Cleopatra Records announce the dynamic return of LARRY WALLIS, the legendary co-founder of MOTÖRHEAD and a former member of UFO, in the shape of two dramatic fresh remixes of one of his most beloved compositions, the metal anthem “Leather Forever.”
A savage reminder of one of British metal’s true unsung heroes, “Leather Forever” spotlights not only the excoriating guitar that was Wallis’s trademark, but also the songwriting that underpinned the very best of early Motörhead. In fact, it’s not hard to imagine “Leather Forever” lining up alongside any of them. Talking a few years before his death in 2019, Larry remembered writing it “around the same time” that he was a member of Motörhead, before recording it in late 1977 as a possible follow-up to his solo hit “Police Car.”
Even before then, however, Larry was regarded among the heaviest guitar players around, as he emerged from the same London underground scene that birthed Hawkwind and more, to join UFO in 1972.
His stay was relatively brief before he left to lead the resurgent Pink Fairies (he was ultimately replaced by Michael Schenker). But the mark Larry made on UFO remains indelible – helping the band as it shifted away from the space rock of their earliest albums and towards the reborn hard blues-rock of Phenomenon.
Three years later, after Lemmy was sacked from Hawkwind, Larry was the first guitarist he called as he pieced together the original Motörhead, the most primal of all that band’s incarnations.
With Motörhead swiftly grasping the title of “the dirtiest rock’n’roll band in the world” (“If we moved in next door, your lawn would die,” as Lemmy put it), this original line-up didn’t last long – a dozen or so gigs, and the still-exhilarating On Parole album (titled after one of Larry’s songs).
But even within that too-brief period, Larry planted the sonic seeds that would soon be blossoming across such albums as Bomber and Overkill, and writing some of their best loved early numbers, too – “On Parole” was joined on the album by “City Kids,” “Vibrator” and “Fools.” Had the line-up only lasted a little longer, “Leather Forever” would effortlessly have taken its place alongside them.
Now it’s back, as two of today’s most incendiary remixers – Jurgen Engler of Die Krupps, and Rene D La Muerte of The Brains – re-imagine it in full metal motorcycle jacket, and set one of Larry’s most electrifying riffs, and most compulsive battlecries loose on the streets once again.
It is unlikely that we will ever see another figure who towered over the rock/metal/punk rock scene like Motörhead’s Lemmy Kilmister, an icon in every sense of the word, with his trademark handlebar moustache and patented mole-specked scowl. But we can continue to enjoy Lemmy’s music and his longtime friend and musical protégé, who replaced Lemmy as the bass player for Hawkwind, Alan “Boomer” Davey, is making sure that the songs of his compatriot and mentor continue to be performed for every new generation of music lovers.
On January 20, 2018, Davey assembled an all-star band at the historic London Roundhouse featuring six-string slugger Neil Archer, who has worked with Robert Plant, and skin pounder Garry Bowler, who has played in Motörhead associated band Würzel to perform a monster tribute concert in Bristol. Dubbing themselves Ace Of Spades, the group put together a face-smashing, hard driving set of Motörhead classics from “Overkill” to “Bomber” to “Ace Of Spades” and performed them for a clearly thrilled audience.
The result is Born To Booze, Live To Sin – A Tribute Motörhead, a killer concert album that is being released on all major formats including CD and vinyl starting March 3. As a special preview, the set’s opening number, the brutal “Iron Fist,” is being released as a standalone digital single to give fans a taste for what’s in store.
Alan Davey shared these thoughts about the show, “It wasn’t my plan to do an Ace of Spades UK tour as my last before I immigrated to America but once word got out I was going I had hundreds of messages from Motörhead fans asking me to do it so they could experience that distinctive Lemmy sound one more time. Lem has told many I’m the only one who can nail his sound and style. I wasn’t gonna deny the fans or Lemmy’s memory that, so I set up a 20 date tour and it was a huge success. Some people were in tears during the gigs showing just how much Lemmy was loved. RIP BassBrö.”
MOTÖRHEAD, the iconic Godfathers of heavy metal, unleash a brand new video for the previously unreleased track “Greedy Bastards”, taken from the upcoming release Bad Magic: SERIOUSLY BAD MAGIC.
“Greedy Bastards” is the second rare gem found in the recording session vaults for the 23rd (and final) studio album, Bad Magic in 2015. Instantly hailed as one of the best albums the beloved trio had recorded in many years, Bad Magic: SERIOUSLY BAD MAGIC is the ultimate bumper reissue, including the only recently released stomper “Bullet In Your Brain”, as well as a snarling, fangs-out live performance from the Bad Magic tour at the giant Mt Fuji Festival in Japan in 2015.
