Motorhead at Newport Centre

Friday, 13 November, 2009

Motörhead are a British heavy metal band formed in London in 1975 by bassist, singer and songwriter Lemmy, who has remained the sole constant member. The band was part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, which re-energized heavy metal in the late ’70s and early ’80s by adding influences from punk rock such as speeding up the tempo and toughening up the sound. Motörhead was unique in its hard blues-based sound and appreciation for old rock and roll along with its overwhelmingly loud and fast style of heavy metal. Usually a power trio, Motörhead had particular success in the early 1980s with several successful singles in the UK Top 40 chart. The albums Overkill, Bomber, Ace of Spades, and, particularly, No Sleep ‘til Hammersmith cemented Motörhead’s reputation as one of Britain’s foremost rock bands.

While Motörhead are typically classified as heavy metal, speed metal or thrash metal (and often regarded as a foundational influence on the latter two styles), Lemmy dislikes such labels, preferring to describe the band’s music simply as “rock n’ roll”. Motörhead’s approach has remained the same over the band’s career, preferring to play what they enjoy and do best; their appreciation of early rock and roll is reflected in some of their occasional cover songs.