MOTÖRHEAD drummer Mikkey Dee has commented on performing further shows under the band’s name with guitarist Phil Campbell
Speaking with Canada’s The Metal Voice, former MOTÖRHEAD drummer Mikkey Dee was asked if he and guitarist Phil Campbell would ever perform under the name MOTÖRHEAD again, with another person taking on the late Lemmy Kilmister’s front spot. He replied (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “No. I really don’t think [the fans] want us to do that. That, to me, is stepping over the line. We will never, ever, ever tour with MOTÖRHEAD as a name ever and bring someone else in [to play Lemmy’s parts]. That will never happen. But what we are doing is doing some shows here and there…
“I just did two shows Saturday and Sunday here in Sweden with two younger guys and did 10 MOTÖRHEAD songs,” Mikkey continued. “And this show sold out in less than two weeks. We had to add that Sunday. And it’s so great to play the old classics again and perform. But it has nothing to do with trying to be MOTÖRHEAD. And this is not advertised as MOTÖRHEAD; it’s advertised [as] ‘Mikkey Dee With Friends‘, for instance. So there’s definitely a line there.”
Mikkey went on to say that he didn’t have a problem with other bands who go out and tour under their band names without most or any of the original members. “I just don’t get it [as to why fans complain so much about that]. I just don’t get it,” he said. “Because all [fans] have to do, if they have such a problem with it, just stop listening and stop following.
He continued: “But there is people out there that still wanna hear these songs. But with that said, it has to be done in a respectful and tasteful manner. And I won’t mention any bands or names here, but everyone does not do that, and they’re kind of overstepping, where it kind of becomes so obvious that there only is money that they’re out for.”
Lemmy Kilmister passed away on December 28, 2015 at the age of 70 soon after a cancer diagnosis.
MOTÖRHEAD had to cancel a number of shows in 2015 because of Lemmy’s deteriorating health, however were able to complete a European tour just two weeks before his death.
In June 2020, it was announced that a Lemmy biopic was in the works. The upcoming film, “Lemmy“, will be directed by Greg Olliver, who previously helmed the 2010 documentary of the same name.
Lemmy’s ashes are on display in a columbarium at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Hollywood, California in a specialty made urn. A gold colored statue of him was also erected at Hollywood, California’s Rainbow Bar and Grill, which was the iconic frontman’s favorite haunt.
A gigantic statue of Lemmy Kilmister was unveiled at last year’s edition of Hellfest.
The annual open air festival held in Clisson, France takes place over two weekends in the month of June.
The all-new statue replaces the previous statue of the MÖTÖRHEAD frontman which was reportedly falling apart due to the plaster it was partly made of giving way and crumbling apart.
The new Lemmy statue was created by French sculptor Caroline Brisset, and was inspired by energy over form and viewing the human as a subject of both fascination and fear. All in all it looks absolutely badass.
Brisset was approached by Hellfest organizer Ben Barbaud in November of 2021 about creating the new sculpture and she immediately agreed to take on the challenge.
“I said yes because it was a great project,” she tells Ouest-France. “And it was also quite a challenge to make such a big statue in such a short time.”