Fans will also get “War, Love, Death and Injustice”, an audio interview with Lemmy conducted by Motörhead expert Robert Kiewik during the tour, and should the desire to have a chat with Lem or anyone beyond this mortal coil arise, the box-set will exclusively contain a MURDER ONE ouija board (complete with the Ace of Spades planchette to spell out the conversation).
Kicking-off with a raw spoken word intro from Lemmy, “Greedy Bastards” profound message is as relevant today as ever, whilst delivered with the classic Motörhead rip-roaring, swagger.
“Another beauty from the Bad Magic sessions” comments guitarist Phil Campbell, “with Lem’s lyrics hitting our times bang on the head.”
The new animated video for “Greedy Bastards” can be watched at this location (video by Natalia Jonderko Śmiechowicz).
Bad Magic, released in 2015, produced by Cameron Webb and recorded live at NRG North Hollywood, Maple Studios and Grandmaster in California, unfurled into Motörhead’s toughest, leanest, meanest and most uncompromising album in aeons. Phil Campbell didn’t just record possibly his finest guitars, he threw down most certainly his best solos for decades, while Mikkey Dee’s drumming found new tribal resonance with the Motörhead sound he had helped nurture. From big-rig head crushers such as “Thunder & Lightning” and “Teach Them How To Bleed”, the crackling punk energy of “Electricity” to Brian May of Queen’s scintillating guest-appearance on “The Devil”, Bad Magic delivered the goods them some. There was also one of Lemmy‘s rawest lyrical life reflections on “Till The End”, and a cover of The Rolling Stones’ “Sympathy For The Devil”. One of the hidden gold-dust additions to Bad Magic: SERIOUSLY BAD MAGIC, is Motörhead’s famous, and internationally acclaimed, version of David Bowie’s classic “Heroes”. It was a cover version which Lemmy had a great affection for, and as such its inclusion here is both fitting and just.
As the title says, this is Motörhead delivering some SERIOUSLY BAD MAGIC.
Bad Magic: SERIOUSLY BAD MAGIC will be released on Double 12” Vinyl, CD Digipak with Bonus Disc, Limited Edition Boxset, Digital Download and Streaming. The Limited Edition Boxset will contain the CD Digipak with Bonus Disc, Double 12” Vinyl, exclusive Lemmy War, Love, Death and Injustice audio interview on 12” vinyl and exclusive edition Motörhead – MURDER ONE Ouija Board and Planchette. Pre-order all formats at this location
Watch/Listen to the recently released “Bullet In Your Brain” here
Bad Magic: SERIOUSLY BAD MAGIC Track List:
Victory Or Die
Thunder & Lightning
Fire Storm Hotel
Shoot Out All of Your Lights
The Devil
Electricity
Evil Eye
Teach Them How To Bleed
Till The End
Tell Me Who To Kill
Choking On Your Screams
When The Sky Comes Looking For You
Sympathy For The Devil
Heroes
Bullet In Your Brain
Greedy Bastards
Live at Mt Fuji Rock Festival 2015 – Sayonara Folks! Track List:
We Are Motörhead
Damage Case
Stay Clean
Metropolis
Over the Top
String Theory
The Chase is Better Than the Catch
Rock It
Lost Woman Blues
Doctor Rock
Just ‘Cos You Got the Power
Going to Brazil
Ace of Spades
Overkill
Motörhead: Lemmy Kilmister – Vocals/Bass Phil Campbell – Guitars Mikkey Dee – Drums
MOTÖRHEAD, the iconic Godfathers of heavy metal, released their 23rd (and final) studio album Bad Magic in 2015. Instantly hailed as one of the best the beloved trio had recorded in many years, Bad Magic: SERIOUSLY BAD MAGIC enjoys a bonus-packed refresh, adding two previously unreleased tracks from those furious sessions:
“Bullet in Your Brain” and “Greedy Bastards” as well as a snarling, fangs-out live performance from that subsequent tour at the giant Mt Fuji Festival in Japan in 2015. Fans will also get “War, Love, Death and Injustice”, an audio interview with Lemmy conducted by Motörhead expert Robert Kiewik during the tour, and should the desire to have a chat with Lem or anyone beyond this mortal coil arise, the box-set will exclusively contain a MURDER ONE ouija board (complete with the Ace of Spades planchette to spell out the conversation).
