of Spades (song)|Ace of Spades]]" and the chart-topping live album ''[[No Sleep 'til Hammersmith]]'' (1981).

Lemmy continued to record and tour regularly with Motörhead until his death on 28 December 2015 in [[Los Angeles]], where he had lived since 1990. He was diagnosed with [[prostate cancer]] two days before his death. Alongside his music career, he had minor roles and cameos in film and television. He was known for his hard-living, road-driven lifestyle, which included [[chain-smoking]] and daily consumption of large amounts of [[Alcoholic beverage|alcohol]] and [[amphetamine]].

== Early life ==
Lemmy was born Ian Fraser Kilmister in the [[Burslem]] area of [[Stoke-on-Trent]] on 24 December 1945.{{sfn|Kilmister|Garza|2012|p=5}}<ref name="BBC">{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/content/articles/2009/09/08/lemmy_book_feature.shtml |title=Lemmy: White Line Fever |date=8 September 2009 |website=[[BBC News]] Stoke and Staffordshire |access-date=22 August 2014}}</ref> When he was three months old, his father, an ex-[[Royal Air Force]] chaplain and concert pianist,<ref>{{Cite book |title=Overkill: The Story of Motorhead |first=Joel |last=McIver |publisher=Omnibus Press |date=2011 |isbn=978-1-84938-619-7}}</ref> separated from his mother. He moved with his mother and grandmother to nearby [[Newcastle-under-Lyme]], then to [[Madeley, Staffordshire|Madeley]].<ref name="HWSAGA">{{cite book |last=Clerk |first=Carol |title=The Saga of Hawkwind |publisher=Omnibus Press |date=2004 |isbn=978-1-84449-101-8 |page=546}}</ref> When Ian was 10, his mother married former rugby player George L. Willis, who already had two older children from a previous marriage, Patricia and Tony, whom Ian disliked. They later moved to a farm in the Welsh village of [[Benllech]] on the [[Anglesey|Isle of Anglesey]], with Lemmy commenting that "funnily enough, being the only English kid among 700 Welsh ones didn't make for the happiest time, but it was interesting from an anthropological point of view".<ref>{{cite web |last=Bevan |first=Nathan |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/classic-interview-lemmy---never-8938554 |title=Classic interview: Lemmy – 'Never go camping with a one armed man' |website=[[Wales Online]] |date=28 March 2015 |access-date=13 November 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117015311/http://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/classic-interview-lemmy---never-8938554 |archive-date=17 November 2015}}</ref> He attended [[Ysgol Syr Thomas Jones]], a comprehensive school in [[Amlwch]], where he was nicknamed "Lemmy."<ref>{{Cite web |title=KILMISTER, IAN FRASER (Lemmy) (1945 - 2015), musician {{!}} Dictionary of Welsh Biography |url=https://biography.wales/article/s14-KILM-FRA-1945 |access-date=2024-07-18 |website=biography.wales}}</ref> It was later suggested by some that the name originated from the phrase "lemmy [lend me] a [[pound sterling|quid]] 'til Friday" because of his alleged habit of borrowing money from people to play [[slot machine]]s,<ref name="HWSAGA" /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-24806076 |title=Obituary: Lemmy, Motorhead frontman |website=BBC News |date=29 December 2015 |access-date=9 January 2016}}</ref><ref name="MVB">''Motorhead Videobiography'' (Double DVD with 48-page book) Edgehill Publishing Ltd., June 2007 {{ISBN|978-1-905954-38-4}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Levin |first=Hannah |title=An Incomplete History of Motorhead Frontman Lemmy Kilmister |work=[[Seattle Weekly]] |date=2 February 2011 |access-date=26 April 2011 |url=http://www.seattleweekly.com/2011-02-02/music/an-incomplete-history-of-mot-rhead-frontman-lemmy-kilmister/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110210205752/http://www.seattleweekly.com/2011-02-02/music/an-incomplete-history-of-mot-rhead-frontman-lemmy-kilmister/ |archive-date=10 February 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> although Lemmy himself said that he did not know the origin of the name.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vulture.com/2015/12/loud-proud-meaning-of-motorheads-lemmy-kilmister.html |title=The Loud, Proud Meaning of Lemmy, a Heavy-Metal Folk Hero |first=David |last=Marchese |date=29 December 2015 |website=Vulture |access-date=9 January 2016}}</ref> He soon started to show an interest in [[rock and roll]], girls, motorbikes and horses.

At school, Lemmy noticed a pupil who had brought a guitar to school and had been "surrounded by chicks." His mother had a guitar, which he then took to school, and was himself surrounded by girls even though he could not play. By the time he left school, he had moved with his family to [[Conwy]]. He went on to work several odd jobs, including one at the local [[Hotpoint]] electric appliance factory, while also playing guitar for local bands such as the Sundowners and spending time at a horse-riding school.<ref name="HWSAGA" /> He saw [[the Beatles]] perform at [[The Cavern Club]] in Liverpool when he was 16, and then learned to play along on guitar to their debut studio album ''[[Please Please Me]]'' (1963). He also admired the sarcastic attitude of the group, particularly that of [[John Lennon]],<ref>{{cite book |title=The Beatles: 10 Years That Shook The World |publisher=[[Dorling Kindersley]]/[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]] |year=2004 |isbn=978-0-7566-0670-1 |page=59 |first=Paul |last=Trynka |author-link=Paul Trynka}}</ref> and later said of the group, "[[Brian Epstein]] cleaned them up for mass consumption, but they were anything but sissies. They were from Liverpool ... a hard, sea-farin' town, all these dockers and sailors around all the time who would beat the piss out of you if you so much as winked at them. ... [[The Rolling Stones]] were the mummy's boys—they were all college students from the outskirts of London. ... The Stones made great records, but they were always shit on stage, whereas the Beatles were the gear."<ref name="autobiog1">{{Cite book |title=White Line Fever: The Autobiography |author=Lemmy |year=2016 |publisher=Simon & Schuster, Limited |isbn=978-1471157653 |oclc=949146340}}</ref>

== Career ==

=== 1960–1970: Early years ===
[[File:Lemmy K.jpg|right|thumb|upright|Lemmy playing bass and singing, with his trademark high microphone position]]
In [[Stockport]], Lemmy joined local bands the Rainmakers and then the Motown Sect who played [[Working men's club|northern clubs]] for three years. In 1965, he joined [[The Rockin' Vickers]]<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.inkedmag.com/articles/detail/123/damage-case-lemmy-kilmister/ |title=Damage Case - Lemmy Kilmister |last=Wiederhorn |first=Jon |magazine=[[Inked (magazine)|Inked]] |access-date=22 February 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090430110931/http://www.inkedmag.com/articles/detail/123/damage-case-lemmy-kilmister |archive-date=30 April 2009}}</ref> who signed a deal with [[CBS]], released three singles and toured Europe, reportedly being the first British band to visit the [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia]]. The Rockin' Vickers moved to [[Manchester]], where they shared a flat together.<ref name="HWSAGA" />

Leaving the Rockin' Vickers, Lemmy moved to London in 1967. He shared a flat with [[Noel Redding]], bassist of [[the Jimi Hendrix Experience]], and with [[Neville Chesters]], their road manager. He got a job as a roadie for the band.<ref name="qthemusic" /> In 1968, he joined the psychedelic rock band [[Sam Gopal]] under the name Ian Willis and recorded the album ''[[Escalator (album)|Escalator]]'' which was released in 1969.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.discogs.com/Sam-Gopal-Escalator/release/843215 |title=Sam Gopal – Escalator |website=Discogs |year=1969 |access-date=25 February 2016}}</ref> After meeting [[Simon King (musician)|Simon King]] at a shopping centre in Chelsea in 1969, he joined the band [[Opal Butterfly]], but the group soon disbanded, having failed to raise enough interest with their singles.<ref name="HWSAGA" />

=== 1971–1975: Hawkwind ===
: ''See also [[Hawkwind#1970–1975: United Artists era|Hawkwind (1970–75: United Artists era)]]''

[[File:Lemmy-1974-Hawkwind.png|thumb|upright|alt=Lemmy in 1974 in St. Louis, USA Hawkwind Hall of the Mountain Grill tour|Lemmy in 1974 in St. Louis, USA Hawkwind Hall of the Mountain Grill tour (his last with the band)]]

In August 1971, Lemmy joined the [[space rock]] band [[Hawkwind]], who were based in [[Ladbroke Grove]], London, as a bassist and vocalist. He had no previous experience as a bass guitarist, and was cajoled into joining immediately before a benefit gig in [[Notting Hill]] by bandmate Michael "Dik Mik" Davies, to have two members who enjoyed [[amphetamine]].{{sfn|Kilmister|Garza|2012|p=71}} Lemmy states that he originally auditioned for Hawkwind as a guitarist, but on the morning of the Notting Hill gig, they decided not to get another guitarist. By chance, the bass player did not show up and left his equipment in the van. He often said, "Their bass player was pretty much saying 'please steal my gig!' So I stole his gig." Lemmy quickly developed a distinctive style that was strongly shaped by his early experience as a rhythm guitarist, often using [[double stop]]s and chords rather than the single note lines preferred by most bassists. His bass work was a distinctive part of the Hawkwind sound during his tenure, perhaps best documented on the double live album ''[[Space Ritual]]''. He also provided the lead vocals on several songs, including the band's biggest UK chart single, "[[Silver Machine]]", which reached #3 in 1972.

