As this reviewer dons his trusty/stinking Motorhead t-shirt, downs the mandatory gallon of Newcastle Brown, and joins hordes of friendly looking Hell's Angels in the Brixton Academy, memories of last year’s identically timed gig come flooding back. And the year before that. And the one before that. In fact, Motorhead's pre-Christmas London gig has become quite the annual event, like a pantomime for aging metallers who should probably know much better. Indeed, the idea of Lemmy in a pantomime dame's outfit is only mildly less disturbing than the spray on tight jeans he has chosen to sport this evening ... not the kind of thing you'd expect to see on a 61 year old. But as we all know, Lemmy Kilmister is no ordinary sixty-something …
The lights dim and before the band have even played a note, moshpits develop, and the tattooed faithful jockey for their positions. “Good evening” rasps Mr. Kilmister. “We are Motorhead, and we play rock and roll!” – damn fucking right they do! Tonight’s set offers few surprises, as the band rattle through a 30 year back catalogue that is screamed back to them by every devotee in the crowd. The only discernable difference between tonight’s set, and that of any other Motorhead gig for the last 3 years is the addition of a couple of catchy numbers off of new album ‘Kiss of Death’ (most notably ‘Be My Baby’ gets things going in a fast paced, rock ‘n’ roll fury), and the pleasant inclusion of oldie ‘Snaggletooth’.
But who comes to see bands like Motorhead to be surprised? Tonight’s crowd are here to rock, and they are not disappointed. The boys churn out all the classics; from ‘Killed by Death’ with its squealing guitar riff that cries its way around the Academy, to the blues/rock/metal mash-up that is ‘Going to Brazil’, to the complex metal time signature of ‘Sacrifice’ (“Try to dance to this one, and you may end up damaging your wedding tackle” growls the Lemster), complete with seemingly endless drum solo.
Lemmy himself is on typically great form tonight. Highlights include the pure arrogance of dedicating a song to himself, and playing with lyrics with hilarious results (“I don’t wanna live forever” he growls in the roof-raiser, ‘Ace of Spaces’, “but apparently I have” – brilliant). During the anthemic ‘Just Coz You Got the Power …’, Lemmy and guitarist Phil Campbell don the most exquisitely over-the-top flame shape guitars that make for quite the Spinal Tap moment, while drummer Mickey D constantly stands atop his monstrously large kit, flexing his muscles, and shaking his golden locks – it’s all a bit clichéd, and ticks all the stereotypical metal boxes, but it’s oh so good.
Tonight’s crowd are treated to a short but sweet rendition of the ‘Whorehouse Blues’ from 2004’s ‘Inferno’ album, which sees Mickey D and Phil pick up the acoustic guitars while Lemmy wheezes through a harmonica. But it is the encore of ‘Ace of Spades’ and the stunning ‘Overkill’ that have heads banging, and feet moving all over the Brixton Academy. Thumping his bass guitar furiously, Lemmy leaves the stage in a mess of feedback and resonating distortion. Safe in the knowledge they wont be hearing a thing for the next few days, the Motorhead faithful leave happy – see you all next Xmas!
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