This image was posted on Facebook by Lemmy Kilmister.
London:
Ian Lemmy Kilmister, the hell-raising frontman of iconic British heavy metal band Motorhead, has died of a sudden, aggressive cancer, the group announced on December 29. He was 70.
The gravel-voiced veteran, one of rock and roll's great survivors despite a hard-partying lifestyle, was diagnosed with cancer on Saturday - two days after his 70th birthday. He died on December 28.
The official Facebook page of Motorhead shared the news:
Mr Kilmister lived in a cramped flat in Los Angeles, stuffed with memorabilia. He was typically found inside the nearby Rainbow Bar and Grill on Sunset Strip, playing a fruit machine.
He is considered as a heavy metal pioneer, though he always insisted that Motorhead was a rock and roll band. He cut an iconic figure, with his mutton chop sideburns, long hair, prominent facial warts, black hat and black shirt.
Mr Kilmister lived an unwavering life of alcohol, cigarettes, women, drugs and relentless touring.
"That's what I always said I wanted to be remembered for, for being honest. Nothing else is worth a damn," Mr Kilmister once said.
His death comes a month after that of Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor, the band's former drummer, who was 61.
Mr Kilmister was born in Stoke-on-Trent in central England on December 24, 1945 and grew up on the Welsh island of Anglesey.He was a roadie for legendary US guitarist Jimi Hendrix and was in the space-rock band Hawkwind. He sung their best-known song, Silver Machine. He was sacked after a drugs bust and founded Motorhead in 1975.
Motorhead's classic hit was the 1980 song Ace of Spades and the band released more than 20 studio albums.
Here's what his friends and colleagues tweeted:
Mr Kilmister put his longevity down to never taking heroin. But he was not shy of taking other drugs. He claimed that he once stayed awake for two weeks constantly. He drank a bottle of whiskey a day with cola, but in recent years switched to vodka and orange to help manage his diabetes.
The singer was fascinated by military memorabilia and uniforms. His flat contained an impressive array of historic weaponry. He did not get married and said that one had to choose between home life and the road, but had a son called Paul.
Mr Kilmister's health had suffered in the recent years. He cut a more frail figure in 2015 but the band stayed on tour, and played in the Glastonbury Festival in June.
Motorhead were due back on the road in 2016, with a 20-date, one month European tour starting in Newcastle on January 23.
"If I have to die and be on my deathbed regretting decisions I made, I'm not interested in that," he once said.
The gravel-voiced veteran, one of rock and roll's great survivors despite a hard-partying lifestyle, was diagnosed with cancer on Saturday - two days after his 70th birthday. He died on December 28.
The official Facebook page of Motorhead shared the news:
There is no easy way to say this…our mighty, noble friend Lemmy passed away today after a short battle with an extremely...
Posted by Official Motörhead on Monday, December 28, 2015
Mr Kilmister lived in a cramped flat in Los Angeles, stuffed with memorabilia. He was typically found inside the nearby Rainbow Bar and Grill on Sunset Strip, playing a fruit machine.
He is considered as a heavy metal pioneer, though he always insisted that Motorhead was a rock and roll band. He cut an iconic figure, with his mutton chop sideburns, long hair, prominent facial warts, black hat and black shirt.
Mr Kilmister lived an unwavering life of alcohol, cigarettes, women, drugs and relentless touring.
"That's what I always said I wanted to be remembered for, for being honest. Nothing else is worth a damn," Mr Kilmister once said.
His death comes a month after that of Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor, the band's former drummer, who was 61.
Mr Kilmister was born in Stoke-on-Trent in central England on December 24, 1945 and grew up on the Welsh island of Anglesey.He was a roadie for legendary US guitarist Jimi Hendrix and was in the space-rock band Hawkwind. He sung their best-known song, Silver Machine. He was sacked after a drugs bust and founded Motorhead in 1975.
Motorhead's classic hit was the 1980 song Ace of Spades and the band released more than 20 studio albums.
Here's what his friends and colleagues tweeted:
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.
— Ozzy Osbourne (@OzzyOsbourne) December 29, 2015I'll miss you buddy and our conversations. You were always a pilar of dignity. RIP #Lemmy pic.twitter.com/da7YV08V1W
— Nikki Sixx (@NikkiSixx) December 29, 2015Words about Lemmy can never be enough so we will simply say farewell Lord Lemmy thank you for the music, the shows, https://t.co/ktbp9TwHEI
— Judas Priest (@judaspriest) December 29, 2015Mr Kilmister put his longevity down to never taking heroin. But he was not shy of taking other drugs. He claimed that he once stayed awake for two weeks constantly. He drank a bottle of whiskey a day with cola, but in recent years switched to vodka and orange to help manage his diabetes.
The singer was fascinated by military memorabilia and uniforms. His flat contained an impressive array of historic weaponry. He did not get married and said that one had to choose between home life and the road, but had a son called Paul.
Mr Kilmister's health had suffered in the recent years. He cut a more frail figure in 2015 but the band stayed on tour, and played in the Glastonbury Festival in June.
Motorhead were due back on the road in 2016, with a 20-date, one month European tour starting in Newcastle on January 23.
"If I have to die and be on my deathbed regretting decisions I made, I'm not interested in that," he once said.
