Someone help me appreciate Lemmy

[two fingers]

There seems to be a lot of love for him on this site and I'd like to join the party.

I like his voice, he's got the appropriate rock and roll attitude, but his basslines are rudimentary and his tone is trebley and to my ears, unpleasant.

For context, I like my music funkier and more harmonically developed (Steely Dan, Earth Wind and Fire, Tower of Power, as well as fusion artists such as Tribal Tech, etc.), however I enjoy and respect many rock bassist, i.e. Jack Bruce, John Paul Jones, Geddy Lee, McCartney, Sting.

I'm right there with you. But I don't think people who "get it" are wrong.... nor do you and I need to be "fixed".

I'm OK not understanding his body of work. And I'm OK with metal fans not "getting" how Rocco and Geribaldi pretty much are the definition of a rhythm section.... and the TOP horns are just.... wow.

But it's cool. I like that they found a guy and a sound they dig. I don't hate Motorhead. I'm just not going out of my way to listen to them. I don't expect metal fans to suddenly run out and buy TOP music because we dig it either.

 

[Gorn]

Why do you have to appreciate him? If we lived in a world where musical variety was limited I could understand forcing yourself to like something you don’t like. If you were stuck on a desert island with a Motörhead album and nothing else, it’s worth learning to appreciate. You don’t have to learn to like what you don’t like.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

Not long ago I had a long discussion with a bass player about Punk Rock & bands like The Damned & The Ramones.
He went on & on about playing 1/8ths on the root & coincidentally that same topic appeared here the same week.

It's fine for me, I don't need to be impressed by the bass player's technicality.
However, there's just about no way I'm going to convince someone who needs that technicality to appreciate a band or player.

It's kind of a like it or lump it scenario.

 

[socialleper]

I hear many of you.

Relevant points:
For better or worst, he plays the bass differently, like a guitarist. (I will admit he's style really drives MH's music.)
Love it or hate it he has his own, possibly unique sound.

Irrelevant points:
He knows and is himself.
He's got a rock and roll attitude

The love for him wasn't about technical achievement. Much of the mystique that is built up around musicians has nothing to do with skill. He turned his attitude into sound in a masterful way. Whether or not that is something one likes is another story.
I personally don't get all excited about Motorhead or Hawkwind.

 

[knumbskull]

He turned his attitude into sound in a masterful way.

This sums it up excellently!

 

[ThudThudThud]

Irrelevant points:
He knows and is himself.
He's got a rock and roll attitude

"I like my music funkier and more harmonically developed (Steely Dan, Earth Wind and Fire, Tower of Power, as well as fusion artists such as Tribal Tech, etc.)"

Look, we all like lots of things. You don't have to like everything. You don't have to like Lemmy. But don't dismiss others because they might.

Lemmy knew his capabilities, and his shortcomings, but owned his style. He made quite a career from it.
Rock and roll attitude? Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe that's the punk side. Remember that punk was in its infancy in London at the time Motorhead started. Punk wasn't a style of music, it was a conscious lifestyle phenomenon. The music was a by-product. Unless you experienced London at the time you may miss the nuances.
Motorhead did not compromise. They became very popular, and influential without once trying for a 'hit.'

I knew Lemmy, and I can tell you that he was every bit the committed musician as any of the guys you like. He was also a really nice bloke. If you want to appreciate him, you first have to know what, and who he was.

 

[ThudThudThud]

I'm right there with you. But I don't think people who "get it" are wrong.... nor do you and I need to be "fixed".

I'm OK not understanding his body of work. And I'm OK with metal fans not "getting" how Rocco and Geribaldi pretty much are the definition of a rhythm section.... and the TOP horns are just.... wow.

But it's cool. I like that they found a guy and a sound they dig. I don't hate Motorhead. I'm just not going out of my way to listen to them. I don't expect metal fans to suddenly run out and buy TOP music because we dig it either.

It's also not exclusionary. I can appreciate Motorhead. Not my favourite band, but I dig it. I also appreciate other genres. TOP were okay too.

 

[Mediocrity Man]

I don't get it either but I also don't get all the cheesy bubble gum dance pop lately.

I guess that's why we are all unique and like different things.

 

[electracoyote]

Any band that helps kick down the door and promote a relatively new music style (in this case, new British heavy metal) always gets a tip of the hat from me, even if I'm not a rabid fan of the genre. And Motorhead, though not receiving the mainstream recognition of similar bands, worked their asses off in the process. They also get some credit for the next progression, speed metal.

I'm not a huge Motorhead or Lemmy fan, but I certainly recognize their part in the play. And Lemmy was actually a pretty well-rounded diverse musician. I just came across his side project The Head Cat, lots of early rock n roll standard covers featuring him on lead vox and they are damn good. I love it when you think you know a musician and he surprises you with a completely different and equally talented side.

He had a lot of side projects and was a guest player on many superstars' tracks.

Yeah, I get the Lemmy/Motorhead love. Free your mind, the rest will follow.

 

[hieronymous]

Yeah, Lemmy is more about attitude than instrumental skill. And he's not only about the bass, it's also his voice, lyrics, and image.

This has one of my favorite bass solos from anyone - sure it's not harmonically sophisticated but it does the job, and I love the way it goes back into the song. Actually it is harmonically interesting, it's over a different progression related to the chorus but different.