In May 1975, during a North American tour, Lemmy was arrested at the Canadian border in [[Windsor, Ontario]], on drug possession charges. The border police mistook the [[amphetamine]] he was carrying for cocaine and he was kept overnight in jail before being released without charge. The band and management were concerned that his arrest might stop the band from crossing back into the United States, even though he had been released without charge. They were also tired of what they saw as his erratic behaviour, so they decided to fire him.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.motorhead.ru/int7trials.htm|title=The Trials of Lemmy – NME 1975|work=motorhead.ru|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120804215913/http://www.motorhead.ru/int7trials.htm|archive-date=4 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.songwritingmagazine.co.uk/news/lemmy-dies-aged-70/29094 |title=Lemmy dies, aged 70 |date=29 December 2015 |magazine=Songwriting Magazine |access-date=31 December 2015}}</ref>

He once said of Hawkwind: "I did like being in Hawkwind, and I believe I'd still be playing with them today if I hadn't been kicked out. It was fun onstage, not so much offstage. They didn't want to mesh with me. Musically, I loved the drummer, the guitar player. It was a great band.” <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://bravewords.com/news/motorheads-lemmy-kilmister-talks-little-richard-hawkwind-being-best-worst-band-in-the-world |title=Motörhead's Lemmy Kilmister Talks Little Richard, Hawkwind, Being "Best Worst Band In The World" |last=Cot |first=Greg |date=16 February 2011 |website=Bravewords |access-date=11 May 2018}}</ref>

=== 1975–2015: Motörhead ===
{{Main|Motörhead}}
[[File:Lemmy St. Albans 1982 (B&W).jpg|thumb|left|Lemmy with Motörhead in 1982]]
After Hawkwind, Lemmy formed a new band called "Bastard" with guitarist [[Larry Wallis]] (former member of the [[Pink Fairies]], [[Steve Peregrin Took]]'s band [[Shagrat (band)|Shagrat]] and [[UFO (band)|UFO]]) and drummer [[Lucas Fox]]. Lemmy and Took were friends, and Took was the stepfather to Lemmy's son Paul. When his manager informed him that a band by the name of "Bastard" would never get a slot on ''[[Top of the Pops]]'', Lemmy changed the band's name to "[[Motörhead]]" – the title of the last song he had written for Hawkwind.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.imotorhead.com/motorhead-bio.html |title=We are Motörhead....And We Play Rock and Roll! |website=I, Motorhead.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151226060750/http://www.imotorhead.com/motorhead-bio.html |archive-date=26 December 2015}}</ref>

Soon after, Wallis and Fox were replaced with guitarist [[Eddie Clarke (musician)|"Fast" Eddie Clarke]] and drummer [[Phil Taylor (musician)|Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor]] and with this line-up, the band began to achieve success. Lemmy's guttural vocals were unique in rock at that time, and were copied during the time when [[punk rock]] became popular.{{citation needed|date=July 2021}} The band's sound appealed to Lemmy's original fans and, eventually, to fans of punk. Lemmy asserted that he generally felt more kinship with punks than with [[Heavy metal subculture|metalheads]]; he also played with [[The Damned (band)|the Damned]] for a handful of gigs when they had no regular bassist.<ref>See the notes for ''Smash It Up – The Anthology 1976 – 1987''.</ref> Motörhead's success peaked in 1980 and 1981 with several UK chart hits, including the single "[[Ace of Spades (song)|Ace of Spades]]," which remained a crowd favourite throughout the band's career, and the UK #1 live album ''[[No Sleep 'til Hammersmith]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-50-best-motorhead-songs/5|title=The 50 best Motorhead songs|first=Rich|last=Hobson|work=[[Metal Hammer|Louder Sound]]|date=2021-11-04|accessdate= 2022-04-06|quote=“You know I'm born to lose and gambling's for fools, but that's the way I like it, baby, I don't want to live forever”}}</ref> Motörhead became one of the most influential bands in the heavy metal genre. Their – and Lemmy's – final live performance was in [[Berlin]], Germany, on 11 December 2015 during the band's [[40th Anniversary Tour (Motörhead)|40th Anniversary Tour]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/mikkey-dee-motorhead-is-over/ |title=Mikkey Dee: 'Motörhead Is Over' |website=[[Blabbermouth.net]] |date=29 December 2015 |access-date=29 December 2015}}</ref>
{{clear}}

== Personal life ==
At the age of 17, Lemmy met a holidaying girl named Cathy. He followed her to [[Stockport]], where she gave birth to his son Sean, who was put up for adoption.<ref name="HWSAGA" /> In the 2010 documentary film ''[[Lemmy (film)|Lemmy]]'', he mentioned having a son whose mother had only recently reconnected with him and "hadn't got the heart to tell him who his father was." Later, during his time with [[the Rockin' Vickers]], he slept with a woman in [[Manchester]] named Tracy; she had a son, Paul Inder, whom Lemmy met six years later. As an adult, Inder became a guitarist and occasionally joined Lemmy on stage.<ref name="HWSAGA" />

Lemmy lived in Los Angeles from 1990 until his death in 2015, his last residence being a two-room apartment two blocks away from his favourite hangout, the [[Rainbow Bar and Grill]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.sueddeutsche.de/kultur/lemmy-kilmister-im-gespraech-haltet-euch-fern-von-den-idioten-1.691635 |title=Lemmy Kilmister: "Haltet euch fern von den Idioten!" |date=5 September 2008 |newspaper=[[Süddeutsche Zeitung]] |language=de |access-date=15 July 2011}}</ref>

In the 2005 [[Channel 4]] documentary ''Motörhead: Live Fast, Die Old'', it was claimed that Lemmy had slept with over 2,000 women. He later quipped, "I said more than 1,000; the magazine made 2,000 of it." ''[[Maxim (magazine)|Maxim]]'' had Lemmy at No. 8 on its top ten "Living Sex Legends" list, as they claimed that he had slept with around 1,200 women.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-charliesheenmaximlivingsexlegends,0,5057260.story |title=Sheen Only No. 2 on 'Living Sex Legends' List – The 'Two and a Half Men' star allegedly has 5,000 notches on his rapidly dwindling bedpost |website=Zap2it |date=30 May 2006 |access-date=15 July 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100917061028/http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-charliesheenmaximlivingsexlegends%2C0%2C5057260.story |archive-date=17 September 2010}}</ref> He is featured in the book ''[[Sex Tips from Rock Stars]]'' (2010) by Paul Miles.<ref>{{cite web |first=Paul |last=Miles |url=http://sextipsfromrockstars.com |title=Sex Tips From Rock Stars |website=SexTipsFromRockStars.com |date=2010 |access-date=15 July 2011}}</ref>

[[Dave Grohl]], on his [[Probot]] website, describes musicians with whom he has worked. In his entry for Lemmy, he wrote:

{{Blockquote|We recorded [Lemmy's] track in Los Angeles in maybe two takes about a year and a half ago. Until then I'd never met what I'd call a real [[Rock and roll|rock 'n' roll]] hero before. Fuck [[Elvis Presley|Elvis]] and [[Keith Richards]], Lemmy's the king of rock 'n' roll—he told me he never considered Motörhead a metal band, he was quite adamant. Lemmy's a living, breathing, drinking and snorting fucking legend. No one else comes close.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.southernlord.com/probot/singer.html |title=Singers |access-date=12 January 2009 |website=[[Probot]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120194952/http://www.southernlord.com/probot/singer.html |archive-date=20 November 2008}}</ref>}}

Lemmy was well known for his heavy drinking. The documentary ''Motörhead: Live Fast Die Old'' stated that he drank a bottle of [[Jack Daniel's]] every day and had done so since he was 30 years old.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://motorheadster.blogspot.com/2009/09/i-drink-bottle-of-jack-day.html |title=I Drink a Bottle of Jack a Day |date=29 September 2009 |website=Motorheadster.blogspot.com |access-date=7 November 2010}}</ref> In 2013, he stopped drinking Jack Daniel's for health reasons.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/motorheads-lemmy-if-i-died-tomorrow-i-couldnt-complain/ |title=Motörhead's Lemmy: 'If I Died Tomorrow, I Couldn't Complain' |date=15 October 2013 |website=Blabbermouth.net |access-date=21 November 2013}}</ref> During his time with Hawkwind, he developed an addiction to amphetamine and [[LSD]], particularly the former. Before joining Hawkwind, he recalled Dik Mik, a former [[Hawkwind]] sound technician, visiting his home in the middle of the night and taking [[Substituted amphetamine|amphetamines]] with him. They became interested in how long "you could make the human body jump about without stopping", which they did for a few months until Mik ran out of money and wanted to return to Hawkwind, taking Lemmy with him.<ref name="MVB" />

{{blockquote|I first got into speed because it was a [[Utilitarianism|utilitarian]] drug and kept you awake when you needed to be awake when otherwise you'd just be flat out on your back. If you drive to [[Glasgow]] for nine hours in the back of a sweaty truck you don't really feel like going onstage feeling all bright and breezy. [...] It's the only drug I've found that I can get on with, and I've tried them all&nbsp;– except [[Heroin|smack]] [heroin] and [[morphine]]: I've never "fixed" [injected] anything.<ref name="MVB" />}}

