Motörhead “Ace of Spades” 1980. Yesterday the last surviving member of the original Motörhead lineup, guitarist “Fast” Eddie Clarke, died, preceded by drummer Phil “Philthy Animal” Taylor in 2015 and singer/bassist Lemmy Kilmister, also in 2015. I’m not a big heavy metal fan, but Motörhead is one of the few metal bands I truly enjoy; their proto-thrash, ferocious ass kicking style appealing to my punk sensibilities. Plus Lemmy was absolutely genuine and endlessly (accidentally?) entertaining; I think I’ve watched the 2010 documentary Lemmy (49% motherfucker. 51% son of a bitch) a half dozen times and laughed my ass off at each viewing.

Ace of Spades was Motörhead’s fourth studio album – the first to be released in the US – and it peaked at #4 on the UK charts but reached legacy status where it continues to reside to this day. The title track “Ace of Spades” was the only track Motörhead released as a single, reaching #15 on the UK charts (hitting the charts again at #13 in December 2015 after Lemmy’s death). “Ace of Spades” has been placed on multiple best-of lists, including greatest guitar tracks and hard rock songs of all time. The whole album is fast – exhausting – with beats and guitar that never let up but other tracks that standout are the roadie anthem “(We Are) The Road Crew,” the romantic (kidding!) “The Chase is Better Than the Catch” and “The Hammer.”

We saw Motörhead play just once, on October 13th 1999 at the Rave in Milwaukee. Only Lemmy remained from the classic lineup by then of course: Clarke left in ‘82 and Taylor was gone permanently by ‘92. But it was still a memorable show. Nashville Pussy, Motörhead protégés, opened so it was LOUD, raucous, mean and amazing despite the Rave’s shitty acoustics.