Ace of Spades

Background:

British rock band Motorhead is one of the United Kingdom's best known rocks bands thanks to such powerful albums as “Overkill” (1979, #24), “Bomber” (1979, #12), “Ace of Spades” (1980, #4), “Iron Fist” (1982, #6), “Another Perfect Day” (1983, #20), “Orgasmatron” (1986, 21), “No Sleep at All” (1988, #1) and “1916” (1991, #24), which brought the group a Grammy nomination for Best Metal Performance. Their more recent releases include “Snake Bite Love” (1998), “We Are Motörhead” (2000), “Hammered” (2002), “Inferno” (2004), “Kiss of Death” (2006), “Motörizer” (2008) and “The World Is Yours” (2010). The band scored a string of successful singles on the U.K. Top 40 chart during the early 1980s, including “Bomber,” “Ace of Spades,” “Motorhead” and “Iron Fist.”

Hawkwind

Childhood and Family:

In 1975, Motorhead was founded by bassist, singer and songwriter Lemmy (born Ian Fraser Kilmister in December 1945 in England) after he was kicked out of the band Hawkwind because of drug problems. He first called his new band Bastard, but changed the name to Motorhead after his manager informed him that a band by that name will never achieve a position on “Top of the Pop.” The name Motorhead was inspired by the last song he wrote for Hawkwind.

Motorhead has experienced several member changes and Lemmy is the only constant member of the band. In addition to Lemmy, the band is now comprised of guitarist Phil Campbell (born in May 1961 in Wales) and drummer Mikkey Dee (born October 1963 in Sweden).

1916

Career:

With the lineup of Lemmy on bass and vocals, Larry Wallace on guitar and Lucas Fox on drums, Motorhead made their debut performance as a supporting act for Greenslade at The Roundhouse, in London on July 20, 1975. They went on to support Blue Öyster Cult at the Hammersmith Odeon in October 1975. By the end of the year, the band had entered the studio, but Lucas quit during the recording season. The band then recruited drummer Phil “Philthy Animal” Taylor. Displeased with the material, the band's label United Artists declined to release it. The record was eventually released as “On Parole” in 1979 after the band had achieved some success.

Motorhead recruited second guitarist “Fast” Eddie Clarke in 1976. During his audition, however, Wallace quit for unknown reasons. The trio of Lemmy, Taylor and Clarke is now considered the classic Motorhead lineup. In 1977, the band released their debut single “Leaving Here,” a cover of Eddie Holland R&B 1963 hit, on Stiff Records. The song failed to receive a general release after United Artists claimed the band was still under contract with them. The band's second single, “Motorhead,” followed in June 1977. It was released under Chiswick Records and produced by Speedy Keen.

Still under Chiswick Records, the band launched an eponymous debut album on September 24, 1977. It peaked at No. 43 on the U.K. Albums chart. They then signed with Bronze Records in 1978 and released the sophomore effort “Overkill” on March 24, 1979. Produced by Jimmy Miller, the album rose to No. 24 on the U.K. charts. They covered Richard Berry's song “Louie Louie” and released it as the album's first single on September 30, 1978. The band's version went to No. 68 on the U.K. Singles Chart. The second single, “Overkill,” (1979) rose to No. 39 on the U.K. charts, while the third and last single, “No Class,” (1979) peaked at No. 61. The band toured England in 1979 and spent time in jail after becoming destructive at a Finish festival.

The third studio album, “Bomber,” was released on October 27, 1979, with producer Jimmy Miller. It went to No. 12 on the U.K. charts and spawned some of Motorhead's best known songs, including “Bomber,” “Dead Men Tell No Tales” and “Stone Dead Forever.” The title track peaked at No. 34 on the U.K. Singles chart.

After a European tour, Motorhead teamed up with producer Vic Maile for their next release. “Ace of Spades” was released on November 8, 1980, and went to No. 4 on the U.K. Albums chart. It was certified gold by BPI in March 1981. The album also charted in Norway at No. 37. The title track spent 12 weeks on the U.K. Singles Chart, where it peaked at 15. The band supported the album by touring the U.K. from October 22 to December 2, 1979, under the banner “Ace Up Your Sleeve.” They were supported by Girlschool and Vardis. While there, drummer Taylor broke his neck while engaging in horseplay with an Irish fan.

While waiting for Taylor to recover, Lemmy and Clarke collaborated with the members of Girlschool and producer Maile on an EP called “The St. Valentines Day Massacre.” Released on February 1, 1981, under the moniker Headgirl, the EP peaked at No. 5 in the U.K. Motorhead then hit the road and made their debut in America when they served as a special guest on Ozzy Osbourne's “Blizzard of 0z” tour. The band's first live album, “No Sleep 'til Hammersmith,” was released on June 27, 1981, and quickly topped the U.K. charts. The live version of the “Motorhead” single rose to No. 6 on the U.K. charts.

The fifth studio album, “Iron Fist,” hit the music stores on April 17, 1982. It rose to No. 6 on the U.K. Albums chart and also entered the Billboard 200 at No. 174. The band supported the album with a U.K. tour from March 17 to April 12, 1982, with support from Tank. They also appeared at the Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, in which the band recorded and later released on video as “Live on Toronto.” After a tour date at New York's Palladium on May 14, Clarke left the band and was replaced by guitarist Brian Robertson on the May 21 tour in Detroit. “Iron Fist” became the last album to be recorded with the classic Motorhead lineup.

