LEMMY: The BAM Interview Pt. 1

[C.E. Anderson]

        And now, for your further horror and education, we present Lemmy
from the pages of BAM magazine (thanks to Deb for having their address!):

Forwarded message:
> Date: Fri, 13 Oct 1995 10:45:00 -0700
> From: LorryMU at eworld.com
> To: cea20 at cus.cam.ac.uk
> Subject: Re: Lemmy article in BAM
>
> Here ya go: here's the first part, second part to follow:
>
> ---------
>
> Lemmy Kilmister Makes the Ultimate Sacrifice
>
> by Janiss Garza
>
> (First appeared in "BAM" magazine October 6, 1995)
>
>
> When it comes to rock 'n' roll, Lemmy Kilmister has been there, done that,
> and seen it all. His band, Motorhead, is one of the most influential in the
> history of hard music. During their 20-year existence, Motorhead has made 18
> albums, been nominated for a Grammy award (for 1991's 1916), inspired artists
> like Guns N' Roses and Metallica, and travelled the world over many times.
> But even before Motorhead, Lemmy's career in rock had already spanned over a
> decade. He saw the Beatles play Liverpool's Cavern Club in the very early
> '60s. His first band of any note, the Rocking Vicars, was the first British
> group to play behind the Iron Curtain. He roadied for Jimi Hendrix, and he
> was in the infamous '70s cult band Hawkwind during their most productive era.
> Currently, he's working on his autobiography--that is, when he isn't on the
> road. Memoirs or no, Lemmy isn't about to hang up his bass and his mike
> stand. After all, Motorhead has a new album to promote.
>
> Sacrifice, Motorhead 's latest disc on CMC Records, is as fierce and
> unrelenting as any of the group's classic albums like "Ace of Spades" or "No
> Sleep 'Til Hammersmith." Although Lemmy will reach the half-century mark at
> the end of this year, it's clear that age hasn't slowed him down or tamed him
> in the least. His digs in West Hollywood are filled with World War II
> artifacts (he's an expert on the era), and that's symbolic of his fighting
> spirit. The man has spent his life battling the evil forces of big business
> and the record industry with his gritty, outspoken attitude. Controversy is
> his middle name--and he likes it that way.
>
>
> Originally MTV Europe said your video of "Sacrifice"--the title track of your
> new album--had too many images of Hitler and wanted you to change that.
>
> Oh, it ended up we didn't have to take anything out.
>
>
> Why not?
>
> Well, MTV Europe started playing it as it is, and it went over very big in
> Germany! [laughs] I think they sort of felt a bit foolish, so they're playing
> it as it is. [It came] from them not wanting to offend the Germans, you know
> what I mean? I think it sort of backfired on 'em. That's how clever they are,
> you know.
>
>
> People might find an image of Hitler offensive, even though it's obviously in
> a negative context.
>
> He existed, didn't he? Are people trying to pretend he didn't exist? Seeing
> him makes him more attractive, that's what it is, and people hate that in
> themselves. In the 20th century, he was the most popular ruler on the fucking
> continent of Europe. And in America, they had Nazi rallies in Madison Square,
> you know. I mean, nobody knew he was bad until afterward! Why aren't they
> uptight about Jefferson Davis, then? People still hang the Confederate flag
> outside their house in the South and nobody bitches about that, and they were
> as racist as Hitler was. So, why isn't that a bad news sign? I mean, Robert
> E. Lee is a big hero to the American people, isn't he? And he was crusading
> for a slave state. You want to talk about the red Indians any time? Talk
> about genocide! It's a perfect parallel, only Hitler failed, you succeeded.
> So don't talk to me about Hitler.
>
>
> One of the biggest problems with human nature, is...
>
> Put your head in the sand and it'll be OK. Well, he didn't go away. He
> slaughtered a quarter of the world, any questions? And he was a nonsmoker,
> non-drinker, vegetarian, nice, smart suit, short hair, well turned out.
> [He'd] get served in any restaurant in America, unlike Jesse Owens, who was
> the hero of the Olympics in 1936. He came home, covered in glory and eight
> medals after showing Hitler the benefits of Democracy and inter-racial
> society, and they wouldn't serve him dinner in a restaurant in his own town.
> They're quite happy to ill-treat Jesse Owens, a returning black athlete, but
> they try to pretend Hitler never happened. What the fuck's that? I mean,
> there're clubs in America where Jews aren't allowed, still!
>