Lemmy Finally Comes Home to Burslem
Catch local sculptor Andy Edwards' statue being unveiled in Market Place this Friday, along with a tribute band and exhibition. Story by Jason Ritchie
Ian Fraser Kilmister, or Lemmy, was born in Burslem on Christmas Eve 1945 and is arguably the most famous rock musician to hail from Stoke-on-Trent along with Slash. He lived in the area until he was 10 living in Newcastle and Madeley with his mother and grandmother, before moving to Anglesey when his mum remarried.
To commemorate this local musical legend, a statue of Lemmy created by local sculptor Andy Edwards, is to be unveiled this Friday, May 9. It’s a significant date, as it represents 10 years after his death and 50 years since Motörhead were formed.
The statue is located in the Market Square, opposite the Queen’s Theatre, which has been closed since 2014. Community interest group Lemmy Forever, which worked with Andy Edwards on the project, hopes to re-open the theatre as a music venue named Kilmister Halls.
The ceremony will commence in Burslem town centre at approximately 4pm. Motörhead guitarist Phil Campbell will be at the statue’s unveiling, and will place some of Lemmy’s ashes into the statue. The statue’s pose – Lemmy singing up to the mic – is inspired by Lemmy’s performance at the Heavy Metal Holocaust.
Andy Edwards says Lemmy was his hero when he was growing up and explained to the BBC that, “Lemmy’s such a big part of my life. He deserves a statue in his birthplace. So, it’s really meaningful to me.”
Fans can also visit the Bare Walls Art Gallery where rarely-seen Lemmy photos will be on display, while Canal Street Studio in Longport is running an ‘Ace of Spades’ open exhibition on 10-11/05 featuring artwork by local people inspired by legend Lemmy.
After the statue unveiling, Grumpys Motorcycles will host A Night of Music to Celebrate the Life of Lemmy with Motörhead tribute band Motörwrecked, alongside an auction of exclusive items supplied by Motörhead’s record label and merchandise companies.
A very limited number of wristbands for the auction will be available on a first-come-first-served basis to purchase on the day from the event office, which can be found at The Old Post Office Bar priced at £10. There will also be exclusive merchandise available at The Old Post Office.
Music Mania will also be hosting an event at the Mitchell Arts Centre in Hanley from 7.30pm featuring Motörhead tribute band Motörheadache. Tickets cost £18 and are on sale here.
Lemmy found musical fame with Hawkwind, before being sacked by them in 1975, and forming Motörhead in 1975. Motörhead played the Victoria Hall regularly on their tours, including headlining the Heavy Metal Holocaust at Port Vale’s ground in August 1981. It showed how big Motörhead were at the time as Ozzy Osbourne was the special guest, having left Black Sabbath the year before. Ironically Black Sabbath were originally meant to appear but pulled out in early July citing “recording commitments”.
Lemmy’s statue follows a long line of rock star statues in the UK and Ireland that includes Phil Lynott (Dublin), Rory Gallagher (Cork), Marc Bolan (London), Keith Richards and Mick Jagger (Dartford) and John Bonham (Redditch). All bring in fans and visitors throughout the year, which is what Lemmy’s statue will do and hopefully spark a musical revival in Burslem with the plans to re-open the Queens Theatre. The end of December will become a celebration for Motörhead and Lemmy followers in Burslem, marking both his birth and death.
A little bit of Lemmy and Motörhead lives on in this statue in Burslem, a new home for rock n roll. Leaving the last words to the man himself, “People don’t want to see the guy next door on the stage, they want to see a being from another planet. You want to see somebody you’d never meet in ordinary life.”