Motorhead released the unique and controversial studio album “Another Perfect Day” on June 4, 1983, with new guitarist Robertson. Produced by Tony Platt, it peaked at No. 20 in the U.K., No. 153 in the U.S. and No. 18 in Sweden. The album produced two U.K. singles with “I Got Mine” (#46) and “Shine” (#59). Fans disliked Robertson and he eventually left the band in late 1983. Motorhead recruited two guitarists, Phil Campbell and Wurzel, in 1984. The same year, the band lost Taylor and subsequently hired Pete Gill as his replacement. A compilation album, “No Remorse,” was released on September 15, 1984, with the lineup of Lemmy, Campbell, Wurzel and Gill. The album marked their last release with Bronze records. Their separation with the company led to legal troubles that prevented the band from producing a new album the following year. Instead, they toured and appeared on many radio and TV shows in England and the U.S.

Motorhead launched their seventh studio album, “Orgasmatron,” on August 9, 1986, under new label GWR Records. It went to No. 21 in the U.K. and No. 157 in the U.S. The single “Deaf Forever” peaked at No. 67 on the U.K. Singles chart. The album successfully put the band back in the saddle again after the critically acclaimed, but commercially unsuccessful 1983 album “Another Perfect Day.” The band followed it up with tours, including a compelling show at the Monsters of Rock in Castle Donnington.

In 1987, Motorhead recorded the soundtrack album for the British feature “Eat the Rich,” directed and co-written by Peter Richardson. Lemmy also had a small role in the film. Just before shooting began, Gill quit and Tailor returned. The eighth studio album, “Rock 'n' Roll,” was released on September 5, 1987, with the lineup of Lemmy, Taylor, Würzel and Campbell. It peaked at No. 34 on the U.K. Albums chart and No. 150 on the U.S. Billboard 200. The lead single, “Eat the Rich,” failed to chart in the U.K. The live album “Nö Sleep at All” was released on October 15, 1988. It was recorded in July 1988 during the band's performance at the Giants of Rock Festival in Hämeenlinna, in Finland.

After Lemmy moved to Hollywood, California, in 1990, Motorhead changed management and signed with WTG-Sony. The band released the studio album “1916” on February 26, 1991. It rose to No. 24 on U.K. charts and was nominated for a 1992 Grammy for Best Metal Performance. The single “The One to Sing the Blues” (1991) peaked at No. 45 on the U.K. Singles chart. Recorded at Music Grinder Studios, in Los Angeles, the album “March ör Die” was released on August 14, 1992, with record producers Peter Solley and Billy Sherwood. The album peaked at No. 60 in the U.K. The lead single, “Hellraiser,” which was co-written by Lemmy, Ozzy Osbourne and his guitarist Zakk Wylde, was used in the American horror movie “Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth” (1992). Mikkey Dee played the drums on the single.

After being fired by WTG, Motorhead recorded “Bastard” and signed a deal with ZYX for distribution. The eleventh album was released on November 29, 1993. It spawned the singles “Don't Let Daddy Kiss Me” (1993) and “Born to Raise Hell” (1994, #47 UK). The album marked the band's first release to be recorded with the Lemmy, Campbell, Würzel and Mikkey Dee lineup. The foursome then worked on their subsequent release, “Sacrifice,” which hit the music stores on July 11, 1995. It was distributed by CMC Records and charted at No. 31 in Germany. Würzel left the band at the end of recording, making Motorhead a three member band once again.

The band released the album “Overnight Sensation” on October 15, 1996, with CMC Records. Co-produced by Howard Benson and Duane Baron, the album rose to No. 71 in Germany. The follow-up, “Snake Bite Love,” was released on March 10, 1998, which the band co-produced with Benson. It charted at No. 171 in the U.K. and made the top 50 in Germany and Sweden. After the live album “Everything Louder than Everyone Else” (1999), Motorhead released the album “We Are Motörhead” on May 16, 2000, under CMC. It peaked at No. 91 in the U.K. The album featured a cover of the punk band The Sex Pistols' song “God Save the Queen.”

On April 9, 2002, the band launched “Hammered” under German label Steamhammer. It rose to No. 113 in the U.K., No. 39 in Germany and No. 18 in Sweden. The band then recorded “Inferno” under SPV GmbH. The album was released on June 22, 2004, and produced by Cameron Webb. It went to No. 95, No. 10 and No. 34 in The U.K., Germany and Sweden, respectively. The band was then reunited with Webb for their next studio release, “Kiss of Death,” which was released on August 29, 2006. The album rose to No. 45 on the U.K. Albums chart and No. 10 on the U.S. Top Heatseekers. It also peaked at No. 4 in Germany.

“Motörizer” was released on August 26, 2008, under Steamhammer/SPV and produced by the band and Cameron Webb. The album peaked at No. 32 in the U.K. and No. 82 on the Billboard 200. It had a higher charting position in Germany (#5), Sweden (#10) and Norway (#11).

Motorhead released a new studio album, “The Wörld is Yours,” on December 15, 2010, under their label Motörhead Music. They have signed with EMI for distribution. The track “Get Back in Line” was released as the first single and its video was released on December 6, 2010

Awards:
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