This is Motörhead.
And they play rock and roll.
The band that does everything louder than everyone else blew out The Amp in Pompano Beach, Florida with no remorse on Saturday, September 26, 2015. It was the final stop of the Motörhead 40th Anniversary Tour in the United States when they played sold-out Pompano Beach Amphitheater. In true rock star fashion, Lemmy Kilmister, Phil Campbell and Mikkey Dee performed with opening-night intensity. It was a high volume statement to all the denim-clad fans at the sold-out Motörhead concert: metal music is alive and well!
Armed with his trusty Rickenbacker slung around his shoulder, legendary frontman Lemmy Kilmister strolled beneath his microphone and kicked off the Motörhead concert with “Bomber.” Flanked by his infamous Marshall stacks, topped with super bass heads named Hammer and Vroom, the father of loud thumped his bass and sang with familiar grittiness. He then tore through a setlist that included heavy-hitting tracks from a long and enduring career. From the very first note to the last lyric, one thing was clear — Lemmy was there to show the fans a good time and push all decibel limits.
The only thing more deafening than the music was the cheering from the fans, who showered Lemmy and the band with screams of approval and fist-pumping love.
When you’re in a band like Motörhead, you can’t be expected to just go through the motions of playing. Obviously, nobody who’s ever seen the band play live would accuse guitarist Phil Campbell or drummer Mikkey Dee of falling short. These guys live to rock and shine through with ballsy enthusiasm on every song. Phil Campbell strolled the stage while ripping through riffs and throwing guitar picks to lucky members in the audience. Mikkey Dee was a blur of precision time keeping behind a sea of drums. Both guys did solos, which seems to be a lost art at concerts. But very much appreciated by all the fans at the Pompano Beach Amphitheater.
Though there were concerns about his health, Lemmy Kilmister cast those aside and delivered and epic Motörhead experience. Perhaps it was a nod to the band’s motto: Victoria Aut Morte. Translation? Victory or Death. More likely it was just Lemmy being Lemmy. Because in his words, “I don’t see why there should be a point where everyone decides you’re too old. I’m not too old, and until I decide I’m too old, I’ll never be too fucking old.”
Rock on Lemmy! Your next adventure awaits …
It was so exacting I could feel my heart in my throat. The music was in every muscle of my body.
Love that image of Mikkey floating in a sea of drums.
So glad that Lemmy made it to Pompano.