Ok, the world would still keep on spinning even if this dude hadn't grabbed the Rickenbaker bass and had lifted up the microphone. We'd still go to work in the morning, sleep at night and have sex (on 'project' basis); we'd keep on eating, drinking and shitting every day or two (on average). Ok, so Mr. Kilmister is not the New Messiah without whom the world would come to an unfortunate end, without even short notice.
Now, lemme know [Chief Editor: nice pun there, Greg]: isn't it due to men like Ian Fraser Kilmister that 'living and breathing' Rock N' Roll music (in general) is a dream - in every teen's sleep - that can come true for a human being? Would beer taste the same without Motorhead's music? Would it be fair enough for AC/DC to probably be the sole Hard&Heavy band worshiped even by non-metalheads? This is not a Motorhead compilation; there must be more than 50 collections available already to cover your needs for classics like Ace Of Spades or Orgasmatron. This double-disc set is the 'sum' of Lemmy's 40-year career, spanning from the early 60's to the year 2005. Many 'jewels' are featured in here.
The story begins with songs taken from Lemmy's 60's days (as a guitarist) with the 'a la Kinks' Blackpool act Rockin' Vickers. A rare piece of history, isn't it? Same goes for his heavy psychedelic follow-up act, London's Sam Gopal (released the Escalator LP in 1968). Ending up to Psychedelic Rock pioneers Hawkwind in 1971, Lemmy participated in four classic Hawk albums: Doremi Falso Latido (1972), Space Ritual (1973), Hall Of The Mountain Grill (1974) and Warrior On The Edge Of Time (1975). The story of how Lemmy got fired is quite known even to my dog; still, this is a good chance for many to listen to Hawkwind's Motorhead version. I loved Hawkwind, recalls Lemmy. We too. Still, we're damn happy you did get caught at the U.S./Canadian border back then...
Ok, there are some classic Motorhead cuts in here (to build a proper track listing?), but it's the rest we should focus on. The collaboration of Motohead with all-female band Girlschool (credited as Headgirl) delivered Please Don't Touch, a single that went into the Top 5 in 1981's UK charts. More collaboration for Ian Lemmy includes the 1968's Stand By Your Man cover version - many people didn't approve of the result, though - with Wendy O' Williams (Plasmatics). Punk/Rock heroes The Damned also recorded stuff with Lemmy (The Sweet's Ballroom Blitz cover is awesome!) while the Young & Moody project - featuring the Nolan Sisters - crafted the Don't Do That single in 1980.
Kilmister's love for the fuckin' 50's is obvious, so it's quite interesting how he 'updated' tunes like e.g. Elvis' Blue Suede Shoes classic (together with The Pirates guitarist Mick Green on the Lemmy And The Upsetters 1990 album). The Lemmy, Slim Jim & Danny B project (cut the respective CD in 2003) is of the same taste, while his notable tribute to Queen's Tie Your Mother Down is equally impressive.
His latest works with Probot's Dave Grohl on Shake Your Blood and his participation on the all-star tribute to Iron Maiden in 2005 just confirm what level of consideration Lemmy is still taken in. Damage Case is the living example of a collection. Forget Motorhead's best of shit; go grab the albums you adore and focus on this one; in case, of course, you also enjoy music's 'historical extension'.
Rating? 40 years of music? It's already been rated.