Who’s a bigger badass than Lemmy Kilmister? No one. The Motorhead frontman has been drinking Jack Daniels, wearing black, slaying his guitar, and making his rock and roll raspy voice heard since 1975 and, unfortunately, his hard living way have caught up to him. After being forced to cancel a number of shows, some mid-performance, the 69-year-old rocker has had no choice but to take some time to recover from a lung infection.
While reports say that the infection has been handled, Motorhead couldn’t finish their August 27 show in Utah after Lemmy experienced problems breathing. For his safety, the following gig at Riot Fest in Denver was cancelled as well. On September 1, he walked off the stage again in Austin telling the crowd, “I can’t do it,” before returning to the stage and offering an apology.
Today Motorhead posted the following on their Facebook page:
ST.LOUIS HERE WE COME! The wait is over and the Doc has spoken. Lemmy had a lung infection (exacerbated by that Denver altitude) which has now been taken care of. Subsequently, Lemmy’s ready to give it a go in St. Louis at The Pageant theater on Tuesday, Sept 8 where Motörhead will continue the 40th Anniversary tour in support of their new album Bad Magic.
Amidst all the wonderful support Lemmy has received, many have rightfully said he owes us nothing as he has given us everything. We, however, owe Lemmy something…our total respect for his fierce, single-minded and beautifully stubborn determination to continue burning asphalt, playing rock’n’roll and live where he has always been most comfortable – on the road! Thanks again for all your support and see you soon! #lovelemmy #motorheadforlife
Hopefully Lemmy continues to heal and will be back on stage tomorrow. Playing music (and playing it well) for four decades is huge deal and I’m sure all the Motorhead fans out there are looking forward to seeing Lemmy live. Also, their new album is fantastic! Bad Magic is bookended by “Victory or Die,” which showcases Lemmy’s incredible guitar skills and the fact that his voice sounds the same as it did decades ago, and a surprising cover of the Rolling Stones’ “Sympathy For The Devil.” While the closing cover song is unexpected, it’s fun hearing a metal version of one of Mick Jagger’s most recognizable tunes. And of course, the rest of the album, including “Thunder & Lightning” and “Shout Out All of Your Lights,” is loud, fast, and awesome. Clearly, 40 years later, Lemmy still rocks harder than everyone else.
Even if you’re not a Motorhead fan, keep a good thought for Lemmy. He may not be the most approachable figure in the metal world but he’s definitely one of the most talented.
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