Jan 9, 2016: Lemmy Kilmister Funeral Features Eulogies by Son and Rob Halford
by Best Classic Bands Staff
Lemmy Kilmister (from his Facebook page)
A very aggressive cancer succeeded where the man himself and his indulgences had made the headline “Motörhead’s Lenny Kilmister Dies” seem almost… almost like a defiant pledge: Not bloody yet it would seem.
But on December 28, 2015, a mere two days after being diagnosed, four days after his 70th birthday on Christmas Eve, Motörhead frontman, singer and bassist Lemmy Kilmister died at his Los Angeles apartment with one of his favorite games from The Rainbow on Sunset (for all intent his living room) in front of him. Just as he lived.
A memorial service on January 9, 2016 streamed live on Motörhead’s YouTube channel. Lemmy’s eulogies were delivered eloquently by his son and many classic rock A-Listers. (Watch it below.)
The band had confirmed his death on their Facebook page:
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.
From Motörhead’s website
Since 1975 he led Motörhead through some 23 albums and 40 years as a band that were devoted to recording and performing aggressive, take-no prisoners rock ’n’ roll. He was admired and beloved in virtually all quarters for his unadulterated love for the music (and for some of the favorite indulgences of those who played the music).
This is the second death in the Mötorhead family in less than two months. Former drummer Phil “Philthy Animal” Taylor, age 61, died Nov. 11, 2015 due to liver failure. He replaced the iconic heavy metal band’s first drummer, Lucas Fox, during the recording of their first album, On Parole, in 1975, and played a significant role in defining their sound thereafter. He played on all of the group’s major albums, including Overkill, Bomber, Ace of Spades and No Sleep ’til Hammersmith.
In recent years Kilmister had his heart fitted with pacemaker (2013) and suffered from a hematoma (2014). Motörhead was forced to cancel numerous concert dates over the summer due to health issues.
Mötorhead released their 22nd studio album, Bad Magic, in August 2015, offering up a fresh batch of the kind of maximum volume meat and potatoes rock ’n’ roll they do best, replete with driving guitars, rumbling bass and raspy falsetto.
Mötorhead was scheduled to begin a tour of England and Europe on January 23, 2016.
At the funeral service for Lemmy Kilmister, his son Paul delivering a eulogy on January 9, 2016
In his poised and elegant eulogy, Lemmy’s son Paul said: “They say you can’t choose your parents. Well, I won the lottery when I got Lemmy. Because Lemmy Kilmister was my father and he always will be. You were perfect. My one and only ultimate rock ‘n’ roll daddy. If I could only stand on your shoulders, what a view I would have. Travel well, my dear father. You’re back out on the road for the longest tour to the great gig in the sky. We will never, ever forget you. I love you.” (See photo below.)
Judas Priest’s Rob Halford said: “When I was in the presence of Lord Lemmy, I always felt a bit overwhelmed. Admiration mainly. Here was a man who lived rock ‘n’ roll life on his own terms. A true rock ‘n’ roll maverick.”
Dave Grohl: “He’s my hero. He’s the one true rock ‘n’ roller that bridged my love of AC/DC and Sabbath and Zeppelin with my love of [English street punk band] GBH, and the Ramones and Black Flag.”
Watch the complete memorial service
Two years after Lemmy’s death, a friend tweeted his remembrance
Rest In Peace Lemmy
Photo: @markweissguy pic.twitter.com/5oEfkIAafO
— Ozzy Osbourne (@OzzyOsbourne) December 28, 2017
Related: Mötorhead are included in 10 classic covers by metal bands
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