This song maybe isn't so well known, but to me it grooves hard, especially when it goes into the B section:


This song is just intense! I love the fake endings - I originally only had an edited version that just ended on the first one, love the way it just keeps going and going - the No Sleep Til Hammersmith version is great too - even faster and more intense!


I listen to lots of different kinds of music - started with pop in 7th grade, then the Beatles, then NWOBHM (Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Motörhead), then Deep Purple and Rainbow, then Rush/Yes/Genesis, with some Stanley Clarke and Jaco mixed in. I don't listen to metal much anymore, but still appreciate Lemmy - between him, Roger Glover, Chris Squire and John Wetton I acquired a taste for distorted bass.

 

[catcauphonic]

...For context, I like my music funkier and more harmonically developed (Steely Dan, Earth Wind and Fire, Tower of Power, as well as fusion artists such as Tribal Tech, etc.), however I enjoy and respect many rock bassist, i.e. Jack Bruce, John Paul Jones, Geddy Lee, McCartney, Sting.

Best just to move along here. I'd trade my left nut to do what he did, right up until he was killed by death >

 

[SadowskySteve]

On their first trip over they played the Danforth Music Hall in Toronto which is a fair sized venue but they had enough PA reinforcement for a decent sized stadium. I was too young to attend but my older cousin and his buddies went and they seriously couldn't hear for 3 days afterwards. It was beyond way too loud. Loved the rock 'n attitude and ran out and bought Ace of Spades.

 

[RichardW]

You're not required to "appreciate" or like anyone. There are TBers who shrug their shoulders about Jaco, or McCartney, or Entwistle, or any number of other famous bass players.

I was never a Motorhead fan, but somehow heard their last album right before Lemmy died and I thought it was terrific and I've gone back an enjoyed their catalogue. What I love about Lemmy, more than his bass playing, was his complete badassery.

 

[bass40hz]

Lemmy started out as a guitarist playing with the Rockin Vickers and Hawkwind (he quickly picked up bass while in HW), that has influenced his bass style tremendously and he's crafted something completely identifiable as "Lemmy" the second you hear it. Oh...and Motorhead...they play rock and roll. Love him or hate him, everyone knows who he is, just by the single slang word used towards people who come from his part of England, as...Lemmy.

 

[armyadarkness]

I'm right there with you. But I don't think people who "get it" are wrong.... nor do you and I need to be "fixed".

I'm OK not understanding his body of work. And I'm OK with metal fans not "getting" how Rocco and Geribaldi pretty much are the definition of a rhythm section.... and the TOP horns are just.... wow.

But it's cool. I like that they found a guy and a sound they dig. I don't hate Motorhead. I'm just not going out of my way to listen to them. I don't expect metal fans to suddenly run out and buy TOP music because we dig it either.

Agreed. I adore Motorhead. They're truly unique and have done what few others have. They were the epitome of the "hit the ground running, full throttle, live fast, heavy metal band". They were louder than anything on the planet and an incredible site to behold live... How a three piece band sounded so big, I'll never know.

I saw them many, many times...

That being said, if my bass ever sounded like lemme, I'd switch to guitar immediately.

In contrast, although I play heavy metal/ punk, John Taylor is one of my top 4 bassists. Proof that your listening, playing, teaching, and respect habits do not always have to align.

 

[tedious1]

I like his voice, he's got the appropriate rock and roll attitude,

(I will admit he's style really drives MH's music.)

I have to disagree, you have correct appreciation and recognition. That is sufficient unto the need no? You don't have to like it, and apparently you don't, but you recognize and appreciate things about him, and I suspect you'd have no problem acknowledging/recognizing/appreciating his effect on large numbers of the generations of musicians that followed him, so I'd let the rest of it go.

Not your cuppa, fine, well and good.

 

[ProgressiveDoom]

@stringthrough Maybe you should start here first.....where Lemmy really got started. My favorite Lemmy for all time.

And then there is the Lemmy pre Hawkwind era with him on guitar and delicate vocals. You werent expecting this.

 

[5StringBlues]

Some music hits you in the heart, some music hits you in the head, some hits you in the testiclees.


All are valid.

 

[zachoff]

By all measures, Motorhead should be one of my all time favorite bands, but they're not. I don't know why. I love punk rock, thrash, doom, death... Pretty much everything that band helped pioneer. Lemmy was an interesting dude who lived an interesting life and had a really cool bass sound. The music isn't bad at all... It's just not my favorite nor something I listen to all that much. :shrug:

I like him because he was a singular entity in a time of homogeneity.

 

[ThaCoast]

Lemmy was one hell of a bass guitarist. Just like John Entwistle, he owned a style of playing, & tone that not many could replicate to the fullest. It was a wall of sound blasting through inside your head, making your body dance. He is the definition of rock & roll - the lifestyle, the music, everything. There have been artists who passed around the same time he did, & it did have an affect on me musically. But when Lemmy passed, it seemed unreal, due to his excess in life for so long, it seemed like he could go on living like that forever.

Motorhead is a regular appearance in my originals setlist of covers. Overkill, ace of spades, I'm the doctor, amongst a few others. It's regular fun for us, & a good tribute to one of our influences.

Not everyone needs to have the same tastes, but everyone can appreciate an art someone has published.