In November 2005, he was invited to the [[Senedd|National Assembly for Wales]] as a guest speaker by [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] member [[William Graham (Welsh politician)|William Graham]]. He was asked to express his views on the detrimental effects of drugs and called for the legalisation of heroin. He stated that legalisation would eradicate the drug dealer from society and generate money from its taxation, however hard this would be to accept.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=43748 |title=Motörhead's Lemmy Tells Welsh Assembly: Legalize Heroin |date=3 November 2005 |website=Blabbermouth.net |access-date=9 February 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001004053/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=43748 |archive-date=1 October 2007}}</ref>

Lemmy collected German military [[regalia]]; he had an [[Iron Cross]] emblazoned on his bass, which led to accusations of [[Nazism|Nazi]] sympathies. He stated that he collected [[Nazi memorabilia]] because he liked the way it looked, and he considered himself an [[Anarchism|anarchist]].<ref name="damagecase">{{cite web |last=Eddy |first=Chuck |title=Damage Case: Lemmy and Motörhead |website=Motörhead Forever |year=1997 |url=http://www.motorhead.ru/art11damagecase.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120526042049/http://www.motorhead.ru/art11damagecase.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 May 2012 |access-date=9 February 2007}}</ref><ref name="timesonline">{{cite news |url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article1893238.ece |title=The Oldest Rocker in Town |last=Dalton |first=Stephen |date=9 June 2007 |newspaper=The Times|location=London |access-date=13 August 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100530121659/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article1893238.ece |archive-date=30 May 2010}}</ref> He spoke against racism many times.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thatericalper.com/2015/12/30/lemmy-from-motorhead-on-racism/|title=Lemmy from Motorhead on Racism|date=30 December 2015}}</ref><ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/0giby8E7PaA Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20130323073139/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0giby8E7PaA&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0giby8E7PaA|title=MOTORHEAD LEMMY KILMISTER FULL INTERVIEW 2011|date=19 March 2012 |access-date=23 October 2021|publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/jul/11/news.culture|title = Motörhead's Lemmy in Nazi photoshoot scandal|website = [[TheGuardian.com]]|date = 11 July 2008}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=lemmy on racism | date=May 2015 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTPSmHPiPko |access-date=11 June 2023 |language=en}}</ref>  Lemmy said he was against religion, government, and established authority.<ref>{{cite web |last=Samudrala |first=Ram |title=Born to Raise Hell |date=29 October 1996 |url=http://www.ram.org/music/articles/lemmyinterview.html |website=Ram.org |access-date=9 February 2007}}</ref><ref name="guardianobit">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/dec/29/lemmy-kilmister-obituary |title=Ian 'Lemmy' Kilmister obituary |date=29 December 2015 |first=Joel |last=McIver |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=30 December 2015}}</ref> In 2011, he identified as agnostic, saying: "I can find out when I die. I can wait. I'm not in a hurry."<ref>{{cite web |last=Green |first=Thomas |title=Q&A: Musician Lemmy Kilmister |date=27 November 2011 |url=http://www.theartsdesk.com/new-music/theartsdesk-qa-musician-lemmy-kilmister |website=The Art Desk |access-date=7 July 2012}}</ref> [[Jeff Hanneman]], the founder of the [[thrash metal]] band [[Slayer]], befriended Lemmy due to their shared fondness for collecting Nazi memorabilia.<ref name="knac">{{cite web |title=Exclusive! Interview With Slayer Guitarist Jeff Hanneman |last=Davis |first=Brian |website=[[KNAC]]|date=26 July 2004 |url=http://www.knac.com/article.asp?ArticleID=3153 |access-date=7 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928010337/http://www.knac.com/article.asp?ArticleID=3153 |archive-date=28 September 2007}}</ref> According to [[Keith Emerson]]'s autobiography, ''Pictures of an Exhibitionist'' (2004), Lemmy gave him two of his [[Glossary of German military terms#Hitler Youth knife|Hitler Youth knives]] during his time as a roadie for [[the Nice]]. Emerson used these knives many times as keyholders when playing the [[Hammond organ]] during concerts with [[the Nice]] and [[Emerson, Lake & Palmer]] before destroying them. Lemmy defended his collection by saying that if his then-girlfriend (who was black) had no problem with it, nobody else should.<ref name="guardianobit" />

== Illness and death ==
[[File:Motörhead - Rock am Ring 2015-0343.jpg|right|upright|thumb|Lemmy performing in 2015]]

In December 2000, Lemmy's tour was cancelled when he was hospitalised in Italy with the flu, exhaustion, and a lung infection.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1424508/motorhead-cancel-european-dates-as-lemmy-recovers/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101131403/http://www.mtv.com/news/1424508/motorhead-cancel-european-dates-as-lemmy-recovers/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 January 2016 |title=Motorhead Cancel European Dates As Lemmy Recovers |first=Sorelle |last=Saidman |date=12 December 2000 |website=MTV.com |access-date=20 January 2017}}</ref> He was hospitalised with extreme [[dehydration]] and exhaustion in Germany in July 2005.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1505204/motorheads-lemmy-hospitalized-for-dehydration-exhaustion/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150901044123/http://www.mtv.com/news/1505204/motorheads-lemmy-hospitalized-for-dehydration-exhaustion/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 September 2015 |title=Motorhead's Lemmy Hospitalized For Dehydration, Exhaustion |first=Chris |last=Harris |date=5 July 2005 |website=MTV.com |access-date=20 January 2017}}</ref> As he grew older, he consumed less alcohol and drugs because he suffered from [[diabetes]] and [[hypertension]]. In June 2013, it was reported that he had an [[implantable cardioverter-defibrillator]] fitted.<ref name="qthemusic" /> His tour was cancelled in July 2013 due to a severe [[Hematoma|haematoma]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/jul/03/motorhead-cancel-tour-lemmy-health-hematoma |title=Motörhead cancel European tour due to Lemmy health problems |first=Sean |last=Michaels |date=3 July 2013 |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=20 January 2017}}</ref> He referred to his continuing drug use as "dogged insolence in the face of mounting opposition to the contrary".<ref name=guardianobit /> Towards the end of his life, he had to use a walking stick.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/aug/13/lemmy-apparently-i-am-still-indestructible-motorhead-album-bad-magic |title=Lemmy: 'Apparently I am still indestructible' |first=Michael |last=Hann |date=13 August 2015 |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=20 January 2017}}</ref> He had started smoking at the age of 11.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://loudwire.com/motorhead-lemmy-kilmister-close-to-death-during-health-struggle/ |title=Lemmy Kilmister Was 'Close to Death' During Health Struggle |first=Graham |last=Hartmann |date=31 October 2014 |website=Loudwire.com |access-date=20 January 2017}}</ref> In August 2015, he said he had cut down his smoking habit from two packs a day to one pack a week.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://nypost.com/2015/08/22/a-rockers-health-plan-i-drink-vodka-and-smoke-a-pack-a-day/ |title=A rocker's health plan: 'I drink vodka and smoke a pack a week' |first=Larry |last=Getlen |date=22 August 2015 |work=[[New York Post]] |access-date=20 January 2017}}</ref> He was hospitalised with a lung infection in September 2015, after having breathing problems when performing onstage.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.londonmusichall.co.uk/motorheads-lemmy-kilmister-recovering-from-lung-infection/ |title=Motorhead's Lemmy Kilmister Recovering From Lung Infection |date=7 September 2015 |website=LondonMusicHall.co.uk |access-date=20 January 2017}}</ref>

On 28 December 2015, four days after his 70th birthday, Lemmy died at his Los Angeles apartment from [[prostate cancer]], [[Arrhythmia|cardiac arrhythmia]], and [[Heart failure|congestive heart failure]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tmz.vo.llnwd.net/o28/newsdesk/tmz_documents/0119-lemmy-kilmister.pdf |title=County of Los Angeles Certificate of Death |date=19 January 2016 |website=TMZ |access-date=22 February 2019 |archive-date=29 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170329144041/http://tmz.vo.llnwd.net/o28/newsdesk/tmz_documents/0119-lemmy-kilmister.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Motorhead's Lemmy Kilmister Official Cause of Death Revealed |url=http://loudwire.com/motorhead-lemmy-kilmister-official-cause-of-death-revealed/ |last=Childers |first=Chad |date=19 January 2016 |website=Loudwire |access-date=20 January 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/jan/20/motorhead-lemmy-prostate-cancer-death-certificate |title=Mötorhead's Lemmy died of prostate cancer, says death certificate |date=20 January 2016 |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=4 November 2016}}</ref> Motörhead announced his death on their official Facebook page later that day. According to the band, his cancer had only been diagnosed two days prior to his death.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Barker |first1=Andrew |title=Motorhead's Lemmy Dies at 70 |url=https://variety.com/2015/music/news/lemmy-motorhead-dies-dead-ian-fraser-kilmister-1201668541/ |access-date=28 December 2015 |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=28 December 2015}}</ref>

