Before forming Motörhead, Ian Kilmister (aka Lemmy) could boast
of having been a member of space-rock cowboys Hawkwind and a career in
horsebreaking (that's horsebreaking, not housebreaking). He was also,
to top it all, the son of a vicar. Having been expelled from his former
employers after a disagreement with border guards over the contents of
his luggage, he took the name for his new band from the final song he'd
written for Hawkwind. Together with Larry Wallis of the Pink Fairies and
drummer Philthy Animal Taylor, Motörhead recorded a debut album that
was rejected by United Artists (you can just imagine the face of the poor
guy who got the short straw and had to tell Lemmy), though it was eventually
released as On Parole in 1979. As a result, the group expanded with the
addition of "Fast" Eddie Clarke on guitar. Wallis then left
after just one rehearsal, leaving the classic Motörhead lineup in
shape for their debut proper. Rock & roll had never heard the like.
Though only a minor chart success, Motörhead patented the group's
style: Lemmy's rasping vocal over a speeding juggernaut of guitar, bass,
and drums. The lyrical theme was "Don't mess with us" instead
of "Don't mess with our hair." Before this, hard rock was about
musicianship and exhibitionism. Motörhead, conversely, returned mainstream
rock to its most brutal base elements -- no wonder the punks liked them.
(by Alex Ogg, All Music
Guide)
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