Motörhead are an iconic British speed/ heavy metal band. The name was derived from a slang term for an amphetamine user. Founded by ex- Hawkwind bassist Lemmy Kilmister in 1975, the band specialises in songs that are extremely loud to the unaccustomed listener. This is reflected in the title of one of the band's live albums, Everything Louder Than Everyone Else.
While the band are typically classified as heavy metal or speed metal, Kilmister has refused such labels, preferring to describe Motörhead's style as " rock and roll". Their sound tends to be "half metal, half punk, and half rock n' roll" — purposely three halves of a band. Motörhead's lyrics cover such topics as war, good versus evil, abuse of power, promiscuous sex, substance abuse, and "life on the road" - the latter is portrayed in songs like "We Are the Road Crew", "Iron Horse", and "Keep Us on the Road."
After being sacked from Hawkwind in 1975, supposedly for "doing the wrong drugs," Kilmister decided to form a new band, originally to be called Bastard. Realising that this would preclude them from commercial acceptance, he eventually settled on Motörhead, after a song he had written for Hawkwind. His stated aim was for the outfit to be "the dirtiest rock n' roll band in the world." Motörhead Band Members 1975 Line-up #1 Lemmy Kilmister - bass, vocals Larry Wallis - guitar, vocals Lucas Fox - drums 1975 Line-up #2 Lemmy Kilmister - bass, vocals Larry Wallis - - guitar, vocals Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor - drums 1976 Line-up #3 Lemmy Kilmister - bass, vocals Larry Wallis - guitar "Fast" Eddie Clarke - guitar Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor - drums 1976-1982 Line-up #4 Lemmy Kilmister - bass, vocals "Fast" Eddie Clarke - guitar, vocals Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor - drums 1982-1983 Line-up #5 Lemmy Kilmister - bass, vocals Brian Robertson - guitar Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor - drums 1984 Line-up #6 Lemmy Kilmister - bass, vocals Phil Campbell - guitar Wurzel - guitar Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor - drums 1984-1987 Line-up #7 Lemmy Kilmister - bass, vocals Phil Campbell - guitar Wurzel - guitar Pete Gill - drums 1987-1992 Line-up #8 Lemmy Kilmister - bass, vocals Phil Campbell - guitar Wurzel - guitar Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor - drums 1992 Line-up #9 Lemmy Kilmister - bass, vocals Phil Campbell - guitar Wurzel - guitar Tommy Aldridge - drums 1992-1995 Line-up #10 Lemmy Kilmister - bass, vocals Phil Campbell - guitar Wurzel - guitar Mikkey Dee - drums 1995 to present Line-up #11 Lemmy Kilmister - bass, vocals Phil Campbell - guitar Mikkey Dee - drums
