Motörhead guitarist Phil Campbell has once again quashed rumors of frontman Lemmy Kilmister’s death, following the frontman’s pre-mature departure from the stage at the recent Wacken festival in Germany.
The performance, which took place on Friday, August 2, was Motörhead’s first live show since Lemmy was forced to cancel a series of shows in June after being hospitalized with a hematoma.
The band played five songs: ‘I Know How to Die,’ ‘Damage Case,’ ‘Stay Clean’ and ‘Metropolis and Over the Top’ before Lemmy was overcome by the grueling, 100+degree heat and left the stage. He came back to sing ‘The Chase Is Better Than the Catch’ but was unable to proceed from there.
The shortened set sparked rumors that Lemmy had died, however, Campbell quickly responded to such claims: “Contrary to some reports, Lem is alive and kicking, so take no notice of these rumors from asshole tweeters,” Campbell wrote on Facebook.
Shortly after, Motörhead also released a statement along with footage from Friday’s show (see below). The band’s statement read as follows: “The show had to go on because that’s how Lemmy rolls. Even though he was not 100% fit, he refused to feel he was letting the 85,000 Wacken fans down. They kicked ass in the 100+degree heat for a shortened, but powerful, set before, Lemmy finally realized he might have bitten off a little more than he could chew. Thus he will embark upon the recuperation recommended. We know that rumors are flying around, but once he fully recharges, Motörhead will be back, don’t you worry!”
Organizers of the Wacken festival said: “Motörhead rocked the Black Stage for more than 30 minutes and Lemmy gave everything to play an amazing show… He’s keeping well, but the temperatures and circumstance led to the point that continuing the show would have led to a loss of quality. They did everything humanly possible to play this gig. Thank you so much, guys!”
Motörhead will release their 21st studio album, ‘Aftershock’ in the fall.
Stay tuned for further updates.
Motörhead’s Phil Campbell Quashes Reports Of Lemmy’s Death Rumors
