Memorial services for iconicMotorheadfrontmanIan "Lemmy" Kilmisterwill be held on Saturday, January 9 from 2:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. at the Rainbow Bar & Grill in West Hollywood, California.
Lemmy, who celebrated his 70th birthday on Christmas Eve (December 24), learned two days later, on December 26, that he was afflicted with an aggressive form of cancer. He died two days later, on Monday (December 28) at his home in Los Angeles.
Lemmyhad been dealing with serious health issues for the past two years, including getting a pacemaker in 2013 and suffering from a hematoma last year. But despite 40 years of hard living and drinking, he continued to tour and record at a feverish pace.
The band was forced to cancel or postpone a number of shows last year due toLemmy's poor health, which also forced him to cut back on his drinking and give up smoking.
WhileMotorheaditself was revered by metal and punk fans,Lemmyhimself became a rock and roll icon and elder statesman, the embodiment of a musician who lived the rock lifestyle to the fullest and never stopped.
To the surprise of no one,Motorheadwill not continue withoutLemmy. DrummerMikkey Deeconfirmed the decision in an interview with the Swedish paperExpressen, saying, Motorheadis over, of course.Lemmywas Motorhead. But the band will live on in the memories of many."
Dee, who'd been in the band since 1992, said that the band's last tour was very difficult forLemmy.Deesaid, "He was terribly gaunt. He spent all his energy on stage and afterwards he was very, very tired. It's incredible that he could even play, that he could finish the Europe tour. It was only 20 days ago. Unbelievable."
With their raw, uncompromising sound, Motorheadnever became a major commercial success, butLemmyand his cohorts remained a popular live attraction for the next several decades while winning aGrammyin 2005 and recording a total of 22 studio albums. The most edition of the band, featuring guitaristPhil CampbellandDee, spent 22 years together, releasing its now-final album,"Bad Magic", this year.
