ZZ Top and Motörhead redefined the entire rock and roll scene and shaped a generation after them. The two leads admired each other, both musically and as friends. Lemmy Kilmister learned the trade from the master, as he was Jimi Hendrix’s roadie before founding the legendary Motörhead.
Later, he would engrave his name in rock and roll history with his signature screams on stage, showing the world what rock and roll was. Billy Gibbons, himself a rock and roll giant, loved Lemmy Kilmister as a friend and had great respect for the music he made.
Their admirations were mutual. Billy Gibbons was the first name that came to Lemmy’s mind when he was asked about the musician he would’ve liked to play with, even if he never had the chance. Actually, they ‘played together,’ though they didn’t physically record in the same studio. On a cover of Chuck Berry’s ‘Run Rudolph Run,’ they are both credited. However, since Gibbons’ voice was recorded in a separate studio and added later, they never had the opportunity to jam together.
It’s also interesting that while the two legendary musicians had already crossed paths, and their chemistry was so good, they didn’t play together. Maybe there would be such a project, but unfortunately, when Lemmy passed away, they never had this chance again. But still, Gibbons was a devoted follower of their music. Participating in an interview with Quietus a year after Kilmister’s death, Gibbons revealed that one of Motörhead’s albums, ‘Bad Magic,’ was among his 13 all-time favorites.
Billy got to know Kilmister and Motörhead for the first time with ‘Ace Of Spades.’ In his own words, when the rockers ‘posed like three sinister bandits in the desert sand,’ they really caught his attention, and he wanted to get to know them more closely. Indeed, when his paths crossed with Lemmy, their chemistry, both musically and personally, matched well. A very good friendship began with the sound of music.
Gibbons saw Lemmy as the best ambassador rock and roll could ever see. So when asked about his life’s playlist in 2016, it wasn’t surprising to see that Motörhead’s album found itself on the list. The record in question was the 2015 release ‘Bad Magic,’ the band’s twenty-second and final studio album.
The musician said, “Motörhead, on the other hand, are very much included in that heavy metal thing. My tribute to Lemmy would be that he was genuine, through and through. He never posed behind any manner of falsehood. He was exactly what he stood for: a rock & roller through and through.”
He continued, “I once heard it said that he caught one of his sons; he caught his youngster extolling the virtues of speed. And Lemmy said: ‘Naw, don’t get too much behind speed. What you want is weed!’”
From the moment they stepped onto the stage, Motörhead produced albums one after the other that would become unforgettable in rock history. ‘Ace Of Spades’ was undoubtedly the album that made them known to the world. However, as Lemmy Kilmister himself later revealed, they elaborated their sound more and more on the following albums, and managed to play Motörhead’s signature tunes wrapped in much greater dexterity. Although the band’s other songs also influenced Gibbons, he cited the final output of the band’s musical adventure as one of his favorites.