Lemmy's manager, Todd Singerman, later revealed:

{{blockquote|He [Lemmy] gets home [from tour], we have a big birthday party for him at the [[Whisky a Go Go]]. His friends came down and played. Two days later I could tell he wasn't feeling good. So we took him to the hospital. They release him. Then after the [[Neuroimaging|brain scan]], they found the cancer in his brain and his neck. The doctor comes with the result a couple of days later and says "It's terminal."<ref name=musicnews.com>{{cite web |url=http://www.music-news.com/news/UK/94441/Lemmy-s-manager-He-was-given-two-to-six-months-to-live |title=Lemmy's Manager, He Was Given Two To Six Months To Live |date=29 December 2015 |website=Music-news.com |access-date=5 January 2016}}</ref>}}

Lemmy's doctor had given him between two and six months to live. Mikael Maglieri, owner of his nearby hangout [[Rainbow Bar and Grill]], subsequently had a video game machine that Lemmy was fond of playing taken from the establishment and put in Lemmy's apartment so he could continue playing it from his bedside.<ref name="finaldays"/> Although his manager had planned to keep the news private until his eventual death, Lemmy strongly encouraged him to make the diagnosis public in early 2016, but he died before a press release could be drafted.<ref name="finaldays">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/lemmys-last-days-how-metal-legend-celebrated-70th-stared-down-cancer-20151229 |title=Lemmy's Last Days: How Metal Legend Celebrated 70th, Stared Down Cancer |first=Steve |last=Appleford |date=29 December 2015 |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=5 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160205020556/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/lemmys-last-days-how-metal-legend-celebrated-70th-stared-down-cancer-20151229 |archive-date=5 February 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Funeral===
Lemmy's memorial service took place at [[Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills)|Forest Lawn Memorial Park]], [[Hollywood Hills]], on 9 January 2016.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/12091054/Motorhead-frontman-Lemmy-Kilmister-funeral-tributes-Ace-of-Spades.html|title=Motörhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister's funeral, in pictures|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=January 10, 2016}}</ref> The service was streamed live over [[YouTube]] with more than 230,000 people logging on to watch,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.sky.com/story/1619890/motorhead-fans-watch-lemmys-funeral-online |title=Motorhead Fans Watch Lemmy's Funeral Online |website=Sky News |access-date=11 January 2016}}</ref> while others gathered at the Rainbow. His body was cremated following the funeral. His remains were placed in a 3D-printed urn shaped like his trademark cavalry hat and emblazoned with the slogan "Born to lose, lived to win".<ref>{{Cite news|date=10 January 2016|title=Lemmy of Motorhead: Singer's funeral held in Los Angeles|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-35261412|access-date=19 September 2021}}</ref> The piece was on display during his funeral and was later interred at Forest Lawn.<ref name="citypages">{{cite web|last1=Fagerberg|first1=Jerard|date=10 February 2016|title=Peter Saari immortalizes rock 'n' roll royalty|url=http://www.citypages.com/news/peter-saari-immortalizes-rock-n-roll-royalty-8033059|access-date=28 October 2016|website=City Pages}}</ref>

In March 2021, it was revealed that some of Lemmy's ashes were, by his own request, put into bullets and sent to his closest friends, including [[Whitfield Crane]] of [[Ugly Kid Joe]], [[Rob Halford]] of [[Judas Priest]], [[Michael Monroe]] of [[Hanoi Rocks]], [[Doro (musician)|Doro Pesch]] of [[Warlock (band)|Warlock]], and [[Riki Rachtman]].<ref>{{cite web |first=Chad |last=Childers |url=https://loudwire.com/judas-priest-rob-halford-confirms-he-has-bullet-lemmy-kilmister-ashes/ |title=Judas Priest's Rob Halford Confirms He Has a Bullet With Lemmy Kilmister's Ashes |website=Loudwire |date=18 November 2021 |access-date=22 June 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Michael Monroe Says He Also Received Bullet Containing Lemmy's Ashes |url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/michael-monroe-says-he-also-received-bullet-containing-lemmys-ashes |website=Blabbermouth.net |access-date=23 June 2022 |date=22 June 2022}}</ref> In August 2023, it was reported that some of Lemmy's ashes were also scattered into the mud at [[Wacken Open Air]] music festival in [[Schleswig-Holstein]], Germany.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/motorhead-icon-lemmy-ashes-scattered-at-wacken-festival-3477759 | title=Motörhead icon Lemmy's ashes scattered in mud at Wacken Festival | website=[[NME]] | date=3 August 2023 }}</ref> In April 2024, it was reported [[James Hetfield]] got an Ace of Spades tattoo with some of Lemmy's ashes in it.<ref>{{cite magazine | url= https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/metallica-james-hetfield-motorhead-lemmy-kilmister-tattoo-1235006791/| title=James Hetfield Got Lemmy Kilmister's Cremated Ashes Tattooed Into His Middle Finger| magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]| date=18 April 2024}}</ref>

===Tributes===
[[File:Lemmy's Grave.jpg|thumb|Lemmy's grave at [[Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills)|Forest Lawn Memorial Park]]]]

Tributes were paid by fellow rock stars such as [[Rob Halford]], [[Dave Grohl]], [[Ozzy Osbourne]],<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Grow |first1=Kory |title=Ozzy Osbourne Remembers Lemmy: 'He Was My Hero' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/ozzy-osbourne-remembers-lemmy-he-was-my-hero-20151229 |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=7 January 2016 |date=29 December 2015}}</ref> [[Alice Cooper]], [[Metallica]],<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Blistein |first=Jon |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/metallica-alice-cooper-remember-one-of-a-kind-in-rock-lemmy-kilmister-20151229 |title=Metallica, Alice Cooper Pay Tribute to Lemmy Kilmister |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=29 December 2015 |access-date=29 December 2015}}</ref> [[Scott Ian]] of [[Anthrax (American band)|Anthrax]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Anthrax's Scott Ian: Lemmy's Death 'Leaves A Giant Hole That Will Never Be Filled' |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/anthraxs-scott-ian-lemmys-death-leaves-a-giant-hole-that-will-never-be-filled/ |website=[[Blabbermouth.net]] |access-date=7 January 2016 |date=31 December 2015}}</ref> and [[Black Sabbath]] guitarist [[Tony Iommi]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi: Lemmy Was 'The Epitome Of Rock And Roll' |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/black-sabbaths-tony-iommi-lemmy-was-the-epitome-of-rock-and-roll/ |website=Blabbermouth.net |access-date=7 January 2016 |date=30 December 2015}}</ref>

In 2005, the British magazine and website [[Classic Rock (magazine)|''Classic Rock'']] presented Lemmy with its first "Living Legend" award.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Manger |first1=Warren |last2=Watts |first2=Halina |date=30 December 2015 |title=Ace of Rock'n'roll; Motorhead Legend Lemmy Dies of Cancer |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-438685997.html |newspaper=[[Daily Mirror]] |location=London |access-date=25 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171022034136/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-438685997.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 October 2017 }}</ref> In a 2013 interview with the magazine, Lemmy said he had never expected to make it to 30, but he spoke very pointedly about the future, indicating neither he nor the band was obsessing about the end:

{{blockquote|Death is an inevitability, isn't it? You become more aware of that when you get to my age. I don't worry about it. I'm ready for it. When I go, I want to go doing what I do best. If I died tomorrow, I couldn't complain. It's been good.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bentley |first1=Tiffany |title=Lemmy of Motörhead talks health and death with Classic Rock magazine |url=http://www.metalinsider.net/hes-back/lemmy-of-motorhead-talks-health-and-death-with-classic-rock-magazine |website=Metal Insider |access-date=7 January 2016 |date=15 October 2013}}</ref>}}

