'We travelled from Barcelona': Thousands turned out in Burslem for Lemmy statue unveiling
Lemmy returned to Burslem in a blaze of noise and euphoria as a statue was unveiled in his honour in the town of his birth.
Almost a decade after the death of Lemmy – born Ian Fraser Kilminster in 1945 – Friday's event included the official placement of a portion of his ashes inside the monument, which depicts the legendary Motörhead rocker in action in his 1980s heyday.
Thousands of people turned out for the ceremony, with many arriving hours beforehand to soak up the atmosphere in Burslem town centre. And the atmosphere felt more like a music festival or motorbike rally than a memorial.
"I read somewhere today was going to be a solemn and sombre event", Howard H Smith, presenter of the Motorcast podcast and compère for the afternoon, said. "I thought not a chance – we're here to celebrate the live of Lemmy."
On the way to Market Place an hour before the main event, you could hear the metal and rock music before you saw the massive crowd – and a sea of battle jackets adorned with patches, band T-shirts and cowboy hats.
One such hat wearer was Shaun Tilley, a member of Motorhead tribute band Motorkill, who headed up from north Walsall for the occasion with his brother Martin.
Shaun said: "I got into Motorhead in 1980 and the first time I saw them was in 1982. Lemmy had a different style he was unique.
"I like the rawness, the honesty and the authenticity – when you look at the lyrics they're brilliant. And they made so much noise for a three-piece band.
"We got here about 9.30am today and everybody's been fantastic. We've been in the local cafes and everyone is in good spirits.
"It's great for North Staffordshire and it's a very well-deserved statue. It shows him in his prime."
Motörhead fan Jeanette Wragg, who recalls playing Ace of Spades in the morning to help wake her children up, postponed a holiday so she could watch the unveiling. The Cobridge resident did not have far to travel for Friday's event however.
"When I found out they were doing this I said 'right, we're going'", she said.
"The first time I saw Motorhead was at Victoria Hall in 1979 and it was absolutely amazing.
"The last time I saw them was in 2007, and a voice came over the speakers saying 'no smoking'. I was in the moshpit, right at the front, and Lemmy said 'I'm not allowed to play my music how I've always played it' – he cranked it up."
Fellow fan Ann Matthews from Wolverhampton saw the band on many occasions in her home town, as well as in London and Exeter. She described how Lemmy was much more than just a rock star.
"He was a philosopher and a historian. He was a good man and he always said how stupid it was for anyone to be racist.
"If you met him after a gig he was quiet and reserved. He didn't do it for the accolades or the money – he did it in the hope people would like his music.
"He lived life unapologetically and he lived life his way. He was an amazing man."
Hector Navarro and Marta Egea travelled from Barcelona to be at Friday's unveiling. Hector said: "We've travelling to see heavy metal spots around England and I saw Motorhead in Spain in 1986."
Tony Mason, who was just 10 when Ace of Spades was released, has been a fan ever since. He travelled from Powys in Wales to be at the unveiling.
"I spent my service in the RAF and Lemmy's dad was was an RAF chaplain", he said. "Motorhead introduced me to heavy rock."
At around 4.30pm the roar of motorbikes announced the arrival of the special guests for the main ceremony. They included Harry "Reverend Black" Feeney from The Rockin' Vickers – which Lemmy was a member of in the 1960s – as well as statue sculptor Andy Edwards, Motorhead manager Todd Singerman and Lemmy's Motorhead bandmate Phil Campbell.
He said: "The turnout today is fantastic – thanks to everybody for showing up. I have got all my fond memories of Lemmy and I still dream about him two to three times a week.
"It's a shame he couldn't have gone on longer, but he went on as long as he could. It was one hell of a ride.
"He loved to travel and we have put his ashes in some of the places he loved. The music will carry on for a long, long time."
The cheering, and shouts of Lemmy's name, also went on for a long time.
And while there was a brief lull after the statue was revealed, as the crowd finally got to glimpse it, the volume picked up again with the revving of motorbikes, confirming Motorhead's long-held reputation for delivering "everything louder than everyone else".
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READ: 'He really is a god': Lemmy statue unveiled in Stoke-on-Trent
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