Died On This Date (December 28, 2015) Lemmy Kilmister / Motorhead

Ian “Lemmy” Kilmister
December 24, 1945 – December 28, 2015

LemmyLemmy Kilmister was the lead singer, bassist, primary songwriter, and only original member of Motorhead, the legendary English rock band he formed in 1975.  Over the course of four decades, the band, which was equal parts punk rock and heavy metal, released over 22 albums, which sold upwards of 30 million worldwide.  Kilmister was born in Straffordshire, but spent most of his early years in North Wales.  After leaving high school early, he worked various menial jobs while learning to play the guitar.  When he was 16, he saw one of the Beatles‘ iconic Cavern Club shows and instantly knew he wanted to make music.  The next day, he bought Please Please Me and learned to play the guitar while playing along with it.  After performing in a series of local bands, Kilmister moved to London where he shared a flat with Noel Redding of the Jimi Hendrix Experience and the band’s manager.  They hired him to roadie for them throughout the UK in 1967.  In 1968, Kilmister joined Hawkwind, a space rock band that would later prove to be highly influential to countless prog rock, metal and punk bands.  He sang lead on several Hawkwind records, including their biggest hit, “Silver Machine,” which reached #3 in 1972.  He was ultimately fired from Hawkwind after being arrested trying to carry drugs across the Canadian/US border in 1975.  He ended up not being charged or convicted of a crime once it was determined that he was holding speed, which was legal in Canada at the time.  Kilmister soon formed Motorhead, who quickly found a cult following for its hard, fast, and loud rock – a sound that appealed to the growing punk scene of the UK as well as the older hard rock fans of Hawkwind and such. Motorhead, and particularly Kilmister’s fierce playing and vocal delivery has been credited for laying the foundation for what would be called thrash and speed metal.  On the other side of the metal spectrum, Motorhead was arguably flash point of what would later be known as the New Wave of British Heavy Metal.  Over the next 40 years, the band’s lineup changed several times, while their music fell in and out of favor as tastes around the world changed.  But Kilmister forged on and seemed indestructible in spite of his vices.  In 2010, the documentary film, Lemmy was released to both critical and fan acclaim.   The poignant film focused on Kilmister’s private life, which was mostly spent either on tour or sitting at the bar at the Rainbow Bar & Grill on the Sunset Strip.   The documentary introduced and reintroduced Motorhead to fans around the world, leading to the two critically acclaimed and commercially successful late-career albums, Aftershock (2013) and Bad Magic (2015).  And although he suffered a few health setbacks over the past few years, Kilmister seemed as if he’d continue to outlive many of his peers.  On December 26, 2015, he reportedly learned he was suffering from a very aggressive form of cancer.  Lemmy Kilmister was just eight days past his 70th birthday when the cancer took his life on December 28, 2015.

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Died On This Date (December 6, 2012) Huw Lloyd-Langton / Hawkwind Guitarist

Huw Lloyd-Langton (Born Richard Hugh Lloyd-Langton)
February 6, 1951 – December 6, 2012

Huw Lloyd-Langton was an English guitarist and singer who is perhaps best remembered as a three-time member of space rock pioneers, Hawkwind.  The band, which famously included Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead at one time, was a direct influence on the likes of Al Jourgensen of MinistryHenry Rollins, Monster Magnet, and the Sex Pistols, who covered their “Silver Machine.”  Born outside of London, Lloyd-Langton joined Hawkwind in time to play on their debut self-titled album of 1970.  Although the long-player was not a commercial success, it is held in high regard since it was one of the first space rock albums in history.  Lloyd-Langton left the band two years after its release due to an illness.  Aside from Hawkwind, he played  with Leo Sayer, the Bonzo Dog Band, Pretty Things, Widowmaker, and his own Lloyd-Langton Group.  He re-joined Hawkwind in 1979, and played on their albums, Live Seventy Nine and Levitation.  He left the group again during the late ’80s only to rejoin in 2001 until a bout with Legionnaires Disease forced him to depart for good.  In later years, he could be heard opening for the Hawkwind as a solo act.  On December 6, 2012, Huw Lloyd-Langton passed away following a 2-year battle with cancer.  He was 61.

Thanks to Henk de Bruin for the assist.

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Hawkwind - Hawkwind

Died On This Date (May 26, 2012) John Harrison / Founding Bassist Of Hawkwind

John Harrison
DOB Unknown – May 26, 2012

As the founding bassist for the English heavy rock band, Hawkwind, John Harrison was one of space rock’s pioneers and an influence on countless heavy metal bands to follow.  Although he helped form the band in 1969, Harrison departed in 1970 and was replaced by Thomas Krimble.  A few years later, Lemmy Kilmister, who later formed Motorhead, filled that position in Hawkwind.  While Harrison was still in the band, however, he played on their landmark debut album, Hawkwind, which has been cited as an influence on bands like the Flaming Lips and Muse.  In later years, he worked as a producer and engineer at the legendary Village Recorders studio in Los Angeles.  In the early 2000s, Harrison was diagnosed with Huntington’s disease which ultimately took his life on May 26, 2012.  John Harrison was 69 when he passed away.

Thanks to Paul Bearer for the assist.

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Died On This Date (April 4, 2011) Scott Columbus / Former Drummer For Manowar

Scott Columbus
November 10, 1956 – April 4, 2011

Scott Columbus is best remembered as a two-time drummer for popular American metal band, Manowar.  Formed in 1980, the band eventually built a worldwide following for their raw and heavy sound that has been likened to that of Black Sabbath, Deep Purple and Hawkwind.  Their songs have tended to be aggressive and thematically violent, with the band dawning animal skins in concert to add to their primal image.  The band was once recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records for putting on the loudest concert, and for performing the longest metal concert which clocked in at just over five hours.  Columbus joined the band in 1983 but was forced to leave in 1990 to care for his ill son.  He rejoined the group in 1996 and stayed on board until 2008.  He made occasional concert appearances with them in recent years.  Scott Columbus was 56 when he passed away on April 4, 2011.  Cause of death was not immediately released.

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Manowar

Died On This Date (August 14, 1988) Robert Calvert / Hawkwind

Robert Calvert
March 9, 1945 – August 14, 1988

Robert Calvert is best remembered as the sometime lead singer of British space rock band, Hawkwind.  He sang with the group at various times between 1972 and 1979.  Calvert also co-wrote one of their biggest hits, “Silver Machine.”  Highly prolific, he also released several solo albums and wrote poetry, stage plays and a novel.  Robert Calvert died of a heart attack at the age 43.

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Space Ritual (Remastered) - Hawkwind