When you think about rock and roll, few figures stand as tall as Lemmy Kilmister. As the leader of Motörhead, he lived and breathed the true spirit of rock: loud, fast, fearless, and unapologetically wild. But before he became the bass-slamming icon we know today, Lemmy’s life was shaped by someone even bigger in his eyes — the one and only Jimi Hendrix.
Most people remember Lemmy with his Rickenbacker bass hanging low across his chest. But interestingly, he didn’t start on bass at all. Lemmy began as a guitar player, just another young musician trying to find his place in the ’60s rock scene. His switch to bass happened almost by accident. When he was with the band Hawkwind, someone asked if anyone could play bass, and a friend pointed at Lemmy. He had never even touched one before. With only a quick set of instructions — “Make some noises in E, don’t do this, don’t do that” — he was thrown into the deep end. And as history shows, that dive changed everything.
Seeing Hendrix for the First Time
The late ’60s was a time of psychedelic music, colourful fashions, and groundbreaking bands like The Beatles and Cream. But even in that vibrant scene, one musician stood above everyone else: Jimi Hendrix. Coming from Seattle with a style no one had ever seen, Hendrix blended blues, soul, rock, and pure emotion into something magical.
While many fans worshipped Eric Clapton as the guitar hero of the era, Hendrix quickly stole the spotlight. His sound, his stage presence, and even his wild moments — like setting his guitar on fire — made him unforgettable.
Lemmy wasn’t just a fan from the crowd. He actually worked as a roadie for Hendrix a few times. Watching Hendrix up close left a lifelong mark on him. Lemmy later said, “You’ll never see a guitar player like him, ever. Van Halen and all them guys don’t even get close.” To Lemmy, Hendrix wasn’t just talented — he was superhuman. The way he played guitar felt like sorcery.
Building Motörhead: The Heaviest Rock and Roll
After leaving Hawkwind, Lemmy wanted to create something heavier, louder, and more aggressive than anything else around. Inspired partly by the bold energy of artists like Little Richard — and the fearlessness Hendrix showed on stage — Lemmy formed Motörhead.
With albums like Overkill and Bomber, Motörhead set a new standard for heavy music. They weren’t polished or fancy. Their sound was raw, fast, and pure adrenaline. And even though Motörhead had great guitarists over the years, Lemmy always believed that no one could ever truly match Hendrix’s magic.
Lemmy’s Lasting Respect
Even as he became a rock legend in his own right, Lemmy never stopped admiring Hendrix. He knew what he had seen in those early days: a man who completely rewrote what a guitar could do. Hendrix didn’t just play music — he reshaped it.
For Lemmy, Hendrix was proof that creativity has no limits. And that belief stayed with him throughout his career.