Lemmy Kilmister, the lead singer and bassist of Motörhead has died at age 70. The heavy metal icon passed away on Monday from cancer. The band’s official Facebook confirmed Kilmister’s death:
There is no easy way to say this…our mighty, noble friend Lemmy passed away today after a short battle with an extremely aggressive cancer. He had learnt of the disease on December 26th, and was at home, sitting in front of his favorite video game from The Rainbow which had recently made it’s way down the street, with his family.
We cannot begin to express our shock and sadness, there aren’t words.
We will say more in the coming days, but for now, please…play Motörhead loud, play Hawkwind loud, play Lemmy’s music LOUD.
Have a drink or few. Share stories. Celebrate the LIFE this lovely, wonderful man celebrated so vibrantly himself. HE WOULD WANT EXACTLY THAT.
Kilmister was born in Staffordshire, England, in 1945. He joined the prog rock band Hawkwind as a bassist in 1972. After being tossed from the band in 1975, he started Motörhead, with the band’s self-titled debut coming out in 1977. “Killed By Death,” “Bomber” and “Overkill,” were some of their best known singles. The most enduring and influential of the band’s tracks was 1980’s “Ace of Spades.”
Kilmister had suffered from numerous health ailments in the past few years, which led to him cutting down on his alcohol and drug intake. Despite his health problems, he kept working, for the sake of Rock n Roll. “There’s nobody now,” he said. “There is going to be a huge hole, and nobody to step into it. I think it’s important music. It’s the constant music of this generation and the last one and the last one.”
Via Rolling Stone
Motörhead – Ace of Spades
