“See that bloke over there? That’s Lemmy’s dad”. I’ll never forget that, doing my work experience after O-Levels (remember them?) at Salisbury Cattle Market. And there he was, allegedly, the father of one of the metal gods. I didn’t pluck up the courage at the time to speak to him. What a missed opportunity.

A few years later in the 1980s I got to watch Motorhead in Southampton – I had my head practically inside the Marshall Amp for Ace of Spades.

It was a great sadness when Lemmy left us on 28 December 2015 to go to Rock ‘n’ Roll Heaven (or Hell – take your pick).

A good metal friend and I were having a metal night a few days ago and went down memory lane with Motorhead. I realised there were albums I’d never indulged in. ‘Bastards’ was one of them. So I’m having a late hashtag#MetalFriday listening to it on Saturday. I’m also checking out ‘Kiss of Death’. Because these albums are new to me, it’s like Lemmy never left us. I could imagine him coming on stage in front of me right now.

So to celebrate this legend, a few quotes from Lemmy to share with you:

♠ “The hippie era was a wonderful time because we still believed we could make the world a better place”

♠ “You learn all the best stuff in life after you leave school”

♠ “Human nature is to blame for everything, innit? We’re just a disease on this planet”

♠ “In 1967, I had my first black girlfriend, and a lot more ever since then. I just don’t understand racism”

♠ “It’s not that I take pride in being unfashionable. It’s just that I’ve gotten used to it”

♠ “My advice wouldn’t be good to anybody. I don’t see it really being greeted with thunderous applause”

Words of wisdom or dangerously skimming the surface of some important issues? What do you think?

Lemmy may not be everyone’s cup of tea. Dave Grohl of Nirvana and then the Foo Fighters said of the man: “Lemmy’s the king of rock ‘n’ roll—he told me he never considered Motörhead a metal band, he was quite adamant. Lemmy’s a living, breathing, drinking and snorting f*cking legend. No one else comes close.”

Before you judge, give this eulogy at Lemmy’s funeral from Dave Grohl a watch (it moves me) – https://youtu.be/aaATX-7209c?si=5RU_G7e3X9ld1JBn

R.I.P. Lemmy Kilmister