Lemmy Kilmister. Some of you may recognise the name. Most of you will no doubt recognize his raspy “swallowed a jar of nails” voice chanting “THE ACE OF SPADES! THE ACE OF SPADES!” as the frontman for Motorhead, replete with cowboy hat and mutton chops.
Shot over three years, Lemmy details the life of this old but far from washed-up rock god. A who’s who of influential rock figures and celebrities eagerly line up to add their two cents to this film – everyone from Ozzy Osbourne to Metallica to Billy Bob Thornton, all of whom are complementary to the point of hyperbole. Joan Jett says it best: “I see Lemmy as doing things his way to get where he wants to go, and I think that’s attractive, because people don’t do that anymore”.
Lemmy doesn’t look it, but he’s in his 60s. While most other 60 year olds are taking naps at 3pm and sitting at home in their rocking chairs watching TV, Lemmy is touring the world playing Motorhead gigs. The highlights of the film include concert and studio footage of Lemmy with the likes of Dave Grohl and Metallica, and it’s here we see how well-respected, even revered, Lemmy has become. The film drags on a little at some points and some of the interviews are needlessly elongated, but there’s enough concert footage spliced in to keep you from losing interest.
Lemmy is genuine, humble and devoid of ego. While others travel around in limos and Lear jets while travelling for another “Greatest Hits” tour, Lemmy is sitting, Jack and Coke in hand, writing another album. If you see him and want a photo, he’s happy to take one with you. It’s this humbleness and thankfulness for being in the position that he’s in that make Lemmy as a person, and the film itself, so endearing and likeable.
Lemmy shares many of the its subject’s characteristics. It is blunt and to the point. What you see is what you get. There’s no complex musical score and no overly grandiose and self-serving look back through Lemmy’s life here. Recommended, not only for fans of the man, but for all music lovers.