Few names spring to mind faster when you think of rock icons than Dee Snider of Twisted Sister and Lemmy Kilmister of Motörhead. However, what you might not know is the story behind their friendship and the day Snider found Kilmister’s ashes on his doorstep, as the frontman revealed in an appearance on Pop! Talk.
This surprising tale, as told by Snider himself, is rooted in the history of these two rock giants. In the rock and roll chronicles of the 1980s, there’s a special page dedicated to the Wrexham Rock Festival that took place on July 24, 1982. Before Twisted Sister had even released an album, they were invited to join the line-up at this concert, thanks to their manager’s connection with Motörhead. There was a bit of a gamble involved, as Sister’s style was a departure from the norm, and Snider was fully aware that they could face a less-than-warm reception from the crowd.
Enter Lemmy Kilmister, the legendary frontman of Motörhead. He had a knack for seeing things others couldn’t. He foresaw the potential backlash and decided to personally introduce Twisted Sister to the crowd. The audience was disarmed by Lemmy’s stamp of approval, and Twisted Sister delivered their set without a hitch. Lemmy’s support helped the band to gain recognition and respect in the industry. To this day, Snider acknowledges that he owes a lot to the Motörhead legend.
But the bond between Dee and Lemmy didn’t end there. When Kilmister passed away, he had a unique final wish. He wanted his ashes to be divided among his friends. A rumor, yes, but one that proved true when Snider found a small box from Kilmister’s management company on his doorstep.
Dee Snider was deeply moved when he opened the box to find a ‘Lemmy bullet’ – a keepsake containing Kilmister’s ashes. Despite their friendship, Snider hadn’t expected to be included in such an intimate farewell. The gesture left him choked up, feeling profoundly touched by this final act of friendship from beyond the grave.
Here is how the Twisted Sister singer recalled receiving Lemmy’s ashes:
“The thing around my neck that you’re asking about… This is such a prized possession. This is what they call a ‘Lemmy bullet‘ and Lemmy from the band Motörhead, who I know you have a Funko pop-up. We were friends. When he died, it was rumored that he wanted to have his ashes split up and shared amongst his friends. Even though we were friends, I never assumed that I’d be worthy of something so precious.
You would think there’d be so many people in front of you, and I know other friends got them as well, but when the doorbell rang, it was special delivery, I got this little box, and I saw the management company’s name on it, I was choked up. He was reaching out from the grave, saying, ‘I remember you, and you meant something to me‘ because Lemmy’s just an incredible being. We could talk about that forever.”
For Snider, this memento wasn’t just about remembering his friend. It was a poignant symbol of their shared history and the bond they had forged. A final nod from Kilmister, acknowledging that their friendship had meant as much to him as it did to Snider.