In February 2016, the [[Hollywood Vampires (band)|Hollywood Vampires]] performed at the [[Grammy Awards|Grammy Award]] ceremony as a tribute to Lemmy.<ref name="BBC News 16 February 2016">{{cite web |title=Grammys: Taylor Swift wins album of the year |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-35584308 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=16 February 2016 |website=[[BBC News Online]] |access-date=16 February 2016}}</ref> On 11 June, [[Download Festival]] paid tribute to Lemmy by renaming the main stage the "Lemmy Stage", and in the slot where Motörhead were due to play, there was a video tribute to Lemmy in which they played his music and his peers talked about him.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Renshaw |first1=David |title=Download Festival renames main stage in memory of Lemmy |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/motorhead-6-1205034 |website=[[NME]] |date=8 February 2016 |publisher=TI Media |access-date=12 July 2018}}</ref> On 17 November, [[Metallica]] released a tribute song titled "Murder One", named after Lemmy's frequently used amp. The song, from their tenth studio album ''[[Hardwired... to Self-Destruct]]'', depicts Lemmy's rise to fame. On 18 January 2017, Lemmy was inducted into the Hall of Heavy Metal History for being the creator of [[thrash metal]].<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/scorpions-metal-blade-records-nominated-to-hall-of-heavy-metal-history-w457434 |title=Scorpions Among Nominees for Hall of Heavy Metal History |first=Althea |last=Legaspi |date=22 December 2016 |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=9 July 2017}}</ref> In 2017, the extinct crocodile relative ''[[Lemmysuchus]]''<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Johnson |first1=Michela M. |last2=Young |first2=Mark T. |last3=Steel |first3=Lorna |last4=Foffa |first4=Davide |last5=Smith |first5=Adam S. |last6=Hua |first6=Stephane |last7=Havlik |first7=Philipe |last8=Howlett |first8=Eliza A. |last9=Dyke |first9=Gareth |title=Re-description of 'Steneosaurus' obtusidens Andrews, 1909, an unusual macrophagous teleosaurid crocodylomorph from the Middle Jurassic of England |journal=[[Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society]] |volume=182 |issue=2 |pages=385–418 |date=2017 |doi=10.1093/zoolinnean/zlx035|url=https://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:33af66b8-1605-4609-bf91-0872cf893b07 }}</ref> was named after Lemmy.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2017/08/08/nastiest-sea-creature-ever-inhabit-earth-named-lemmy-motorhead/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2017/08/08/nastiest-sea-creature-ever-inhabit-earth-named-lemmy-motorhead/ |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title='Nastiest sea creature to ever inhabit Earth' named after Lemmy from Motorhead |last=Knapton |first=Sarah |date=9 August 2017 |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |access-date=22 February 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref> On 14 November 2016, asteroid 243002 was officially named 243002 Lemmy,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=Lemmy |title=243002 Lemmy (2006 TG119) |date=20 November 2016 |website=JPL Small-Body Database Browser |access-date=22 February 2019}}</ref> complementing asteroid 250840 Motorhead, named after the band in 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=Motorhead |title=250840 Motorhead (2005 UT158) |date=21 March 2014 |website=JPL Small-Body Database Browser |access-date=22 February 2019}}</ref>

In 2018, [[Hawkwind]] recorded a new acoustic version of Lemmy's "The Watcher" (originally recorded on ''Doremi Fasil Latido'', 1972) on the studio album ''[[Road to Utopia (album)|Road to Utopia]]'' with production, arrangement and additional orchestrations by [[Mike Batt]] and a guest appearance from [[Eric Clapton]].<ref name="RoadToUtopiaCD">{{cite web |url=https://www.cherryred.co.uk/product/hawkwind-road-to-utopia/ |title=Hawkwind: Road To Utopia |website=[[Cherry Red Records]] |access-date=11 July 2018}}</ref>

[[File:Statue of Lemmy, Market Place, Burslem.jpg|thumb|upright|Statue of Lemmy in Market Place, Burslem. Unveiled 9 May 2025]]

On 9 May 2025, a statue of Lemmy by local sculptor [[Andy Edwards (sculptor)|Andy Edwards]] was unveiled on Market Place in Burslem, in the presence of Motörhead guitarist [[Phil Campbell (musician)|Phil Campbell]]. The statue portrays him with his Rickenbacker 4001 bass, with his head tilted up towards a microphone.<ref name="Andrews">{{cite news |last1=Andrews |first1=Rob |title=Recap: Lemmy statue unveiled in Burslem as huge crowds gathered |url=https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/whats-on/live-updates-lemmy-statue-being-10168039 |access-date=9 May 2025 |work=Stoke on Trent Live |date=9 May 2025 |language=en}}</ref> The statue will contain a small portion of Lemmy's ashes in the plinth.<ref name="Andrews" />

== Collaborations ==
Lemmy worked with several musicians, apart from his Motörhead bandmates, over the course of his career. He wrote the song "R.A.M.O.N.E.S" for the [[Ramones]], which he played in his live sets as a tribute to the band. He also produced a Ramones EP and an album for [[Warfare (band)|Warfare]] entitled ''Metal Anarchy'' in which [[Würzel]] guested on guitar, He was brought in as a songwriter for [[Ozzy Osbourne]]'s 1991 ''[[No More Tears]]'' album, providing lyrics for the tracks "[[Hellraiser (Ozzy Osbourne and Motörhead song)|Hellraiser]]," (which Motörhead later recorded themselves and released as a single), "Desire," "I Don't Want to Change the World" and the single "[[Mama, I'm Coming Home]]". Lemmy noted in several magazine and television interviews that he made more money from the royalties of that one song than he had in his entire time with Motörhead. After being diagnosed with [[Diabetes mellitus type 2|Type 2 diabetes]] in 2000, for which he was hospitalised briefly, Lemmy again appeared with Motörhead at [[WrestleMania X-Seven]] playing WWE wrestler Triple H to the ring. Lemmy published his autobiography, ''White Line Fever'', in November 2002. In 2005, Motörhead won their first Grammy in the [[Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance|Best Metal Performance]] category with their cover of [[Metallica]]'s "[[Whiplash (Metallica song)|Whiplash]]". In the same year he began recording an unreleased solo album titled ''Lemmy & Friends'', which was intended to include a collaboration with [[Janet Jackson]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/lemmy-s-solo-album-to-feature-collaboration-with-metallica/ |title=Lemmy's Solo Album to Feature Collaboration With Metallica |website=[[Blabbermouth.net]] |date=10 February 2005 |access-date=20 April 2014}}</ref>

In 2014, he established his own recording label, Motorhead Music, to promote and develop new talent. Acts he signed to the label and helped develop include [[Barb Wire Dolls]], [[Budderside]], Others, and [[Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.motorheadmusic.com/ |title=Artists |website=Motorhead Music |access-date=30 December 2018}}</ref>

==Film and television==

===Cameo appearances===
Lemmy made appearances in film and television, including 1990 [[science fiction film]] ''[[Hardware (film)|Hardware]]'' and the 1987 comedy ''[[Eat the Rich (film)|Eat the Rich]]'', for which Motörhead also recorded the soundtracks including [[Eat the Rich (Motörhead song)|the title song]]. He appeared as himself in the 1986 ''[[The Comic Strip|The Comic Strip Presents...]]'' episode "[[More Bad News]]", along with fellow [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]] musicians [[Ozzy Osbourne]], the [[Scorpions (band)|Scorpions]] and [[Def Leppard]]. In 1984, Motörhead were the musical guests on the TV show ''[[The Young Ones (TV series)|The Young Ones]]'', in the episode "[[Bambi (The Young Ones)|Bambi]]". He appears in the 1994 comedy ''[[Airheads]]'' (in which he is credited as "Lemmy von Motörhead").<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109068/quotes |title=Memorable Quotes from Airheads |access-date=10 February 2007 |website=[[Internet Movie Database|IMDb]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109068/fullcredits |title=Full Cast and Crew for Airheads |access-date=10 February 2007 |work=[[Internet Movie Database|IMDb]]}}</ref> Lemmy has a cameo in [[Ron Jeremy]]'s 1994 pornographic film ''[[John Wayne Bobbitt Uncut]]'' as the discoverer of [[John Wayne Bobbitt|Bobbitt's]] severed penis. The appendage is thrown from the window of a moving car and lands at Lemmy's feet who exclaims: "Looks like a dick! Fucking hell! Ah well, it's not mine at least." The film's soundtrack also features the Motörhead song "Under the Knife".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/dec/29/lemmy-motorhead-getting-drunk-getting-laid-la-rock-fans-raise-glass |title=Getting drunk and getting laid: LA rock fans raise a glass to Lemmy |date=29 December 2015 |first=Dave |last=Schilling |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=22 February 2019}}</ref>

He has also appeared in several movies from [[Troma Entertainment]], including the narrator in 1996's ''[[Tromeo and Juliet]]'' and as himself in both ''[[Terror Firmer]]'' and ''[[Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IV]]''. His last role was portraying the President of the United States in ''[[Return to Nuke 'Em High Vol.1|Return to Nuke 'Em High]]''. He has a cameo role in the film ''Down and Out with the Dolls'' ([[Kurt Voss]], 2001). He appears as a lodger who lives in a closet.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0283323/ |title=Down and Out with the Dolls |website=IMDb |date=26 April 2002 |access-date=17 November 2011}}</ref> He appeared{{when|date=December 2015}} on ''Down and Dirty with Jim Norton'' as the series DJ, and also wrote the theme music.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hbo.com/events/down-and-dirty/index.html |title=Down + Dirty with Jim Norton |website=HBO |access-date=11 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081006032313/http://www.hbo.com/events/down-and-dirty/index.html |archive-date=6 October 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He appeared in a 2001 advertisement for [[Kit Kat]], playing violin as part of a [[string quartet]] in a genteel tearoom.<ref name="KitKat">{{cite web |url=http://www.metalinsider.net/video/wtf-is-this-kit-kat-ad-and-why-is-lemmy-in-it |title=WTF is this Kit Kat ad and why is Lemmy in it? |last=Teitelman |first=Bram |date=19 September 2013 |website=Metal Insider |access-date=29 December 2015}}</ref> In 2015, Lemmy appeared as a central figure in the [[Björn Tagemose]]-directed silent film ''[[Gutterdämmerung]]'' opposite [[Grace Jones]], [[Henry Rollins]], [[Iggy Pop]], [[Tom Araya]] of [[Slayer]] and [[Eagles of Death Metal]]'s [[Jesse Hughes (musician)|Jesse Hughes]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.contactmusic.com/lemmy/news/motorhead-s-lemmy-joins-gutterdammerung_4852940 |title=Motorhead's Lemmy joins Gutterdammerung |date=3 August 2015 |website=Contactmusic.com |access-date=22 February 2019}}</ref>

