Bow down to the, Bow down to the Kings...

It takes a certain something to keep a band going, it takes even more of this to keep a band together for 34 years (and yes I know members have come and gone over the years, but the original member is still going and going strong).

I am of course talking about one of the greatest bands to have ever walked the face of the earth, the band that hates being stereotyped as "Heavy", "Speed" or "Thrash" metal- instead favouring the classification of simply 'rock 'n' roll'!

Fronted for the last 34 years by one of the greatest bass players in the world, Motörhead have enjoyed so much success since Lemmy decided to from the band in 1975; branching out from London until they reached worldwide recognition.

Motörhead's approach has remained the same over the band's career, preferring to play what they enjoy and do best; their appreciation of early rock and roll is reflected in some of their occasional cover songs. Motörhead's lyrics typically cover such topics as war, good versus evil, abuse of power, promiscuous sex, substance abuse and "life on the road."

So where did it all begin?
After he was sacked from 'Hawkwind' for being too hardcore with his drug taking, Lemmy Kilmister had the original idea to form a band under the name "Bastard". However after being told that it would be unlikely that Top of the Pops would allow a band with that name to perform, Lemmy decided on Motörhead. Which was inspired from the last song he wrote for Hawkwind, and also a slang term for a user of the drug Speed.

Lemmy's stated aim was for the outfit to be, "the dirtiest rock n' roll band in the world" and that, "if Motörhead moved in next to you, your lawn would die."

The original line up featured Larry Wallis on electric guitar, Lucas Fox on drums and Lemmy on bass. After several gigs with Lucas Fox, he was found to have become unreliable and was soon replaced by Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor. The decision was then made to have two lead guitarists, and as a result "Fast" Eddie Clarke was recruited. However, Wallis quit during the auditions and the double-lead idea was dropped. Lemmy, Clarke and Taylor are today regarded as 'Classic Motörhead'.

Initial reactions to the band were very negative, with them 'winning' a poll for "The Best Worst Band in the World" and after two years both Clarke and Taylor wanted to quit the band, and the decision was made to perform a farewell show in London.

However, an acquaintance of Lemmy's, Ted Carroll was asked to bring a mobile studio to their farewell gig so they could record it for posterity. Carroll was unable to bring the studio to the concert. However, they were offered a saving grace. Carroll offered them two days at Escape Studios to record a single. The band took the chance, but instead of recording a single, they recorded eleven unfinished tracks. Carroll offered them a few more days to finish the vocals and the band completed thirteen tracks for release as an album. In June they toured with Hawkwind and in late July began their 'Beyond the Threshold of Pain' tour.

Their rise to success began when they used eight of their recorded tracks, releasing their first album (entitled Motörhead, which reached number 43 in the UK Album Chart). This lead to them beginning to garner a following from metal and punk enthusiasts.

They had their first appearance on BBC's Top of the Pops with their single 'Louie Louie'. After several other singles and a tour, the band returned to the studios, releasing four tracks as 'Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers'.

The band's most memorable song (which propelled them into the mainstream limelight) was 'Ace of Spades'. The single reached number 15 and the album reached number 4 in the charts. The band made two appearances on Top of the Pops in the October of 2008 with 'Ace of Spades'. The band also made an appearance on popular 80's children's TV programme 'Tiswas'. And the single "put a choke on the English music charts and proved to all that a band could succeed without sacrificing its blunt power and speed."

Clarke left the band in May 1982, because he felt that recording a cover of 'Stand by Your Man' compromised the band's principles, after leaving he formed his own band 'Fastway.' Lemmy and Taylor hunted desperately to find a new guitarist, including a plea to Thin Lizzy's Brian Robertson, (who agreed to help out, signing up to a one-album deal resulting in 1983 with the album 'Another Perfect Day').

Robertson's attire of shorts and ballet shoes caused friction within the band. This along with Robertson's refusal to go back to the 'good old' standards led to an amicable departure from the band.

The group then returned to the concept of having a dual-lead and unknowns Wurzel and Phil Campbell. The four re-recorded Ace of Spades for TV.

Taylor left the band following the recording, which caused Lemmy to ask "Did I leave them or did they leave me?"

The band continued through the late 80's with Taylor until 1992 when he played his very last gig with the band. Lemmy later whipped up Mikkey Dee, and the band recorded 'Hellraiser' and went on tour with the likes of Ozzy Osbourne.

Wurzel would later leave the band in the mid-90's and the band have continued touring and recording with the power trio of Lemmy, Mikkey and Campbell.

Though the band are typically classified as heavy metal or speed metal, Lemmy has stated that he never considered Motörhead a metal band. When asked if he has a problem with Motörhead being called a metal band, he replied: "I do because I come from way before Metal. I’m playing Rock n’ Roll and I think Rock n’ Roll should be sacred – it is to me. I don’t see why it should not be for everybody else."

The band have enjoyed success with the WWE, with top superstars such as Triple H being a huge fan of the band- who have recorded entrance music for HHH and his (now-defunct) faction Evolution.

34 years and still going strong...

Now I put it to all of you 'Jizzy Tissues' out there who aspire to be like Busta Rhymes or Dizzy Rascal to try to match what Motörhead have accomplished. I urge you to try and cover one of the greatest songs of all times and actually make it a credible song.

Whilst all of you chat about 'popping caps in each others asses', 'slapping your bitch up' or 'chilling in your childhood bed' (crib), Motörhead's lyrics, much like Muse's, actually have depth to them. Whilst all of you Dizzy Rascals out there and dancing 'Wiv Me', Motörhead, or more importantly Lemmy (who has the best voice in the world) are singing songs with depths; such as the abuse of power in 'Ace of Spades'. The only abuse Busta raps about is probably illegal in pretty much most of the world.

"The pleasure is to play, it makes no difference what you say
I don't share your greed, the only card I need is
The Ace Of Spades"

compare that to one of Busta's lyrics...

"A yo, we ain't familiar at all nigga
Don't like, go grab your gat and lets brawl at hall nigga
Straight fallin".

I know who I'd rather listen too...

(n.b, It's not Busta or Dizzy...)

(sorry about the changes today :-)