Motorhead: Still rockin' 30 years on

September 28

BANDS come, bands go, a few endure. Some explode spectacularly, most just drop through the floor or fade away.

Others thrash around like a cat in a sack, trying to stay relevant. Others age gracefully. And then there's Motorhead.

Formed in 1975, the English band have become as famous for the dogmatic tenacity of its frontman, Lemmy, pictured, as for its four on the floor rock 'n' roll.

Lemmy comes across as a force of nature, uncompromising in his pursuit of the rock 'n' roll lifestyle of sex, drugs and music. Likewise, Motorhead hasn't deviated stylistically since its inception.

Being true to yourself is the key to success, according to the band's guitarist Phil Campbell.

"We know what we want Motorhead to sound like," he says from his home in Wales, ahead of the band's Australian tour next month. "We don't write for the fans or for a record company; if you do that you lose the heart and soul and purity."

Campbell joined in 1984 as Motorhead were riding the crest of their popularity in the wake of 1980 album Ace of Spades. Lemmy had founded the band after famously being kicked out of Hawkwind. ("I did the wrong drugs. I didn't do the designer drugs, I did street stuff," he says in one documentary).

Campbell, more than 15 years Lemmy's junior, was a fan long before he joined the band.

"I asked for Lemmy's autograph when I was 12 and he was playing with Hawkwind. I've still got the program. If someone had said to me then that I'd be playing with him, I'd have said, 'You're crazy'. I guess it's an inspiring story: what can happen with luck and hard work – a lot of luck and a lot of hard work."

Motorhead have had a revolving door of members, with Lemmy the one constant, but have been stable since 1995 when second guitarist Michael Burston left, leaving the band as a trio with drummer Mikkey Dee.

Despite the roster changes, Motorhead has always been a hard-working band, touring constantly and producing 19 studio albums, most recently last year's Kiss of Death. The album's a hard-edged tribute to life on the road that takes a shot at church and state as well, and shows no sign of a band taking their collective foot off the accelerator.

Motorhead have been credited with inspiring speed and thrash metal, but for Lemmy it's all bollocks: "We are Motorhead. We play rock 'n' roll," he announced on his last visit to Australia in 2005 when Motorhead supported Motley Crue.

Campbell says that after this year's touring they are heading back to the studio.

"Mikkey's in Gothenburg in Sweden, I'm in Wales, Lemmy's in LA, but these days you can get on a plane and be anywhere in 12 hours. Except for Australia.

"I've got a studio in my house and I'll be putting down some stuff soon. We'll go to LA in January to start a new album, probably take until April to record it, and hopefully have a new album out before the end of summer.

"The time to record albums seems to come around quicker and quicker each time. It's good to push yourself; you feel good about it at the end, not so good at the beginning and in the middle. You can spend three days with a blank in your head, spending three days looking for a riff and going deaf in the process, throwing guitars against the wall. You can spend 8-10 hours in the studio and listen to the tape and it's crap. Other days it can all come together. There are no rules and that's the beauty of the business."

Motorhead's immutability perhaps reflects Lemmy's idolisation of musicians from the '50s and '60s who stuck to their style. While guitarist Campbell also respects those early virtuosos, he also finds inspiration in newer generations.

"Lemmy likes Billy Gibson and Hendrix, but he's not into the likes of Satriani. Lemmy likes playing bluesy stuff. I think Tommy Emmanuel is the best guitarist around, he's a genius."

Campbell says the band is looking forward to returning to Australia and being back on the road.

"We always have a great time in Australia, and I've got family in Perth so I'll be seeing them. It's a hell of a country. Last time we could only play a short set supporting Motley Crue – I enjoyed their show – but this time we can play the full hour and a half."

And there's no suggestion that he and Mikkey envy Lemmy his full-on lifestyle. "Lemmy had a health check the other day, he's doing fine.

"Mikkey and myself have families so we try to balance it. We spend most of our time with the band on the road, but it's nice to get home and take the dog for a walk. Lemmy's walking a different type of dog in LA at the moment."

Motorhead start their Australian tour at the Brisbane Convention Centre on October 3. Kiss of Death is out through Sanctuary Records.

Thanks to www.news.com.au