===''Lemmy'' film===
The 2010 [[rockumentary]] film ''[[Lemmy (film)|Lemmy]]'' was directed and produced by Greg Olliver and Wes Orshoski. It consists of a combination of [[16 mm film]] and [[High-definition video|HD video]] footage, produced over three years.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://lemmymovie.com/ |title=Home |website=Lemmy: The Movie |access-date=22 February 2019}}</ref> It features interviews with friends, peers, and admirers such as [[Dave Grohl]], [[Slash (musician)|Slash]], [[Ozzy Osbourne]], [[James Hetfield]], [[Lars Ulrich]], [[Kirk Hammett]], and [[Robert Trujillo]] of [[Metallica]], [[David Ellefson]] of [[Megadeth]], [[Scott Ian]] of [[Anthrax (American band)|Anthrax]], [[Alice Cooper]], [[Peter Hook]] of [[Joy Division]]/[[New Order (band)|New Order]], [[Dee Snider]], [[Nikki Sixx]], [[Mick Jones (The Clash guitarist)|Mick Jones]] of [[the Clash]], [[Ice-T]], [[Kat Von D]], [[Henry Rollins]], [[Lars Frederiksen]] of [[Rancid (band)|Rancid]], Jim Heath of [[The Reverend Horton Heat]], [[Slim Jim Phantom]] of the [[Stray Cats]], [[Mike Inez]], [[Joan Jett]], pro skateboarder [[Geoff Rowley]], pro wrestler [[Triple H]], [[Eddie Clarke (musician)|"Fast" Eddie Clarke]], [[Jarvis Cocker]], [[Marky Ramone]], former Hawkwind bandmates [[Dave Brock]] and [[Stacia]], and [[Steve Vai]].<ref name=BlabNov2010>{{cite news |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=149836 |title='Lemmy' Movie: New Trailer Released |website=Blabbermouth.net |date=23 November 2010 |access-date=1 January 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110129034920/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=149836 |archive-date=29 January 2011}}</ref>

===In video games===
He was the main character in the 16-bit video game ''Motörhead'', released for the Commodore [[Amiga]] and [[Atari ST]] in 1992.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://gamesdbase.com/game/atari-st/motorhead.aspx |title=Motorhead – Atari ST |website=Games Database.com |access-date=13 November 2015}}</ref> Lemmy also appeared as an [[unlockable character]] in the 2009 game ''[[Guitar Hero: Metallica]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.idiomag.com/peek/64666/metallica |title=Guitar Hero Metallica Will Feature Lemmy! |date=13 February 2009 |website=[[idiomag]] |access-date=13 February 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140506200338/http://www.idiomag.com/peek/64666/metallica |archive-date=6 May 2014}}</ref> He also provided his voice for the 2009 video game ''[[Brütal Legend]]'', voicing the Kill Master, a character designed and based on his surname and likeness.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cargocollective.com/jeffjetton/Lemmy-the-Motorhead-Interview |title=Lemmy: the Motorhead Interview |first=Jeff |last=Jetton |access-date=29 December 2015 |website=Cargo Collective}}</ref> Lemmy was also the inspiration for the [[Mario (franchise)|Mario]] character [[Lemmy Koopa]], who made his first appearance in ''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]''.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://kotaku.com/how-a-mario-character-was-named-after-motorheads-lemmy-1750180427 |title=How A Mario Character Was Named After Motorhead's Lemmy |last=Klepek |first=Patrick |date=29 December 2015 |website=[[Kotaku]] |access-date=27 December 2017}}</ref> In the ''[[Victor Vran]]'' ''[[Downloadable content]]'' "Motorhead Through The Ages", there is a new "Lemmy's Outfit" armour. The other Motörhead bandmates' armour is also available. As an [[easter egg (media)|easter egg]], a holographic woman in the final level of 2020's ''[[DOOM Eternal]]'' proclaims, "[[Airheads|Lemmy is God!]]". The appearance of the character King Novik from the same video game is also loosely based on facial features of Lemmy.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.twitch.tv/videos/841085453 |title=Director's commentary |website=Twitch|date=18 December 2020 |access-date=18 December 2020}}</ref> ''[[Deep Rock Galactic]]'' features one of Lemmy's hats as a cosmetic called "The Ace of Spades" with the description "In honor of a motoring head."

==Equipment==
[[File:Lemmy-03.jpg|right|thumb|upright|Lemmy in his trademark singing stance, 2005]]
Lemmy positioned his microphone in an uncommonly high position, angled so that he appeared to be looking up at the sky rather than at the audience. He said that it was for "personal comfort, that's all. It's also one way of avoiding seeing the audience. In the days when we only had ten people and a dog, it was a way of avoiding seeing that we only ''had'' ten people and a dog."<ref name="RC3">{{cite magazine |last=McIver |first=Joel |author-link=Joel McIver |date=January 2000 |title=Mil-Lemmy-Um |magazine=[[Record Collector]] |issue=245 |page=46}}</ref> Inspired by Jimi Hendrix, Lemmy recorded his vocals in the studio in total privacy, meaning he would sing in an enclosed recording booth where no one can see him, not even the producer.<ref>{{cite web |last1=E1 Entertainment |title=Working with Lemmy, Cameron Webb Extra (From the Lemmy Movie) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMuwmu7IApU&t=3m58s |website=YouTube |date=17 February 2023 |access-date=24 July 2023}}</ref> 

As a member of Hawkwind, Lemmy first used a [[Rickenbacker]] belonging to Dave Anderson. When Anderson failed to show up for a charity gig, Lemmy took his place. Following the departure of Anderson, Kilmister bought a Hopf Studio bass off Hawkwind synth player Del Detmar.<ref name="autobiog1" /> He used Rickenbacker basses<ref>{{cite magazine |title=16 Rickenbacker guitar and bass stars |url=http://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/16-rickenbacker-guitar-and-bass-stars-215696 |first=Chris |last=Vinnicombe |date=7 August 2009 |magazine=Music Radar |access-date=29 December 2015}}</ref> for most of his career. In September 1996, a Rickenbacker belonging to him was a featured part of the ''Bang Your Head'' exhibition at the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] in [[Cleveland]], Ohio, US.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rockhall.com/exhibitpast/bang-your-head/ |title=Bang Your Head |website=Rock and Roll Hall of Fame |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070409061853/http://www.rockhall.com/exhibitpast/bang-your-head/ <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date=9 April 2007 |access-date=12 April 2007}}</ref> From 1996 onward, Lemmy's main bass was a Rickenbacker 4001LK, from a limited edition run of 50 instruments, featuring hand carved body wings, featuring oak leaves, three HB1 humbucker pick-ups and all gold plated hardware. Lemmy had commented that at last Rickenbacker had made decent pick-ups. When asked about the appeal of the Rickenbacker instruments, Lemmy said "The shape. I'm all for the image — always. If you get one that looks good, you can always mess with the pickups if it sounds bad."<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bassplayer.com/artists/lemmy-the-final-interview |title=Lemmy: The Final Interview |last=Villano |first=Freddy |date=23 December 2015 |website=Bassplayer.com |access-date=22 February 2019}}</ref>

With Hawkwind Lemmy used a [[Conn-Selmer|Selmer]] amplifier. With Motorhead, he got a [[Marshall Amplification]] 1992 [[JMP Super Bass]] Mark 2 [[bass stack]]<ref name="whichbass">{{Cite web |url=http://whichbass.co.uk/LemmyBassRig |title=Lemmy Bass Rig and Amplifier Equipment |date=27 January 2019 |website=Which Bass |access-date=22 February 2019}}</ref> from 1976, with a 4x15" and a 4x12" [[loudspeaker enclosure|cabinet]]. In 2008, Marshall issued a model dedicated to Lemmy, the 1992LEM, which was available with the same cabinets Lemmy used.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/marshall-introduces-lemmy-kilmister-bass-head-1 |newspaper=[[Premier Guitar]] |title=Marshall Introduces Lemmy Kilmister Bass Head |date=2 August 2008 |access-date=28 November 2020}}</ref>

==Musical style==

Lemmy described his style as "I play a lot of notes, but I also play a lot of chords. And I play a lot of open strings. I just don't play like a bass player. There are complaints about me from time to time. It's not like having a bass player; it's like having a deep guitarist.<ref>[https://archive.today/20130417111254/http://www.motorhead.ru/int2moo.htm We Do Not Bend The Knee. Motorhead Interview]. Motorhead.ru. Archived from [http://www.motorhead.ru/int2moo.htm the original] on 22 February 2013. Retrieved 2 January 2016.</ref>

