Never really knew.

But while channel surfin' in San Antonio last week, I came across the Dennis Miller show (love that show) and saw a panel which included someone who looked like a Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show musician.

Lemmy.

I thought he was intelligent and articulate. Maybe a bit left-field.

That's our Ian "Lemmy" Kilminster, son of a Vicar (his first band was The Rocking Vicars). Just to set the record straight, Lemmy was in Hawkwind from which he got the name of his more famous band from: Motorhead. The original hawkwind version featured a violin solo (!), he also re-recorded a version of it with Hawkwind again ~'78.

its funny he went from the crazy acid-prog of hawkwind to the strait forward balls out rock of motorhead.

To legally owna rickenbacker, even if you stole it, you have to go through a crazy acid-prog phase

I didn't hear about it until the day after it was on. I hope I'll catch the replay. He's always great on those shows. You always get something quotable from him.

A quote from Lemmy "If you look beyond all the ta-lee-a-lee and toot-toot on top, there was a great 3 piece rock band." (from Everything Louder Than Everything Else)

Yeah, don't ya just love it?

I mean, yeah, while Lemmy holds down a bar stool at The Rainbow almost every night of the week, collects Nazi memorabilia and has done enough crystal meth to paralyze a bull moose, he's still a smart, well-spoken guy with interesting opinions. He's one of those guys that rockers can point to and say, "See? We're not all morons!"

Although I DO think it's sad that his blood has been officially considered medically toxic to other human beings since 1980.

Well, it actually makes sense... apparently Lemmy was only supposed to be in Hawkwind for six months, but he wound up staying for four years. Then the other Hawkwind guys ditched him when he was busted for drug possession (speed) in Canada—even though the other Hawkwind guys were wayyyy into LSD. Lemmy says they kicked him out for using the "wrong" drugs. Consequently, he decided to put together "dirtiest rock 'n' roll band in the world" as a direct reaction to his time in Hawkwind, so he painted his paisley amp black and started Motorhead. Makes sense to me.

Fun to see Motorhead (along with MeatLoaf/JimSteinman) laying claim to Ian Paice's offhand comment from 1972.

I didn't know that.. But hey in 1972 I was just a wee tot. Forgive my ignorance but who is Ian Paice?

Edit: Ian Paice was Deep Purple's drummer.

If you listen to the stage banter on "Made in Japan", singer Ian Gillan is asking for more monitor: "Can I have everything up here please.... a bit more monitor, have you got it?". In the background Paice says "Can I have everything louder than everything else" which Gillan then repeats.

He was kicked out because he was caught passing over the Canada/US border with a suitcase full of speed which the authorities mistook for cocaine (speed was still legal atthe time). When he managed to enter the US and catch up with the Hawks he discovered he'd already been replaced. He has done some stuff with them on and off over the years, from appearing at the Stonehenge festival to Bob Calverts solo stuff. I also read an interview with him a few years ago saying that he'd still be with Hawkwind if they hadn't kicked him out (also noteworthy: Alan Davey, the current Hawkwind bassist, is an open Lem fan).

May the gods bless you Lemmy!

No one mentioned that Motorhead won their first Grammy? This was for "Best Metal Performance".