RIP, Lemmy: 'Born to lose, lived to win'

Lemmy with Motorhead at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles in the 1980s. (ALISON BRAUN photo)

By Andy and Cat

As we drove by the The Rainbow bar and grill on Sunset Boulevard this Christmas day, we glanced over to see if it was open.

Perhaps Lemmy would be inside, playing his beloved video poker game and tossing back a cocktail.

We were set to pull into the parking lot, but the place was closed, and we moved on up the road.

The spirit of Lemmy Kilmister will forever be a part of that Hollywood landmark dive and stages worldwide, where his rough-and-tumble band Motorhead left its mark. His gloriously raspy voice and buzz-saw bass lines are etched into our brains, just like the iconic snaggletooth symbol and memorable band logo is stitched onto countless metalists' denim vests via patches, emblazoned onto beer-soaked T-shirts and tattooed onto headbangers' bodies.

Today, we all received the heartbreaking news that Lemmy has died at age 70.

• Motorhead's official Facebook page reads:

"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.

Ian ‘Lemmy’ Kilmister, 1945 -2015

Born to lose, lived to win."


• Tony Iommi on BBC's Midlands Today show:

"I think Lemmy is the epitome of rock and roll, you know, he's always lived a wild lifestyle. It's the old thing: Sex, drugs and rock and roll, and he really lived that life -- and he loved it."


• From Metallica's Facebook page:

"Lemmy, you are one of the primary reasons this band exists. We are forever grateful for all of your inspiration. Rest In Peace.
Endless Love & Respect, 
Metallica"

• Ozzy Osbourne's Facebook page reads:

"Lost one of my best friends, Lemmy, today. He will be sadly missed. He was a warrior and a legend. I will see you on the other side."


We will always remember Motorhead absolutely crushing it at the old Ballard Firehouse in Seattle in 1999. It was so fucking loud that we thought the windows were on the verge of breaking... you could see them vibrating! You could feel the roar of the music and Lemmy's lightning-charged vocals in your bones. It was perfect. It was real. Unforgettable.

RIP, Lemmy.