Questions
What was Lemmy’s real name?
He was born Ian Fraser Kilmister on December 24, 1945, in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, England.
How did he get the nickname Lemmy?
He picked it up at school, reportedly from the phrase "lemmy (lend me) a quid ’til Friday" tied to borrowing money for slot machines, though he claimed he never actually knew where it came from.
Did Lemmy really work as a roadie for Jimi Hendrix?
Yes, he worked as a roadie for Jimi Hendrix and The Nice before his own career took off.
What band was he in before Motörhead?
He joined Hawkwind in 1971 as bassist and sang lead on their 1972 hit "Silver Machine," which reached number 3 in the UK.
Why did he leave Hawkwind?
He was fired in May 1975 after being arrested at the Canadian border for amphetamine possession, which the band feared would complicate their tour. He was released without charges.
When did he found Motörhead and where did the name come from?
He founded the band in 1975 and named it after his final Hawkwind song. It was originally going to be called "Bastard," but his manager insisted that name would never get airtime on Top of the Pops.
What made his bass playing so distinctive?
Instead of plucking single notes, he played chords and open strings through overdriven Marshall tube stacks with his Rickenbacker bass, giving him an almost "deep guitarist" sound.
Why did he sing into a microphone angled up so high?
He positioned his mic high and tilted upward, and reportedly said it helped him avoid seeing the audience.
Did Lemmy consider Motörhead a heavy metal band?
No, he was quite adamant that he never considered Motörhead a metal band.
Is it true he made more money writing a song for Ozzy Osbourne than from all of Motörhead?
He wrote "Mama, I’m Coming Home" for Ozzy Osbourne’s 1991 album, and it reportedly earned him more in royalties than his entire Motörhead career.
How much did Lemmy famously drink?
He reportedly drank a bottle of Jack Daniel’s daily from around age 30 until 2013, when he stopped for health reasons.
Where did Lemmy live later in life?
He lived in Los Angeles from 1990 until his death, in a two-room apartment just two blocks from his favorite hangout, the Rainbow Bar and Grill.
Did he write an autobiography?
Yes, his autobiography White Line Fever was published in November 2002.
When and how did Lemmy die?
He died on December 28, 2015, in Los Angeles at age 70 from prostate cancer, cardiac arrhythmia, and congestive heart failure. His cancer was reportedly diagnosed just two days before his death.
What happened to his ashes?
Some of his ashes were placed into bullets and sent to close friends including Rob Halford and Doro, some were scattered at the Wacken Open Air festival, and a statue unveiled in Burslem in May 2025 contains a portion of them.
