It was 6 pm and I just got back from my first day of work since I returned from a long vacation at my hometown. I was lazily surfing through Facebook, just catching up on what people were upto and suddenly saw Anthrax's post about Lemmy passing away. I swallowed hard and scrambled all over the internet to confirm if the unthinkable has really happened. The one, the only, Lemmy Kilmister, who we all expected to live forever, has left us.
Soon enough, posts started flooding the social media about the frontman.
I was filled with an overwhelming sense of loss. It took me a while to fathom the fact that this heavy metal icon is no more in our lives. Most of us here know this
I hereby dedicate my list below to the one true "badass" of Rock n Roll history.
10. Killed By Death (No Remorse)
What a better way to start the list, than with this metal anthem with tongue-in-cheek title of how one day or the other, death will kill us all. This gritty song is a classic Motorhead, with gnarly vocals of Lemmy and rest of the band doing what they do best. Let's not forget about the lyrics..
"I'm a lone wolf trigger, but I ain't no pretty boy. I'm a backbone shiver and I'm a bundle of joy."
9. I'm So Bad (Baby I Don't Care) (1916)
Badass right from the title, this is a song which will grow hair on your chest. With a solid chunky riff throughout and thrash percussion, Lemmy delivers pure badass through his voice.Wham, bam, thank you ma'am!
8. Rock Out (Motorizer)
This adrenaline-pumping track is a sludgy-vocal powered bullet train. With super fast riffing and drumming, it will inspire to do exactly what the title suggests. I keep wondering every time I listen to Motorhead songs, with such badassery oozing out of every single song, how the fuck did they live their lives?
7. Iron Fist (Iron Fist)
Holy Shit! That's what I exclaimed when I first heard this song. Faster than lightning, this typical Motorhead thrash formula gives you all you expect; nasty riffing with the grit-filled vocal delivery and Phil's super-fast drumming.
6. The Chase Is Better Than The Catch (Ace Of Spades)
Wiser words have never been spoken. Ah, this song epitomizes womanizing, as we all are aware, Lemmy has done gloriously. A track more heavy, thrashy but textbook Motorhead with all the elements essential to make it a perfectly-badass song. And watch out for the solos, quite brilliantly done!
5. Born To Raise Hell (Bastards)
I believe this is an ode to themselves. This gem comes their Bastards album which hails other badass songs like "I Am the Sword", "On Your Feet or On Your Knees" and "Death Or Glory" but this track remains one of band's greatest latter-day classics. Groovy riffs, heavy drums and the God's vocals blend-in perfectly, just like Jack and coke.
4. Orgasmatron (Orgasmatron)
"Your bones will build my palaces, your eyes will stud my crown. For I am Mars, the god of war, and I will cut you down"
BAD-FUCKING-ASS.
3. Hellraiser (March Or Die)
One of the most popular Motorhead songs, this was originally written by Lemmy, Ozzy and Zakk Wylde. Later it was re-recorded it for this album and made it Motorhead-esque heavy, which ain't a bad thing. Add in the sonic-sludgy Kilmister's voice, it turns out uber badass.
Oh, an honorable mention to the song 'I Ain't No Nice Guy' from the same album.
2. The Game (Hammered)
Although this song was composed by a WWE music composer, this song is Motorhead from start to finish. Lemmy's voice is absolute power. It establishes a sense of control through heavy riffing and thunderous drums. I remember listening to this song from my adolescence, when 'Triple H' walked into the ring, for the first time. I'm glad he picked this one.
1. Motorhead (Motorhead)
This is THE definitive badass song through which they declared to the world "Motorhead, remember me now, Motorhead alright". Aggressive, straightforward and in-your-face, this to me, is what Motorhead has always sounded like, and always will. And that bass intro, we will never forget...
As this list concludes, I know I have missed so many other songs which fit the bill, but then again, that would mean listing ALL the songs they've ever penned-down.
RIP Lemmy. Thank you for teaching us how to live. \m/
"Death is an inevitability, isn't it? You become more aware of that when you get to my age. I don't worry about it. I'm ready for it. When I go, I want to go doing what I do best. If I died tomorrow, I couldn't complain. It's been good." - Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister
*Ends*
