Although Motörhead was only formed in 1975, the band’s founder, bassist, singer and main songwriter Lemmy Kilmister was already in the music business for more than a decade. He was part of many bands and even was Jimi Hendrix‘s roadie for a while. So he had the chance to see the evolution of Rock and Roll up-close and obviously, after he gained fame with his own band, he also had the opportunity to see many incredible bands appear.
One of them was Van Halen, which Lemmy had the chance to see performing live for the first time in the late 70s, right after they released their groundbreaking self-titled debut album. He once recalled that show, giving his opinion on the band.
What was Lemmy Kilmister’s opinion on Van Halen
Besides being one of the most influential Heavy Rock songwriters, bassists and singers of all time, Lemmy was also known for being quite sincere about anything. He always would give his real opinion on other artists and he actually liked Van Halen. He praised the band when he recalled the first time he had the chance to see them. As said in an interview featured in the book “Van Halen: A Visual Story, 1978 – 1984” (Via VNHD), that show happened in London.
“I first saw Van Halen at the Rainbow (no, not the L.A one, the old London one, a big theater) back in 1970-something and I thought they could have been louder. Well, I always think it can be louder! Apart from that, they were excellent: an ultimately impressive frontman (athletic in spandex extremis), the mighty Ed burning the strings off his guitar, and the rock of a rhythm section. Killer show and excellent songs too. People said ‘Aaargh, they got big hair!’ I said, ‘If they sound that good, I don’t care if they got five buttocks! Each!
the setlist that night was
- “On Fire”
- “I’m The One”
- “Runnin’ With The Devil”
- “Atomic Punk”
- “Little Dreamer”
- “Feel Your Love Tonight”
- “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love”
- “Eruption”
- “You Really Got Me”
- “D.O.A”
- “Bottoms Up”
Lemmy had the chance to see Eddie Van Halen later on and to hang out with him. There is even a nice photo of the two drinking together in the early 90s.
Lemmy Kilmister thought Eddie Van Halen was nowhere near Jimi Hendrix
Although he liked Van Halen, Lemmy in an interview with Spin in 2009, that Eddie was nowhere near Jimi Hendrix. He was one of the few people in the world who had the chance to see both of them playing live. He recalled his experience as Hendrix’s roadie and then addressed the constant comparison people made between Jimi and Eddie.
“In 1967, I was 21, and the only guy I knew in London was Neville Chester, a roadie who worked with the Who. I rang him up and said, ‘Can I crash on your floor?’ He was sharing a flat with Noel Redding. So when Hendrix needed an extra guy, I was right there. To see Hendrix play was magic. The things he did with a guitar have not been equaled to this day. He played rhythm and lead at the same time, under his leg, behind his neck, behind his back, left and right, upside down. Fucking amazing. God bless Eddie Van Halen, he’s nowhere near. Hendrix did it all, and when he died, it stopped,” Lemmy Kilmister said.
Lemmy was 10 years older than Eddie and passed away in 2015 at the age of 70.