1975: After being fired from Hawkwind, Lemmy Kilmister decides to form a band called Bastard. When his manager informs him that a band by that name will never get a slot on “Top of the Pops,” he changes it to Motorhead. The lineup consists of Lemmy on bass and vocals, Larry Wallace on guitar and Lucas Fox on drums. The band hits the studio by the end of the year, and during the recording sessions, Lucas is replaced by Phil “Philthy Animal” Taylor.

1976: Motorhead’s then-label doesn’t like the recordings (the company releases them, however, as On Parole three years later when the group starts achieving success). The guys decide a second guitar player is in order, so they ask “Fast” Eddie Clarke to try out. For reasons still unknown, Larry Wallace quits during the audition. Fast Eddie stays however, thus completing the trio that sees Motorhead through its ground-breaking early years. The band gigs, records, and finds a new manager (or two).

Lemmy from Motorhead
1977: Motorhead (Chiswick) is the band’s first album to see the light of day. The guys’ fan base builds and they start earning a reputation for being very loud, raw, dirty and all those good things heavy rock ‘n’ roll should be.

1978: Motorhead’s manager pulls them out of the Chiswick deal. Yet another manager gets them a contract with Bronze Records. Before making their own album, they record a few tracks with the Damned, including a cover of the Sweet’s “Ballroom Blitz.” At the end of the year, Motorhead enters the studio with producer Jimmy Miller (of the Stones’ Exile on Main Street and Goat’s Head Soup fame). Life is looking much better.

1979: The resulting album, Overkill, is an immediate classic and hits the charts very strongly. The band tours all over England and lands in jail after some playful destruction at a Finish festival. Without taking a breather, Motorhead goes back into the studio with Miller, this time producing Bomber, which charts even higher than Overkill . More touring and insanity ensues.

1980: After touring Europe and appearing on “Top of the Pops” for the umpteenth time (maybe that manager did have a point), the band teams up with Vic Maile for perhaps their best known studio album, Ace of Spades . The record peaks at number 4 in the charts. The accident-prone Philthy ends the year by breaking his neck while engaging in a bit of horseplay with a large Irish fan.

Lemmy And The Lion
1981: While waiting for Philthy to heal, Lemmy and Eddie team up with the members of Girlschool and producer Maile. The result is The St. Valetines Day Massacre EP, which includes the hit single, “Please Don’t Touch.” After the two groups perform on “Top of the Pops” as Headgirl, Motorhead hits the road and makes its first trek to the States as special guest on Ozzy Osbourne’s Blizzard of 0z tour. While in the U.S., No Sleep