Always keeping his sights on the future,
Lemmy is already looking forward to the next Motörhead studio album. “We’re going to do a new one in January.” As far as current ideas for the disc go... “Nothing. We always write under the knife. It works for us.” Next year’s effort will be a big one though as it’s the 20th studio album, marking the 35th anniversary of the band. Knocking down the accolades, Lemmy brings reality to the forefront. “Motörizer is the first time we’ve ever been in the US Hot 100.” Hopefully he’ll chart higher in 2010. “Well we’re really good you know. We never let the fans down. We never sold out. We always did what we do best.”
2010 is Motörhead’s 35th anniversary. Will anything special be done in recognition? “I don’t think so. It’s only the 35th anniversary of Motörhead. I’ve been in music longer; it’s my 43rd (anniversary) or something like that. Our management will probably think up something embarrassing for us to do.” There’s already a Lemmy action figure; maybe we’ll get a Lemmy bobble-head. “Oh, that would be fucking awful wouldn’t it?”
For this upcoming tour,
Motörhead has tapped
REVEREND HORTON HEAT and
NASHVILLE PUSSY as the opening acts. In fact,
Lemmy chose those bands personally. “It’s pretty good eh? I’ve been on stage with The Reverend a couple of times and he’s on my solo album too, so that was easy enough. And we toured twice with Nashville Pussy in 2000 and 2001; it was excellent! They’re the ideal band to warm up for Motörhead – rock out with your cock out.” And it doesn’t hurt that Ruyter (Suys, NP guitarist) usually ends the show in her underwear. “Yeah, that’s kind of a bad habit. I don’t know why she keeps it all on?”
Pulling another folder from the what-not-to-expect-next file is
Lemmy: The Movie. “I was told “next year. But they’ve said next year for the last two years. Don’t hold your breath.” Lemmy briefly describes having a camera crew follow him around. “They were out for two tours with us, that’s it. Getting live footage, talking to the crew and the rest of the band. I’m sure I’m going to be fucking horrified by some of it.”
In spite of the advance hype about his film,
Lemmy often scratches his head and wonders, why the fuck do they want to make a movie about me? “Yeah, all the time. Almost constantly since they broached the subject. I don’t get it. I don’t find myself very interesting, but obviously somebody does.”
So
Lemmy will be the guest of honour at the theatrical premiere? “I’m not going in cinemas – you can’t smoke in there. I fuckin’ hate ‘em. I used to go to the cinema when I was a kid. But they’ve changed. Now your knees are up under your chin, it’s not much fun. If you kiss somebody in the back row, somebody’ll come with a fucking flashlight and throw you out - encouraging minors to misbehave or some fucking thing.”
Once more returning to the imminent stage show, Lemmy discusses how elaborate it will be, in terms of lights and pyro. “It’s going to be lots of lights, but not pyros really. Phil (Campbell, guitar) always forgets where they are. It can be a nasty shock, like James Hetfield of METALLICA. We ran out of money for that stuff a long time ago. We’re only making slightly more now. I’m not looking to spend a lot on a flash and a bang and a whimper. I think the music ought to do it for you and if it doesn’t, we’re doing it wrong.”
As far as the music goes, there are 19 albums to choose from. “Um... it’s a surprise. The old stuff and the new stuff.” For those curious about last year’s Motörizer... “Just a couple. We’ve got to put the old stuff in. Kids want to hear it. We’ve got so much old stuff; it’s a bit tricky choosing. So we fight over it and it comes out.”
For a complete list of Motörhead tour dates, click
here.