The late Lemmy Kilmister, the frontman of influential metal and hard rock band Motörhead, continues to be honoured in unique and heartfelt ways, as Bloodstock Festival in Derbyshire unveiled a bust containing some of his ashes as part of a shrine to the metal legend over the weekend.
The festival has also constructed a replica of Lemmy’s dressing room, complete with a shower cap over a smoke alarm and a sticker saying, “harassing me about my smoking may be hazardous for your health.” This special tribute includes personal items such as his hat, coat, boots, photographs, and even his last jar of Marmite and Milky Way bars from the band’s final tour in 2015.
Lemmy Kilmister, born Ian Fraser Kilmister, was the vocalist and bassist of Motörhead, known for his gravelly voice, distinctive mutton chops, and outspoken egalitarian messages. Lemmy died on December 28 2015, only weeks after a diagnosis of cancer. It was revealed the following year that the singer’s official cause of death was prostate cancer, along with congestive heart failure and cardiac arrhythmia. Despite his illness, Lemmy continued to perform until just weeks before his passing. Bloodstock Festival director Vicky Hungerford told BBC Radio Derby, “When you go in there, it will feel like you’re in the touring dressing room of Lemmy.” The display also features a traveling slot machine that Lemmy took everywhere, his reading glasses, and his credit card. On Monday, after the event at Catton Hall, a troupe of 30 Harley Davidsons bikers will transport the bust to Rock City, a gig venue in Nottingham. This venue holds a special place in Motörhead’s history, having hosted many of their shows between 1987 and 2006. The ashes will remain on public display at Rock City, with the urn containing Lemmy’s ashes returning to Bloodstock festival every year.
“Lemmy would want to be remembered as a man of integrity, and a true rock’n’roller,” says @myMotorhead star Phil Campbell. “He was a one off.”
Phil Campbell caught up with Sky News ahead of Bloodstock to talk #LemmyForever https://t.co/aZeLL9dXXw
— bloodstockfest (@BLOODSTOCKFEST) August 7, 2024
As part of the tribute, there is also a replica Lancaster bomber at the festival, which was suspended above the stage during Motörhead’s 1979 Bomber tour. Speaking to BBC Radio Derby Bloodstock festival director Vicky Hungerford expressed her honour at being approached by Motörhead management to have Lemmy’s ashes at the festival. She said: “we were humbled and honoured to be approached by Motörhead management to have Lemmy’s ashes at Bloodstock. This tribute is a fitting way to celebrate Lemmy’s legacy and his significant impact on the heavy metal community.”
In April, more of Lemmy’s ashes were enshrined at the Rainbow Bar & Grill on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood. This venue also boasts a patio named ‘Lemmy’s Lounge’. Last summer, more of his ashes were scattered in the mud at Germany’s Wacken Open Air festival to commemorate Motörhead’s countless shows there. Metallica’s James Hetfield has even had some of the ashes incorporated into a spade tattoo on his middle finger.
Motörhead manager Todd Singerman also shared a statement: “Bloodstock has always been a special place for Motörhead and for Lemmy. The people and the energy matched Lemmy’s values perfectly. This is definitely a fitting honour in the continuing series of enshrinements of Lemmy’s ashes in his most loved places.”