A new video for “Bullet In Your Brain”, featuring exclusive, never before seen footage of Motörhead in the studio for the Bad Magic sessions, is available right now. A foot-down, fist-pumping, Lemmy-bass-driven stomper with a deliciously dirty Campbell riff, and Dee-driven dynamics, both the song and footage are a tremendous treat for fans who have craved new Motörmaterial.
At the time of its release back in 2015, Bad Magic arrived as a massive kick in the teeth for anyone who believed Motörhead were going to amble along into a peaceful little pasture containing fluffy little lambs, folk music and perhaps the odd medieval lute here and there. Big-rig head crushers such as “Thunder & Lightning” and “Teach Them How To Bleed” brought such people to their knees begging for forgiveness, as the album unfurled into their toughest, leanest, meanest and most uncompromising album in aeons. Much of this came down to long-time producer Cameron Webb getting the band to record live at NRG North Hollywood, Maple Studios and Grandmaster in California together for the first time in the Kilmister/Campbell/Dee era, and from the crackling punk energy of “Electricity” to Brian May of Queen’s scintillating guest-appearance on “The Devil”, a vast wealth of aggression, attitude, and excellent songwriting was cultivated in that furious working environment. Phil Campbell didn’t just record possibly his finest guitars, he threw down most certainly his best solos for decades, while Mikkey Dee’s drumming found new tribal resonance with the Motörhead sound he had helped nurture. There was also one of Lemmy‘s rawest lyrical life reflections on “Till The End”, and a cover of The Rolling Stones’ “Sympathy For The Devil” which made the song feel like one of their own. One of the hidden gold-dust additions to Bad Magic: SERIOUSLY BAD MAGIC, is Motörhead’s famous, and internationally acclaimed, version of David Bowie’s classic “Heroes”. Originally slated for inclusion on the last release only to be withdrawn at the last minute, it was a cover version which Lemmy had a great affection for, and as such its inclusion here is both fitting and just.
MOTÖRHEAD BAD MAGIC: SERIOUSLY BAD MAGIC TO BE RELEASED ON FEBRUARY 24TH 2023
November 30th, 2022
BAD MAGIC: SERIOUSLY BAD MAGIC TO BE RELEASED BY
SILVER LINING MUSIC ON FEBRUARY 24th 2023
NEW UNRELEASED TRACK “BULLET IN YOUR BRAIN” AND EXCLUSIVE VIDEO OUT NOW
PRE-ORDERS FOR BUMPER RE-ISSUE CONTAINING EXCLUSIVE NEW TRACKS BEGIN ON NOVEMBER 30th 2022
Motörhead, the iconic Godfathers of heavy metal, released their 23rd (and final) studio album Bad Magic in 2015. Instantly hailed as one of the best the beloved trio had recorded in many years, Bad Magic: SERIOUSLY BAD MAGIC enjoys a bonus-packed refresh, adding two previously unreleased tracks from those furious sessions:
“Bullet in Your Brain” and “Greedy Bastards” as well as a snarling, fangs-out live performance from that subsequent tour at the giant Mt Fuji Festival in Japan in 2015. Fans will also get “War, Love, Death and Injustice”, an audio interview with Lemmy conducted by Motörhead expert Robert Kiewik during the tour, and should the desire to have a chat with Lem or anyone beyond this mortal coil arise, the box-set will exclusively contain a MURDER ONE ouija board (complete with the Ace of Spades planchette to spell out the conversation).
A new video for “Bullet In Your Brain”, featuring exclusive, never before seen footage of Motörhead in the studio for the Bad Magic sessions, is available right now. A foot-down, fist-pumping, Lemmy-bass-driven stomper with a deliciously dirty Campbell riff, and Dee-driven dynamics, both the song and footage are a tremendous treat for fans who have craved new Motörmaterial.
