Lemmy

Ok so I’m not really a Motorhead fan but I do like eccentric people and I think Lemmy qualifies.  This doc follows him around for a while giving us a glimpse into his day to day routine and lifestyle.  It also gives a brief history of his music career but the focus is more on the man himself.

Lemmy is genuinely one of the more interesting figures in not only rock but just music in general.  Part of it is that he’s been around since the mid 60’s and has amassed a lifetime of experience playing rock ‘n’ roll.  If he wasn’t in a band (The Rockin’ Vickers) then he was working for one (The Jimi Hendrix Experience).  Another part of it is his honesty.  He’ll tell you that he loves Little Richard and country music and be proud of it instead of having to conform to a metal image.  Lemmy won’t lie to you about anything.  If he thinks your music sucks he’ll tell you and if he thinks you’re a cool guy or gal then he’ll hang out with you.  What you see is what you get.

There’s all sorts of insights into his life like that he’s a World War II fanatic, that he met his six year old son for the first time during a drug deal, he drinks Jack and Coke nonstop, he has a tiny cluttered apartment in L.A. filled with Motorhead knick knacks and Nazi memorabilia, etc.  Even the first shot of Lemmy playing an Xbox is informative and strange.  I never would’ve thought that he’s the kinda guy that likes to play video games but it turns out he is. 

Even the soundtrack is interesting to listen to because the filmmakers interspersed classics like “Ace of Spades” with other shit like Lemmy’s cover of “Louie Louie”.  There’s also a scene with Lemmy and Dave Grohl covering “Run Rudolph Run”.  He never seems to tire of the music that excited and inspired him as a kid and young dude.  It’s just this kind of reverence for his predecessors and idols that makes him such a likeable and identifiable guy. 

Since this is a movie about a rock legend there’s a law that he/she must have their dick sucked by an endless parade of celebrities.  I wish there wasn’t so much of that because I learn more about Lemmy just by watching him than by hearing Slash tell me that he’s “the real deal”.  The doc also harps a bit on how nice he is.  Although, that I minded less because it was cool to find out through the various stories told.

Overall this thing was put together well and I definitely recommend it.  Just like Ozzy Osbourne and Keith Richards it’s a miracle that this man is not only still alive but also making new Motorhead records and touring around the world playing to sold out crowds.  And he seems just as into it as ever.  So if you like music of any kind or even just interesting people then I think it’ll be worth your while.