From Ozzy to Dave Grohl: Lemmy Kilmister’s collaborations

There was something about it unmistakable in the way Lemmy Kilmister moved between life and musicwith that rough voice, the fast bass and the microphone placed high up, together with a smile that promised trouble, a cigarette between his lips and – at least until 2013, when for health reasons he had to slow down this habit – a bottle of Jack Daniel’s within reach. Today, December 28, on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the passing of the iconic Motörhead frontman, Rockol dedicates a special to Lemmy Kilmister with a “mixtape” (available at this link), to remember not only the immortal musician, but also the icon he was for many, the friend of many and the tireless collaborator of a rock universe that knows no boundaries. Because Lemmy, beyond the mustache and skull and crossbones hat, he left his mark wherever he satwherever he played the bass or crossed the voice with other artists, always ready to subvert expectations and mix chaos and sonic magic.

Among all his traveling companions, the long and fraternal friendship with Ozzy Osbournewith which music became a bond that transcended time and space. Among the most recent publications, the two reunited in 2021 in an unprecedented animated version of “Hellraiser“, included in the re-release for the thirty years of “No more tears” by the Black Sabbath frontman – who only passed away last July 22nd. In the video, produced by Hey Beautiful Jerk and directed by Mark Szumski and Gina Niespodziani, Ozzy and Lemmy find themselves at the legendary Rainbow Bar & Grill on Sunset Boulevard, surrounded by friends, before being catapulted into a post-apocalyptic world where they fight the forces of evil, like in a living comic book. “I’m really happy that we were able to honor my dear friend Lemmy with this duet and now the video,” Osbourne declared at the time of the release, immortalizing a bond that not even death could break. Motörhead also recorded their own version of “Hellraiser” for the 1992 album, “March ör Die”.

Hellraiser was not the only collaboration between Ozzy and Lemmy, who wrote the lyrics for four songs on the 1991 album “No more tears”, including the famous “Mama, I’m coming home“, a ballad that shows the more introspective side of Ozzy, who made the piece his favorite song and became a pillar of his repertoire, also performed in his final farewell set, “Back to the Beginning”. Lemmy recalled: “”Ozzy sent me a tape with a song he wanted lyrics for. I think he just gave me the title. I’m good at that, because that’s how I write songs: I make up a title and then I write the song around it. Later, Ozzy and I were doing interviews together at this festival and some guy asked him, ‘The song Mama, I’m coming home is the most personal thing you’ve ever written. Was that a big break?’ And Ozzy said, ‘He wrote that!’”

Among the other artists with whom Lemmy has collaborated, there is also Dave Grohlfor example, with whom the Motörhead frontman had formed a bond based on mutual respect and fascination. Grohl, who has elected Kilmister since he was a child as one of his absolute idolsbluntly called him “a true rock ‘n’ roll hero, a living legend”, presenting his contribution to the 2024 book “No Remorse: The Illustrated True Stories Of Lemmy Kilmister And Motörhead”. Dave and Lemmy didn’t join forces just for the project Probot of 2004, born from the desire of the Foo Fighters frontman to reunite the voices that had formed his metal imagination. Grohl and Kilmister also collaborated together on the Christmas album “We Wish You a Metal Xmas and a Headbanging New Year”, which included their cover of “Run Rudolph Run” (read more here) with Lemmy on vocals, Dave on drums and Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top on guitar.

Lemmy moved equally naturally between punk, metal and classic rock. During his musical adventure Lemmy Kilmister found himself acting as a roadie at some English concerts Jimi Hendrix thanks to Noel Redding, he played with the Plasmatics by Wendy O. Williamswith which – among other things – he recorded “Stand by your man”. Kilmister’s esteem for the Ramonesthen, it was boundless, so he signed the mix of the piece “Go Home Ann” and dedicated “RAMONES” released on Motörhead’s 1991 album “1916”.

From the rockabilly trio Head Cat who formed out of his love for the music of the early ’50s, Lemmy played with the unpredictable throughout his career, mixing styles and worlds, without ever losing his own identity, even collaborating with Samantha Foxwith which he attempted to re-record “Love Hurts”, originally written for the Everly Brothers and made famous by Nazareth in 1975, as well as wanting to create a heavy metal version of Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers and even writing an original song “Beauty and the Beast”, unfortunately never published. There were also many occasions that saw Lemmy together with the Damned, but also with Slash guest on Motörhead’s 1992 album “March ör Die” on the songs “I ain’t no nice guy” also featuring Ozzy Osbourne and “You better run”. Lemmy then returned the favor by playing and singing on the Guns N’ Roses guitarist’s song, “Dr Alibi”, from 2010.