..probably Keith Richards is the only guy still standing that lived the life to the absolute full like that...
I will have to disagree.
As I gather it, Mr. Richards switched to a lifestyle that is a lot healthier than the one Mr. Kilmister led until the end. Most Rockstars survived a couple of years doing what Lemmy did - for close to five decades.
I think Motörhead is the nexus between Rock'n Roll, Punk and Metal. No other band I know of can really stake a solid claim in all three genres, having fans from all three camps.
The bass playing of Lemmy is, as mentioned earlier, not exactly something a bassplayer listens to on his day off, between Stanley Clarke and Les Claypool.
But it does what it does: It is driving the band. Dirty, loud and with that uncompromising in-your-face attitude.
In my humble opinion, Motörhead was a group effort thing. None of the single instruments were exactly virtuoso. But the result of it all coming together was more than just the sum of the parts.
I must admit that I've seen more than a few famous musician's obituaries in the four decades I spent on this planet. Seeing Lemmy Kilmister's was the one that hurt the most.
By far.
Motörhead was, among other things, a burning symbol of indestructibility. Some old guys that have been doing this for more than fourty years now, that have pumped out 23 studio albums that all sound exactly like Motörhead and never like anything else, that still go out there and deafen people that could be their grandchildren with their Rock and Roll music played at ridiculous, obnoxious volume levels.
I never was super hyped when they came to town, because I had the feeling that I'll be able to see them again soon. I can't make the concert? Ok, they'll play one or two festivals soon and they have not released an Album in the last 18 months, so they'll bring out a new one within the next half year and tour again.
Lemmy Kilmister led, as far as Rockstars go, an extraordinary long life. Nonetheless, I shall miss him dearly.