At the time of its release back in 2015, Bad Magic arrived as a massive kick in the teeth for anyone who believed Motörhead were going to amble along into a peaceful little pasture containing fluffy little lambs, folk music and perhaps the odd medieval lute here and there. Big-rig head crushers such as “Thunder & Lightning” and “Teach Them How To Bleed” brought such people to their knees begging for forgiveness, as the album unfurled into their toughest, leanest, meanest and most uncompromising album in aeons. Much of this came down to long-time producer Cameron Webb getting the band to record live at NRG North Hollywood, Maple Studios and Grandmaster in California together for the first time in the Kilmister/Campbell/Dee era, and from the crackling punk energy of “Electricity” to Brian May of Queen’s scintillating guest-appearance on “The Devil”, a vast wealth of aggression, attitude, and excellent songwriting was cultivated in that furious working environment. Phil Campbell didn’t just record possibly his finest guitars, he threw down most certainly his best solos for decades, while Mikkey Dee’s drumming found new tribal resonance with the Motörhead sound he had helped nurture. There was also one of Lemmy‘s rawest lyrical life reflections on “Till The End”, and a cover of The Rolling Stones’ “Sympathy For The Devil” which made the song feel like one of their own. One of the hidden gold-dust additions to Bad Magic: SERIOUSLY BAD MAGIC, is Motörhead’s famous, and internationally acclaimed, version of David Bowie’s classic “Heroes”. Originally slated for inclusion on the last release only to be withdrawn at the last minute, it was a cover version which Lemmy had a great affection for, and as such its inclusion here is both fitting and just.
As the title says, this is Motörhead delivering some SERIOUSLY BAD MAGIC.
Bad Magic: SERIOUSLY BAD MAGIC will be released on Double 12” Vinyl, CD Digipak with Bonus Disc, Limited Edition Boxset, Digital Download and Streaming. The Limited Edition Boxset will contain the CD Digipak with Bonus Disc, Double 12” Vinyl, exclusive Lemmy War, Love, Death and Injustice audio interview on 12” vinyl and exclusive edition Motörhead – MURDER ONE Ouija Board and Planchette. Pre-order all formats at this location
Bad Magic: SERIOUSLY BAD MAGIC Track List:
Victory Or Die
Thunder & Lightning
Fire Storm Hotel
Shoot Out All of Your Lights
The Devil
Electricity
Evil Eye
Teach Them How To Bleed
Till The End
Tell Me Who To Kill
Choking On Your Screams
When The Sky Comes Looking For You
Sympathy For The Devil
Heroes
Bullet In Your Brain
Greedy Bastards
Live at Mt Fuji Rock Festival 2015 – Sayonara Folks! Track List:
We Are Motörhead
Damage Case
Stay Clean
Metropolis
Over the Top
String Theory
The Chase is Better Than the Catch
Rock It
Lost Woman Blues
Doctor Rock
Just ‘Cos You Got the Power
Going to Brazil
Ace of Spades
Overkill
Motörhead: Lemmy Kilmister – Vocals/Bass Phil Campbell – Guitars Mikkey Dee – Drums
Once upon a time the loudest, nastiest, speed-freaked trio in the land – the mighty MOTÖRHEAD – decided that they needed an intro-film to come on stage to, so they could tour their brand-new album Iron Fist. Not for them some gentle promo video, for this was Motörhead in 1982 comprising the seminal three amigos line-up of Lemmy, Fast Eddie Clarke and Phil ‘Philthy Animal’ Taylor.
What they produced has been buried in the mists of time, confined to dodgy bootleg VHS’s, but it’s a gory, brutal, hilariously OTT short movie directed by Nick Mead where knights are murdered and maidens are in distress. Shot in a Hertfordshire forest it features a medieval, battle-hardened band stomping around a darkened forest, fuelled by vodka and brandishing weapons, wearing horned helmets and looking fierce whilst punching the air with their Iron Fist!
Imagine a recklessly non-health-and-safety, amphetamine-nightmare, super low budget take on Monty Python and the Holy Grail and you’re halfway there.
And now, in honour of the 40th Anniversary of the album that inspired this piece of cinematic pastiche, the Iron Fist trailer has been re-discovered, digitised and officially released for the world’s viewing pleasure. Originally cut to Gustav Holst’s ominous ‘Mars, Bringer Of War’, it now features the previously unreleased instrumental demo ‘Ripsaw Teardown’ as its audio soundbed. It’s really quite something, and sets up the forthcoming release of the Iron Fist 40th Anniversary editions.
Whilst the album was rudely dismissed by critics on release, it now reveals itself as a vital snapshot of the band at a crucial period. It followed the consecutive triumphs of Ace Of Spades and No Sleep Til Hammersmith, when the three-piece found themselves caught in the tornado of success, but in true Motörhead style, they careered into their next phase at such velocity it transcended logic or reason to become this trio’s final kamikaze joyride.
