Ian Fraser Kilmister

Lemmy was born on December 24, 1945 in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England. He was the only child of Violet Philomena Kilmister and an ex-Royal Air Force chaplain. His parents divorced when he was three years old and he moved with his mother to Anglesey, Wales. He acquired the nickname Lemmy while at school, though he claimed he did not know its origin. He developed an interest in rock and roll music after seeing the Beatles perform in concert. He learned to play guitar and joined several local bands in the 1960s, such as The Rockin' Vickers and Opal Butterfly. He also worked as a roadie for Jimi Hendrix and The Nice. In 1971, he joined the space rock band Hawkwind as a bassist and vocalist. He sang lead vocals on their hit single "Silver Machine" in 1972. He was fired from Hawkwind in 1975 after being arrested for drug possession at the Canadian border. He then formed his own band called Motörhead, which became one of the most influential and successful rock bands of all time. Motörhead played a fast and loud style of heavy metal that influenced many other genres such as punk, thrash and speed metal. Lemmy was the only constant member of the band and wrote most of their songs. Some of their most famous albums include Overkill, Bomber, Ace of Spades, No Sleep 'til Hammersmith and Orgasmatron. Lemmy was known for his distinctive voice, appearance and lifestyle. He had a gravelly rasp that was described as "one of the most recognisable voices in rock". He wore a black leather jacket, bullet belt, cowboy hat and facial moles. He also had a large collection of Nazi memorabilia, which he claimed was not for political reasons but for historical interest. He was a heavy smoker and drinker and used amphetamines for many years. He once said "I don't do regrets. Regrets are pointless." He was also a prolific collaborator and guest musician for many other artists such as Ozzy Osbourne, Slash, Dave Grohl, Metallica and Skew Siskin. He appeared in several films and TV shows as himself or in minor roles. He also wrote two books: an autobiography called White Line Fever and a collection of anecdotes called Lemmy: The Rock Legend. He died on December 28, 2015 at his home in Los Angeles, just two days after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. He was 70 years old. His funeral was attended by many celebrities and fans and streamed live on YouTube. He was cremated and his ashes were placed in a bullet-shaped urn. Lemmy was a legend of rock music who inspired generations of musicians and fans with his attitude, talent and charisma. He once said "Born to lose. Live to win." He lived his life by his own rules and left behind a legacy that will never be forgotten.