LEMMY: 'It's Pathetic For Bands To Be Announcing A Third And Fourth Farewell Tour'

Rob Cavuoto of Guitar International recently conducted an interview with MOTÖRHEAD frontman and rock icon Lemmy Kilmister. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Guitar International: Your career in MOTÖRHEAD spans 35 years and you've always stayed true to you musical style and its integrity. Was there ever a point when you questioned the band's direction and considered altering your style to fit the era, like with commercial rock or grudge?

Lemmy: No, not at all. We've done some different stuff in our time but always framed it within MOTÖRHEAD. Like what we did on "1916" where we used cellos, violins and pianos. The songs sound like MOTÖRHEAD because that's who we are. It'd be stupid to say, let's make major changes 'cause we don't want to. We're MOTÖRHEAD and we play MOTÖRHEAD music and why would we want to play anything else?

Guitar International: With 20 LPs of material how do you pick a set list?

Lemmy: We fight! [Laughing]. We know what we have to play. We have to play "Overkill", "Ace of Spades" and "Killed by Death". We put "The Chase Is Better Than The Catch" back in the set and I chose "We Are Motörhead" just for this tour. There are also two songs from the new CD; "Get Back in Line" and "I Know How to Die".

Guitar International: What do you attribute to the longevity of MOTÖRHEAD?

Lemmy: Not dying, that's the secret to longevity! If you believe in what you do, it's easy to keep going. It's not a problem. I'll never consider giving up. For one thing, I'm not qualified to do anything else [Laughing].

Guitar International: Any plans to ever reunite with Phil "Philthy" Taylor and "Fast" Eddie Clarke from the original line-up?

Lemmy: No, because these two guys with me now have been with me longer than the original two. Phil has been with me for 26-27 years and Mikkey over 19 years. They played "Ace of Spades" more often than those two. They played "Overkill" more often than those two. Why should I put Phil and Mikkey on hold to go off with guys who probably can't play them as well? They've been out of practice. It's ridiculous to think of it. Then I would be a nostalgia act. I'm all for the now and the future.

Guitar International: Do you still talk with Phil and Fast Eddie?

Lemmy: Now and then. I like Phil, he was my best mate. Eddie was kind of a friend except he was always complaining about something. It got kinda tedious. Last time he left, we laid low. Before, one of us would go off and bring him back. It was a shame he shouldn't have done that, we had a lot going for us back then. He should have stuck though it. It was the Wendy O. Williams thing and I couldn't understand that (reference: recording "Stand by Your Man", a cover version of the Tammy Wynette with Wendy O. Williams). He just gave up on it because Wendy wasn't immediately perfect on it, she just needed to go through it a few times and he left the band over it. I couldn't fucking believe it. I think he was expecting to be talked back in. Phil came in the room and said, "Eddie's left again." I said, "Whose turn is it to go talk to him?" [Laughing]. I said, "Fuck it, I'm not doing it." That's the way it went. Wrong decision on his part.

Guitar International: You've never put together a fake farewell tour. Is that because you are holding true to your integrity?

Lemmy: We're not ready to do a farewell yet. I don't know if we will do it eventually, 'cause we never felt like we should say farewell, 'cause we're still going. It's pathetic for bands to be announcing a third and fourth farewell tour.

Read the entire interview from Guitar International.