Lemmy's unconventional playing style changed the dynamics of the group's rhythm section. Hawkwind drummer [[Simon King (musician)|Simon King]] explained that "A lot of the time I play with [guitarist] [[Dave Brock|Dave]] - he'll get into a kind of rhythmic thing and I'll follow him so you get this kind of percussion and rhythmic guitar thing going, so Lemmy can loon forward a bit because he's very much a front man and gives off a lot of energy, so he can get out front and play a sort of lead on bass which sometimes is very effective",<ref name="SOUNDS19730901">{{cite journal| journal=[[Sounds (magazine)|Sounds]]| date=1 September 1973| title=Simon King in the talk in| last=Peacock| first=Steve| url=http://www.kadu.demon.co.uk/pages/simonking.html| access-date=8 July 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061003015355/http://www.kadu.demon.co.uk/pages/simonking.html| archive-date=3 October 2006| url-status=dead}}</ref> and Motörhead drummer Taylor echoed the sentiment with "Onstage he's difficult to follow cos he's not really a bass player. There's no solid bass lines to follow. A lot of the time I play more with Eddie [Clarke] than with Lemmy, but he's out on his own because he is what he is."<ref name="RM19800607">{{cite journal| journal=Record Mirror| date=7 June 1980| page=8| title=MUST WE FLING THIS FILTH AT OUR POP KIDS| last=Gurr| first=Ronnie| url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Record-Mirror/80s/80/Record-Mirror-1980-06-07.pdf| access-date=8 July 2021}}</ref>

==Discography==
: ''For releases with Motörhead see the [[Motörhead discography]]''

===With [[the Rockin' Vickers]]===
* 1965 – "[[Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart]]" / "Stella" (7" single)
* 1965 – "[[The Kids Are Alright (song)|It's Alright]]" / "Stay By Me" (7" single)
* 1966 – "[[Dandy (song)|Dandy]]" / "I Don't Need Your Kind" (7" single)
* 2000 – ''The Complete: It's Alright'' (compilation)

===With [[Sam Gopal]]===
* 1969 – ''[[Escalator (album)|Escalator]]''
* 1969 – "Horse" / "[[Back Door Man]]" (7" single)

===With [[Hawkwind]]===
* 1972 – "[[Silver Machine]]" / "Seven by Seven" (7" single)
* 1972 – ''[[Glastonbury Fayre (album)|Glastonbury Fayre]]'' – contains "Silver Machine" and "Welcome to the Future"
* 1972 – ''[[Greasy Truckers Party]]'' – contains "Born to Go" and "Master of the Universe" (10/11 Hawkwind tracks on 2007 re-release)
* 1972 – ''[[Doremi Fasol Latido]]''
* 1973 – "Lord of Light" / "Born to Go" (7" single)
* 1973 – "[[Urban Guerrilla]]" / "Brainbox Pollution" (7" single)
* 1973 – ''[[Space Ritual]]''
* 1974 – ''[[Hall of the Mountain Grill]]''
* 1974 – "[[Psychedelic Warlords]]" / "It's So Easy" (7" single)
* 1975 – "[[Kings of Speed]]" / "Motorhead" (7" single)
* 1975 – ''[[Warrior on the Edge of Time]]''
* 1983 – ''[[The Weird Tapes]]'' (live and out-takes, 1967–1982)
* 1984 – ''[[The Earth Ritual Preview]]'' EP (guest appearance as bass and backing vocals on ''Night of the Hawks'')
* 1985 – ''[[Bring Me the Head of Yuri Gagarin]]'' (live 1973)
* 1985 – ''[[Space Ritual#Volume 2|Space Ritual Volume 2]]'' (live 1972)
* 1986 – ''[[Hawkwind Anthology]]'' (live and out-takes, 1967–1982)
* 1991 – ''[[BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert (Hawkwind album)|BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert]]'' (live 1972)
* 1992 – ''[[The Friday Rock Show Sessions]]'' (live 1986)
* 1997 – ''[[The 1999 Party]]'' (live 1974)

===With [[Robert Calvert]]'s band===
* 1974 – "Ejection" / "Catch a Falling Starfighter" (7" single)
* 1974 – ''[[Captain Lockheed and the Starfighters]]''
* 1980 – "Lord of the Hornets" / "The Greenfly and the Rose" (7" single)

===Side projects and career-spanning groups===
* 1990 – Lemmy & The Upsetters – ''Blue Suede Shoes''
* 2000 – Lemmy, Slim Jim & Danny B (aka [[the Head Cat]]) – ''Lemmy, Slim Jim & Danny B''
* 2006 – [[The Head Cat]] – ''[[Fool's Paradise (The Head Cat album)|Fool's Paradise]]''
* 2006 – [[The Head Cat]] – ''Rockin' the Cat Club: Live from the Sunset Strip''
* 2006 – Lemmy – ''Damage Case'' (Compilation)
* 2007 – Keli Raven & Lemmy Kilmister "Bad Boyz 4 Life" (single).
* 2011 – [[The Head Cat]] – ''Walk The Walk… Talk The Talk''

===Band collaborations===
* 1978 – The Doomed (one-off performance at the Electric Ballroom, 5 September 1978). Bootleg recording with Dave Vanian, Captain Sensible, and Rat Scabies. Brian James had left The Damned and took the rights to the name with him.
* 1979 – [[The Damned (band)|The Damned]] – "[[I Just Can't Be Happy Today]]" / "[[The Ballroom Blitz|Ballroom Blitz]]" (with Lemmy on bass) / "Turkey Song" (7" single) – available as bonus track on the reissued ''[[Machine Gun Etiquette]]'' album
* 1980 – [[The Young & Moody Band]] – "Don't Do That" (7" & 12" single)
* 1981 – [[Headgirl]] (Motörhead & [[Girlschool]]) – ''[[St. Valentine's Day Massacre (EP)|St. Valentine's Day Massacre]]'' EP
* 1982 – Lemmy & [[Wendy O. Williams]] – ''[[Stand by Your Man (EP)|Stand by Your Man]]'' EP
* 1985 – Producer for [[Warfare (band)|Warfare]] on the album ''Metal Anarchy''.

===Charity collaborations===
* 1985 – [[Hear 'n Aid]]
* 1985 – ''The Crowd'' – ''You'll Never Walk Alone'' (Bradford City F.C. Fire Disaster)
* 2011 – ''Emergency'' – Livewire + [[Girlschool]] + [[Rudy Sarzo]] vocals (Haiti Appeal)

===Guest appearances===
* 1982 – Speed Queen (French band) – ''Speed Queen'' – backing vocals on "Revanche"
* 1984 – [[Albert Järvinen|Albert Järvinen Band]] – ''Countdown''
* 1986 – ''[[Boys Don't Cry (band)|Boys Don't Cry]]'' – "[[I Wanna Be a Cowboy]]" (appears in the music video)
* 1989 – [[Nina Hagen]] – ''Nina Hagen'' – guests on "Where's the Party"
* 1992 – [[Bootsauce]] – ''[[Bull (album)|Bull]]'' – guests on "Hold Tight"
* 1994 – Fast [[Eddie Clarke (musician)|Eddie Clarke]] – ''[[It Ain't Over till It's Over]]'' – guests on "Laugh at the Devil".
* 1994 – [[Shonen Knife]] – ''[[Rock Animals]]'' – guests on "Tomato Head" single remix (Track 3 – "Lemmy in There Mix") – not the album track
* 1996 – [[Skew Siskin]] – ''Electric Chair Music''
* 1996 – [[Ugly Kid Joe]] – ''[[Motel California]]'' - guest vocals on "Little Red Man"
* 1996 – Myth, Dreams of the World – ''Stories of the Greek & Roman Gods & Goddesses''
* 1996 – Skew Siskin – ''Voices from the War''
* 1997 – [[Ramones]] – ''[[We're Outta Here!]]'' – guests on "R.A.M.O.N.E.S."
* 1999 – Jetboy – ''Lost & Found''
* 1999 – Skew Siskin – ''What the Hell''
* 1999 – [[A.N.I.M.A.L.]] – ''Usa Toda Tu Fuerza'' – guests on a version of [[AC/DC]]'s "Highway to Hell"
* 2000 – [[Doro (musician)|Doro]] – ''[[Calling the Wild]]''
* 2000 – Swing Cats – ''A Special Tribute to Elvis'' – guests on "Good Rockin' Tonight", "Trying to Get to You" and "Stuck on You"
* 2001 – The Pirates – ''Rock Bottom''
* 2001 – Hair of the Dog – ''Ignite'' – guests on "Law"
* 2002 – [[Royal Philharmonic Orchestra]], [[Mike Batt]] and guests – ''[[Philharmania (album)|Philharmania]]'' – guests on "Eve of Destruction"
* 2003 – Ace Sounds – ''Still Hungry''
* 2003 – Skew Siskin – ''Album of the Year''
* 2004 – [[Probot]] – ''Probot'' – guests on "Shake Your Blood"
* 2005 – [[Throw Rag]] – ''13 Ft. and Rising'' – guests on "Tonight the Bottle Let Me Down"
* 2006 – [[Doro (musician)|Doro]] – ''[[20 Years – A Warrior Soul]]'' – guests on "Love Me Forever" and "All We Are"
* 2007 - [[Saxon (band)|Saxon]] - ''[[The Inner Sanctum]]'' - guest vocals on "I've Got to Rock (to Stay Alive)"
* 2007 – [[Meldrum (band)|Meldrum]] – ''Blowin' Up The Machine'' – guests on "Miss Me When I'm Gone"
* 2007 – [[The Warriors (American band)|The Warriors]] – ''Genuine Sense of Outrage'' – guests on "Price of Punishment"
* 2007 – Keli Raven single "Bad Boyz 4 Life" (co-writer and guest vocalist)
* 2008 – [[Airbourne (band)|Airbourne]] – Guest actor on Airbourne's "Runnin' Wild" Music Video
* 2008 – We Wish You a Metal Christmas – ''Run Run Rudolph''
* 2008 – ''Legacy'' – [[Girlschool]] album – ''Don't Talk to Me'' vocals, bass, triangle and lyrics.
* 2009 – [[Guitar Hero: Metallica]] (video game) – "[[Ace of Spades (song)|Ace of Spades]]" guest vocalist and unlockable playable character.
* 2009 – Queen V – ''Death or Glory'' – guests on "Wasted"
* 2009 – [[Brütal Legend]] (video game) – The Kill Master (voice)
* 2010 – [[Slash (musician)|Slash]] – ''[[Slash (album)|Slash]]'' – "Doctor Alibi" (vocals and bass)
* 2011 – [[Michael Monroe]] – ''[[Sensory Overdrive]]'' guests on "Debauchery As A Fine Art"
* 2012 – [[Doro (musician)|Doro]] – ''[[Raise Your Fist]]'' guest on "It Still Hurts"
* 2012 – [[Nashville Pussy]] – Guest on Nashville Pussy's song "Lazy Jesus" on the re-release of the album "From Hell to Texas"
* 2014 – [[Emigrate (band)|Emigrate]] – Guest bass and vocals on the track ''Rock City'', from their album [[Silent So Long]]

