I'm still new here, but I have a feeling I'm one of the older people on Hubski, closing in on 50.
Back in the 1980's I used to put on side 2 of "No Sleep Til Hammersmith", stretch my spiral-cord can-style headphones over to my bed, and fall asleep listening to Motorhead. I loved it.
Then, my dad and I went to Europe a week ahead of my Mom and sister, who met up with us later. But for that week, Dad and I were on the Isle of Man, going to see the TT Races that he had raced in back in the 60's for BSA.
The first week is practice week. Riders doing insane shit all over the island. Then, on the last day of practice week, they basically close the island and call it "Mad Sunday". Anything goes. Utter insanity all over the island.
Dad and I were staying in the little village of Douglas - the hub of the TT race. We were walking around and I heard familiar music coming from a club. Motorhead (the original lineup) was blowing the doors off some 200 person club full of insane bikers.
So I went in. (Dad decided to wait outside, when he heard the volume.)
I stayed for the whole set. At some point I had some small English dude on my shoulders doing our best Brian Johnson/Angus Young impression. We hung out the rest of the week together.
I stuck with Motorhead through the rough Brian Robertson years (and still love Another Perfect Day for what it is), Wurzel, innumerable drummers, and right up to the modern day.
Lemmy died yesterday at 70 years old. (My Mom will be 70 next year.)
People love to talk about how "fuck everybody" Lemmy was, but they miss who he REALLY was... he cared about what he cared about, and let you care about what you cared about. He didn't make others wrong. He just let others live the life they wanted, and he kept his opinions to himself.
"Don't let the bastards grind ya down" describes Lemmy perfectly. There are a lot of people out there with opinions and ulterior motives and hidden agendas. They are the bastards. But if you stay true to yourself, be honest, and live your life the way you want, the bastards lose.
We could all learn something from Lemmy.
RIP man. The heavenly band just got a lot fucking heavier. (Remember, Motorhead's drummer, Philthy Animal Taylor, died earlier this year, too!)
Thanks for reading my remembrance of this Force Of Nature known as Lemmy.