Dead man's fans again! Hundreds of Motörhead fans arrive in Stoke as statue of front man Lemmy famous for their hit Ace Of Spades is unveiled in his home town

Daily Mail​

10-05-2025

Thousands of eager Motörhead fans gathered to witness the unveiling of a statue dedicated to frontman Lemmy Kilmister yesterday.
The two-metre tall tribute to the renowned musician, born Ian Fraser Kilmister, has been erected on Market Place in his hometown of Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, nearly a decade on from his death.
Renowned for their popular 1980s hit Ace of Spades, featuring the line 'the dead man's hand again', Motörhead skyrocketed to international stardom in the late 1970s, releasing 20 studio albums over the course of a 40-year career.
By 2025, the heavy metal band had sold more than 25 million albums worldwide, with the group often credited for influencing multiple music scenes.
Now, 50 years since the legendary band was formed, fans in their thousands were keen to catch a glimpse of the new monument which depicts the beloved rockstar during his 1980s heyday.
Designed by Blurton sculptor and lifelong fan Andy Edwards, the statue even includes space to include Lemmy's ashes, which were accompanied to the ceremony by a procession of motorbikes.
Renowned for their popular 1980s hit Ace of Spades, featuring the line 'the dead man's hand again', Motörhead skyrocketed to international stardom in the late 1970s, releasing 20 studio albums over the course of a 40-year career
Alongside the unveiling of the new monument, other highlights to mark the anticipated event included a biker cavalcade, a 21-rev salute, and even an appearance from Motörhead guitarist Phil Campbell.
Lemmy found early success with the band Hawkwind before rocketing to international stardom with Motörhead in 1975.
The group later became one of the defining metal bands of the 1980s, with Lemmy, lead singer, founder and bassist, once described as having 'one of the most recognisable voices in rock'.
He died, aged 70, on December 28 2015, with his heartbreaking passing announced in a statement on the Motörhead Facebook page, which remembered a 'mighty, noble friend' and called on fans to play his music loud and 'have a drink or few'.
His death came just over a month after the passing of his bandmate Phil 'Philthy Animal' Taylor.
Famous for his hard-rocking lifestyle, Kilmister said he drank a bottle of Jack Daniels every day for many years, and also claimed to have slept with more than 1,000 women.
He said he had never married because the love of his life, a woman named Susan Bennett, had died of a heroin overdose aged 19. He dedicated his autobiography to Ms Bennett.
Pictured: fans gathered for the unveiling ceremony, which also featured a biker cavalcade, a 21-rev salute, and even an appearance from Motörhead guitarist Phil Campbell
In November last year, MailOnline reported that his ashes were understood to have been rehomed at Stringfellows nightclub in Covent Garden.
The venue, which Lemmy was known to frequent, was even the place where Motörhead celebrated their 35th anniversary in November, 2010.
Motörhead's former manager Todd Singerman said Stringfellows 'always had a special place' in Lemmy's heart.
He told The Sun: 'He loved the relaxed environment — and he certainly loved the view. I know he's relieved he can get back to enjoying one of his favourite places.'
It was the musician's request before his death for his remains to be placed inside bullets and sent to his loved ones.
And in 2021, crew members Eddie Rocha and Emma Cederblad shared a video of them getting the permanent tribute to their late friend.
Lemmy, whose real name was Ian Fraser Kilmister, later lived in nearby Newcastle-under-Lyme and Madeley after growing up in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent
The clip began with the caption: 'Some of Lemmy's ashes were shared with family and close friends.'
The bullet was then shown before the powdery residue was seen being slipped into ink to create a portrait of the musician for Eddie's leg and the band's iconic spade emblem for Emma.
Former MTV Headbangers Ball host Riki Rachtman was the first to share the golden bullet he received engraved with Lemmy's name earlier that year.
He captioned his Twitter post: ' Before his death #Lemmy asked for his ashes to be put in some bullets and handed out to his closest friends Today I received a bullet and was literally brought to tears Thank you @myMotorhead.'