===Film soundtracks, tribute, wrestling and various artists albums===
* 1990 – ''[[Hardware (film)|Hardware]]: Original Soundtrack'' – contains "A Piece of Pipe" by Kaduta Massi with Lemmy
* 1990 – ''The Last Temptation of [[Elvis]]: Blue Suede Shoes'' – contains "Blue Suede Shoes" by Lemmy & The Upsetters
* 1994 – ''[[Airheads]]'': Cameo on film and performing "Born to Raise Hell" on the soundtrack
* 1997 – ''[[Dragon Attack: A Tribute to Queen]]'' – performs on "Tie Your Mother Down"
* 1998 – ''Thunderbolt: A Tribute to AC/DC'' – performs on "It's a Long Way to the Top"
* 1998 – ''[[ECW: Extreme Music]]'' – contains a cover of [[Metallica]]'s "Enter Sandman"
* 2000 – ''Bat Head Soup – Tribute to [[Ozzy Osbourne]]'' – performs on "Desire"
* 2001 – ''[[WWF The Music, Vol. 5]]'' – "The Game"
* 2001 – ''Frezno Smooth: Original Soundtrack'' – contains a version of Twisted Sister's "Hardcore" by Lemmy
* 2001 – ''A Tribute to Metallica: Metallic Assault'' – performs on "Nothing Else Matters"
* 2002 – ''[[Rise Above: 24 Black Flag Songs to Benefit the West Memphis Three]]'' – performs on "Thirsty & Miserable"
* 2002 – ''Metal Brigade'' – performs on "Good Rockin' Tonight" by Lemmy and Johnny Ramone
* 2004 – ''[[Spin the Bottle (Kiss tribute album)|Spin the Bottle – An All-Star Tribute to KISS]]'' – performs on "[[Shout It Out Loud (Kiss song)|Shout It Out Loud]]"
* 2004 – ''[[The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie]]'' – performs "You Better Swim"
* 2004 – ''[[ThemeAddict: WWE The Music, Vol. 6]]'' – "Line in the Sand"
* 2005 – ''[[Numbers from the Beast|Numbers from the Beast: An All Star Salute to Iron Maiden]]'' – performs on "[[The Trooper]]"
* 2005 – ''Metal: A Headbangers Journey''
* 2006 – ''[[WWE Wreckless Intent]]'' – "King of Kings"
* 2006 – ''Flying High Again: The World's Greatest Tribute to Ozzy Osbourne'' – Performs "Desire" with Richie Kotzen
* 2006 – ''Cover Me in '80s Metal'' (Fantastic Price Records) – Metal artists covering the hits of others. Performs [[AC/DC (band)|AC/DC's]] "[[It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)|It's a Long Way to the Top]]"
* 2006 – ''Butchering the Beatles: A Headbashing Tribute'' – Performs "[[Back in the USSR]]".
* 2009 – ''Flip Skateboards Presents Extremely Sorry'' – Performs "Stand By Me" with Baron and [[Dave Lombardo]].
* 2010 – ''[[Danko Jones]] – Full of Regret'' – Stars in the music video along with [[Elijah Wood]] and [[Selma Blair]]
* 2011 – ''[[Foo Fighters]] – [[White Limo]]'' – Stars in the music video
* 2017 – ''[[Airbourne (band)|Airbourne]] – It's All for Rock N' Roll'' – Videos of Lemmy appeared in the music video. Tribute to Lemmy

==Videography==

===Video tape/laser disc===
* 1982 ''Live in Toronto – Castle Hendring''
* 1984 ''Another Perfect Day'' EP
* 1985 ''Birthday Party''
* 1986 ''Deaf Not Blind''
* 1987 [[Bad News (band)|''More Bad News'']]
* 1988 ''EP''
* 1988 ''[[The Decline of Western Civilization II: The Metal Years]]''
* 1990 [[Hardware (film)|''Hardware'']] (Lemmy was cast as a [[water taxi]] driver; and plays a recording of "[[Ace of Spades (song)|Ace of Spades]]" for his passengers)
* 1991 ''[[Everything Louder than Everyone Else]]''

===DVD===
* 1987 ''[[Eat the Rich (film)|Eat the Rich]]''
* 1994 ''[[Airheads]]'' – cameo as "The Rocker"
* 1997 ''[[Tromeo and Juliet]]'' – cast as Narrator, [[Troma]] pictures
* 1999 ''[[Terror Firmer]]''
* 2001 ''Down and Out with the Dolls'' – as Joe
* 2001 ''[[25 & Alive Boneshaker]]''
* 2001 ''[[WrestleMania X-Seven]]'' – performing [[Triple H]]'s entrance theme "The Game" live
* 2001 ''[[Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IV]]'' – as a Tromaville citizen
* 2002 ''Motörhead EP''
* 2002 ''The Best of Motörhead''
* 2003 ''The Special Edition EP''
* 2003 ''Charlie's Death Wish'' – as himself
* 2004 ''Everything Louder Than Everything Else''
* 2005 ''[[Stage Fright (Motörhead DVD)|Stage Fright]]''  – also [[HD DVD]] 2007
* 2005 ''[[Ringers: Lord of the Fans]]''
* 2005 ''[[WrestleMania 21]]'' – performing "The Game"
* 2005 ''[[Metal: A Headbanger's Journey]]''
* 2006 ''The Head Cat Live: Rockin' the Cat Club''
* 2006 ''Foo Fighters: Hyde Park''
* 2010 ''[[Lemmy (film)|Lemmy]]''
* 2011 ''The Wörld Is Yours'' – bonus DVD

==References==

===Citations===
{{Reflist|30em}}

===Sources===
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book |last1=Kilmister |first1=Lemmy |last2=Garza |first2=Janiss |title=White Line Fever: The Autobiography |publisher=Simon and Schuster |year=2012 |isbn=978-1-471-11271-3}}
{{refend}}

==Further reading==
* 1981 ''Motörhead'' – Author: [[Alan Burridge]], published by Babylon Books, {{ISBN|0-86001-935-7}}
* 1994 ''The Illustrated Collector's Guide to Motörhead'' – Authors: Alan Burridge and Mick Stevenson, published by [[Collector's Guide Publishing]], {{ISBN|0-9695736-2-6}}
* 2002 ''[[White Line Fever (book)|White Line Fever]]'' – Authors: Lemmy and Janiss Garza, published by [[Simon & Schuster]], {{ISBN|0-684-85868-1}}
* 2002 ''Lemmy: In His Own Words'' – Author: Harry Shaw, published by [[Omnibus Press]], {{ISBN|0-7119-9109-X}}
* 2002 ''Motorheadbangers Diary of the Fans Volume 1'' – Author: Alan Burridge, published by e-booksonline(uk)ltd, {{ISBN|1-903949-14-9}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Lemmy Kilmister}}
{{Wikiquote}}
* [http://www.imotorhead.com/ Motörhead official website]
* {{IMDb name|id=0501437}}
* [https://archive.org/details/revolutionart_issue22/page/n9/mode/2up Interview with Lemmy Kilmister] in ''[[Revolutionart]]'' magazine no. 22
* [https://www.myspace.com/headcat Profile for Lemmy's new band The Head Cat] on [[Myspace]]
* [https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/lemmys-last-days-how-metal-legend-celebrated-70th-stared-down-cancer-20151229 "Lemmy’s Last Days: How Metal Legend Celebrated 70th, Stared Down Cancer"] in ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' magazine
* [http://consequenceofsound.net/2015/12/r-i-p-lemmy-kilmister-motorhead-frontman-dead-at-70/ "R.I.P. Lemmy Kilmister, Motörhead frontman dead at 70"]—Obituary on ''[[Consequence of Sound]]''

{{Motörhead}}
{{Hawkwind}}
{{The Damned}}
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