Forty years later, Iron Fist sounds like prime Motörhead with the gloves and seat-belts off. For sheer velocity, it could be fastest, most out-of-control of all their releases. To celebrate the anniversary it is being presented in new deluxe editions. There will be hardback book-packs in two CD and triple LP formats, featuring a hammer fist blow, remaster of the original album, previously unreleased demo bonus tracks and a full concert, originally broadcast on Radio Clyde from 18th March 1982. Plus the story of the album and many previously unseen photos. There’s also a limited edition, blue and black swirl of the original standalone album.
See HERE for full details of the Iron Fist releases.
SPECIAL 40th ANNIVERSARY EDITIONS OF IRON FIST TO BE RELEASED ON 23rd SEPTEMBER 2022
LP AND CD TRACKLISTING
Original Iron Fist album
Iron Fist Heart of Stone I’m the Doctor Go to Hell Loser Sex and Outrage America Shut It Down Speedfreak (Don’t Need) Religion Bang to Rights
Jackson’s Studio Demos October 1981 Remember Me, I’m Gone The Doctor Young & Crazy Loser Iron Fist Go To Hell
CD & Digital Bonus Tracks
Lemmy Goes to the Pub Some Old Song, I’m Gone (Don’t Let ‘Em) Grind Ya Down (Alternate Version) Shut It Down Sponge Cake (Instrumental) Ripsaw Teardown (Instrumental) Peter Gunn (Instrumental Live at Glasgow Apollo 18/3/82
(Previously unreleased)
Iron First Heart of Stone Shoot You In The Back The Hammer Loser Jailbait America White Line (Don’t Need) Religion Go to Hell Capricorn (Don’t Let ‘Em) Grind Ya Down (We Are The) Road Crew Ace of Spades Bite The Bullet The Chase Is Better Than the Catch Overkill Bomber Motörhead
Graham Mitchell, who was MOTÖRHEAD’s tour manager in the late 1970s and early ‘80s, was also an avid photography enthusiast. A new large-format tabletop book, Fast & Loose: Snapshots from the Graham Mitchell Archive, 1977-1982, collects nearly 100 of his snapshots, including many that have never been published before. “I somehow knew how important it all was,” Mitchell says. “I knew I needed to capture at least some of those moments. I’d see the band to the stage and then immediately go out into the house, jostle with the punters, and get what I could.”
Watch the promo video below.
One of the most influential hard rock bands of all time, MOTÖRHEAD mixed rock, punk, and heavy metal into an aggressive blend of pure explosive energy. During the era documented in Fast & Loose, the classic “three amigos” lineup of the band (Lemmy Kilmister, Phil “Philthy Animal” Taylor, and “Fast” Eddie Clarke) toured relentlessly and recorded a half dozen classic albums that continue to impact the music world today. All three of their estates participated and gave their blessing for Fast & Loose.
In the period covered in the photographs, Mitchell was not only the band’s tour manager but, in his own words, “their babysitter, their procurer of women, their procurer of drugs, procurer of everything.” Somehow, in the midst of the whirlwind, when Graham picked up his camera he snapped amazing images of the group that document the raw power of MOTÖRHEAD with an unparalleled intimacy that only a trusted member of the inner circle could capture.
Rather than posed promotional images, these are gritty and off-the-cuff shots that catch the band in the studio, on stage, in rehearsals, partying in dressing rooms, clowning around in the van, and even getting into a shaving cream fight with fans. From side-stage performance shots, to up close images of band gear, to Lemmy wearing a slice of turkey as an eye patch, what’s presented in Fast & Loose is a true insider’s view.
“Most of my images,” Graham reveals, “are one-shot photos, and there’s no flash on any of them. They were done at 400 ASA to speed up the film and take advantage of whatever natural light I could get, so I was always flying by the seat of my pants whenever I clicked the shutter.” Through it all, he managed to capture the harsh realities of the road (band members washing their hair in a tiny sink), the inevitable fun (living it up with members of the band Weapon backstage in Glasgow), and even the tender moments (spending time with Phil Taylor’s dad).
Rather than cleaning and sanitizing the photos, each one is presented with the gritty immediacy of the moment. There are scratches and blemishes, but that’s the point. It preserves an era. “You know, there used to be a MOTÖRHEAD saying,” Graham reflects. “Take no fucking prisoners. It always made sense to me, and I like to think these photos capture that in all its (occasionally grotty but never boring) glory.”
Fast & Loose is an up-close-and-personal look at a one-of-a-kind group that is essential for any diehard fan. Published by BMG, it’s available now in the US, and will be released in the UK on December 30th.
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 