Motorhead – Hammersmith Apollo 2004

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Touring in support of superb new studio album Inferno, Motorhead are once again playing the Hammersmith Apollo. They play it every year (near enough) so it doesn’t come as much of a surprise. I think the only years they don’t play it are when it’s already booked while they are on tour and they have to play the Brixton Academy instead. Hardly a year goes by that Motorhead don’t tour. And hardly a year goes by without a new Motorhead release to be touring. It’s not always a brand spanking new studio album. Last time it was their new career spanning box set Stone Deaf Forever. Before that it was their last studio album Hammered, and before that, their first live DVD Boneshaker: 25 & Alive. So there’s always something, and there’s always Motorhead. And long may it continue.

Prior to this leg of the tour (UK and Europe), Motorhead had to cancel the US tour due to an injury suffered by lead vocalist, bassist and last remaining founding member Ian “Lemmy” Kilmister. There would be no Motorhead without Lemmy, and probably no Lemmy without Motorhead (figure that one out). It’s only really worth comparing Inferno to a Motorhead record since lead guitarist Phillip Campbell joined the band, as before that Motorhead was a very different sounding (and infinitely worse, in my opinion) monster indeed. With that in mind I would go as far as to say this is the bands finest record ever. Maybe lacking the groove of songs such as Bad Religion, I’m The Man and Joy of Labour, or the catchy choruses of their early work, but on musicianship, song-craft and interest (no more boring Ace of Spades clones here) it’s superb. And the accompanying live setlist equally so.

A quick word on the support (Class of Zero and Sepultura) before we continue. Rubbish.

Motorhead walked onto the stage with absolutely no fanfare what so ever. They never do. The lights go down, the crowd cheers, Motorhead walk on and look around. That’s the way it’s always been. Lemmy, as always, reminds everyone who they are here to see with his usual introduction: “Good evening. We are Motorhead, and we’re here to kick your ass.” Fair enough. And into show opener Dr Rock we go. I wasn’t expecting that. They’ve been opening with We Are Motorhead for years. And never before has their been a more obvious Ace of Spades copy ever written. So this was indeed a pleasant surprise.

Throughout the set we are treated to several “classic” era songs (the term “classic era” for Motorhead refers to the original lineup of Lemmy, guitarist “Fast” Eddie Clarke and drummer Phil “Philthy Animal” Taylor) including No Class, Stay Clean, Metropolis and of course Overkill and Ace of Spades. Ex-guitarist “Wurzel” joined the band for Overkill, which closed the set.

Otherwise, there was no predicting the songs, apart from Sacrifice mid-set, which is always there so drummer Mikkey Dee can perform his drum solo. And always welcome it is. The biggest surprises “from our least popular album of our careers”, I Got Mine and Dancin’ On Your Grave, from the ill-fated Another Perfect Day album, featuring ex-Thin Lizzy man Brian Robertson on guitar. A quick run-through of the other songs tonight: Going To Brazil, Love Me Like A Reptile, Over The Top, Shoot Your In The Back, R.A.M.O.N.E.S., Killed By Death, Iron Fist and the superb Jus’ ‘Cos You Got The Power.

They played some songs from Inferno too. All the best ones (apart from Year of The Wolf). Killers and In The Name of Tragedy appeared in the main set, with Whorehouse Blues appearing in “the bit where we pretend to go off, you make a lot of noise and we come back on”. Anyone that’s heard Inferno even once will remember Whorehouse Blues. It’s a bit of a departure from the usual Motorhead fare, to say the least. Not only because it’s bluesy, not only because it’s acoustic, but it has no bass. Lemmy sings in his highest, most melodic voice since Don’t Let Daddy Kiss Me and there’s no bass. Yeah, no bass. So when the band come back on, we get the most bizarre arrangement of the boys on stage to date. Both Phil and Mikkey are sitting on stools with acoustic guitars (yes, the drummer is on acoustic guitar), and Lemmy is standing in the centre (strange in itself, as Lemmy is always positioned on the right of the stage), with no bass, just a microphone. And that’s how it goes, Lemmy singing and the other guys playing acoustic guitars. Until about four minutes in when Lemmy breaks out the harmonica. Remarkable.

Compared to the last time I saw Motorhead (in the inadequate little Leas Cliff Hall in Folkstone), this was the greatest gig in the history of the World. Compared to other gigs, this was still a great one. Flawless performance, the usual Lemmy wit, and a few surprises along the way. And Motorhead don’t have a reputation for surprising anyone with their shows. But then, that reputation was spawned by all the zombies in the World who think Ace of Spades is Motorhead’s best song and they’ve done nothing since. What’s most worrying, is many of those are Motorhead “fans”. The rest of us are getting sick of it. Lemmy’s getting sick of it.

A superb show, in support of a superb album, by one of the longest running bands ever. Final word, though goes to Igor Cavalera, drummer for Sepultura. Astounding.

“ flawless performance,”

Setlist: Dr. Rock / Stay Clean / Shoot You In The Back / Love Me Like A Reptile / Killers / Metropolis / Over The Top / No Class / I Got Mine / In The Name of Tragedy / Dancin’ On Your Grave / R.A.M.O.N.E.S. / Sacrifice / Jus’ Coz You Got The Power / Going to Brazil / Killed By Death / Iron Fist // Whorehouse Blues / Ace of Spades / Overkill

Written by Andy Lye
More: Gigs, Hard Rock, Motörhead, Sepultura