Lemmy Was 'Last True Rock Star Left'
Motorhead urge fans to play music loudly in tribute to the star, who was known for drinking a bottle of whiskey a day.
Tuesday 29 December 2015 01:10, UK
Motorhead's manager has told Sky News Lemmy was the "last true rock star left" as tributes are paid to the musician who died just two days after learning he had cancer.
The band confirmed that the 70-year-old, whose full name is Ian Kilmister, died at his home while "sitting in front of his favourite video game with his family".
In a statement, Motorhead said Lemmy had only learned of the "extremely aggressive" cancer diagnosis on 26 December.
His fellow band members wrote: "We cannot begin to express our shock and sadness, there aren't words.
"We will say more in the coming days, but for now, please... play Motorhead loud, play Hawkwind loud, play Lemmy's music LOUD.
"Have a drink or few. Share stories. Celebrate the LIFE this lovely, wonderful man celebrated so vibrantly himself. HE WOULD WANT EXACTLY THAT."
The band's manager Todd Singerman told Sky News: "I've been with him almost 25 years and it was a half gallon of Jack Daniels a day, two/three packs of cigarettes and his other little favourites and that was a daily thing.
"Recently he switched over - and I still can't grasp it but he thought it was healthier - he switched over to vodka and orange."
Singerman said Lemmy's lifestyle was unlike any other rocker: "I still always remember a great quote: Lemmy from Motorhead makes Keith Richards from the Stones look like a Golden Girl.
"This guy lived it every day and there was never a break inbetween."
"He was the last true rock star left, if you ask me," he added.
The British group, which was first formed by Lemmy in 1975, had just celebrated their 40th anniversary.
They had performed a sellout show in Berlin just 15 days before his death.
He was famed for turning amplifiers to their maximum setting during shows, and was also renowned for his fondness of whiAG百家乐在线官网 and distinctive "mutton chops".
Lemmy put his longevity down to never taking heroin, but he was not shy of taking other drugs: he claimed he once stayed awake for two weeks on speed.
He was fascinated by military memorabilia and uniforms and his Los Angeles flat contained an impressive array of historic weaponry.
The musician claimed to have slept with more than 1,000 women, but insisted this was not so surprising given how long he had been going.
Lemmy never married, saying one had to choose between home life and the road, but had a son called Paul and another son who was adopted.
In November, Phil Taylor - a former Motorhead drummer - died aged 61 following a prolonged illness, after contributing to most of the band's best-known hits in the 1970s and 1980s, including Ace Of Spades.
Ozzy Osbourne, lead vocalist of Black Sabbath, was one of the first to pay tribute, tweeting: "Lost one of my best friends, Lemmy, today. He will be sadly missed. He was a warrior and a legend. I will see you on the other side."
Meanwhile, the wrestler Triple H wrote: "One life, lived your way, from the beginning, till the end. See you down the road my friend... Thank you for the gift of your sound."
Motorhead had been due to perform several shows across the UK in January - including in Newcastle, Glasgow, Manchester and London.