Q&A with Lemmy

There was a time, back in junior high, when scrawling a band's name on one's notebook was serious business. The magic-marker logos smudged across the covers could indicate a person's exact position in the school dynamic. Black Sabbath fans and Duranies weren't often caught dining together in the school cafeteria. However, despite the stellar display of rock jerseys and a stand-by-your-band mentality, the truth was it really took a group as badass as Motörhead to alter your status in the seventh grade. I know, because I found them first?or thought so.

I came across the speed-metal kings on U68's Power Hour, a defunct UHF video program that arrived at a time when I wasn't supposed to be up past midnight and MTV wasn't yet available in our area, Commack, LI. Every evening, 12 sharp, perched against the set with one hand on the antenna (the reception on U68 really sucked), I would catch a turbo-throated Lemmy Kilmister growling "Ace of Spades." It certainly made an impression. Motörhead was the motliest trio I had ever seen, but unequivocally cool. Their logo on my notebook, I was pleased to find, was appalling to cheerleaders and intimidating to their male counterparts alike.

Motörhead has now been together for more than 25 years, and while I expected that by the time I grew up the band would either be retired, jailed or worse, I am happy to admit being wrong on all counts. Motörhead has launched its first tour in two years in support of its latest record, Hammered (SPV).

Last year in a booth at L.A.'s Rainbow, Motörhead's very articulate vocalist Lemmy sat with a friend and me for hours discussing everything from politics to relationships, and even dispensing guy advice. When my friend was too intoxicated to drive, Lemmy handed me money for a cab and then waited until it arrived. How many rock stars would do that?

I had a chance to catch up with Lemmy at the beginning of Motörhead's current tour?which comes, appropriately, to WWF on Tuesday, April 30.

Was there a particular moment or incident that inspired you toward a career in music?

Seeing Little Richard. It was only on tv actually, but he was so outrageous and he was singing with so much joy, so much joy in his voice. And it just knocked me out right then. It just sounded like pure good music and I was in for it. That was it, then I left my job.

Did you ever have a normal day job?

I was a house painter for three weeks, and I worked in a washing machine factory for six months. That was the worst or the best thing. Actually it inspired me, really, because it made me feel without a job I'd fucking starve to death rather than go back.

Prior to your work with Hawkwind and Motörhead, you were a roadie for Jimi Hendrix. What was he like to work for?

Great. He was out of his mind all the time. So that was easy, and we were all taking acid all the time then anyways, so it was really laid-back and stuff.

Why do you sing upward into the microphone? I've never seen anyone do that before.

I don't know. It's just personal preference. Also, I don't have to look at the audience [laughs]. It's just easier for me to sing that way, hit the high notes, you know.

Motörhead came out at the same time as many of the original British punk bands. You even recorded with the Damned. What was Motörhead's place in that scene?

Well, if we would have had short hair we would have been part of the British punk scene. But since we had long hair everybody thought of us as heavy metal. If you listen to the first album it sounds like a punk record. Of course, if you listen to the latest album it sounds like a punk record.

I like your new album, although it seems very violence-centric. What was the inspiration for Hammered?

Violence?and sex. No, just the general inhumanity towards man. Just like people are assholes. That's it. You can't stop it. When people drive you up a wall and won't listen to anything else.

You once said that "people should rule themselves" and you would favor a creative anarchy. If it were up to you, what would you do differently in the war against terrorism?

I don't know. It's a tricky one. It's a stupid thing to declare a war on terrorism. It just makes more people into terrorists. I really don't know what I would have done after 9/11, because you've gotta do something, obviously. I'm not sure if bombing the whole country to get one guy is right. I certainly could've done that slightly better. If they could read your fucking license plate from a satellite, I'm sure they would find Osama bin Laden.

Were you always interested in history and politics?

No, in my 20s and early 30s I couldn't give a fuck. When you hit the 40s you start to notice the world a bit more instead of just your own dick [laughs].

Do you think Motörhead is stronger as a three- or four-piece?

Well, a three-piece works harder. The three-piece is what I'm used to. You only got one guy to avoid onstage, right? And more money each.

Motörhead is considered one of the most influential metal bands. Do people often approach you on the street?

Yeah, people do. People come up to me and say, you've changed my life, or you've got me through a really hard time. That's the best. That's a great compliment.

Metallica once dressed up as Motörhead.

At my 50th birthday party. I've known Lars since he was like 15. He was the secretary of our fan club on the West Coast.

I heard you are not a fan of mosh pits, and you don't like people on your stage.

That's right. We were playing in one place and there's this guy and his girlfriend watching the show, with his arm around her, and this kid jumped onstage trying to be a big tough guy. He jumped down and took all the teeth out of her mouth and put them all over her boyfriend's shirt. I don't need that. That girl's going to be in dental fucking operations for the next year, at least. Jumping into a crowd with your feet forward is not conducive to non-injury. It's fucking dumb. One guy was crowd-surfing in England and he got to the front. I don't know what they think is going to happen when they get to the front?there's like a sheer drop. He went down on the back of his neck and killed himself. No, I don't like the fucking mosh pit.

What happens to those who get onto your stage?

We kick them the fuck off it. You have to own the stage.

If Motörhead was the subject of a VH1 Behind the Music documentary, what would be the ending?

The ongoing situation, I suppose.

Is there anything you would like to add?

Yes. Be as good as you can be. Don't take heroin, and grow up to be older.

Motörhead plays Tuesday, April 30, at WWF's The World, 43rd St. (B'way), 398-3439.