For the Metallica leader, the fact that Motörhead and their former frontman Lemmy Kilmister, who passed away in 2015, were never considered for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is “an affront to rock ‘n’ roll” itself
by Rolling Stone
On the left James Hetfield (credits: Henry Ruggeri), on the right Lemmy Kilmister (credits: Steve Rapport via Getty)
The new episode of the podcast was released on May 22nd The Metallica Report, created to, as we read on the official website, «keep up to date on the world of Metallica by going directly to the source of the news». Keeping this promise, the icastically titled episode 43 James Hetfieldhosts the leader of the Los Angeles band.
During the conversation, Hetfield spoke at length about his relationship with former Motörhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister, who passed away in 2015 at the age of 70. In particular, the musician wanted to focus on the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, whose new entries for 2024 were announced about a month ago (among them Cher, Mary J. Blige, Foreigner and others).
«Lemmy Kilmister was the most rock of all, he lived according to the dictates of rock, but he is not in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. He is a joke, a disgrace. Basically, he’s an affront to rock ‘n’ roll.” Motörhead (and therefore with them Lemmy in post-mortem) have been eligible for the Hall of Fame since 2002, which marked the 25th anniversary of their first, self-titled album. Despite this, they were never selected as possible candidates. We remind you that for an artist to be selected as possible induced at the Hall of Fame a quarter of a century must have passed since the publication of the first studio work. At that point, a committee of rock historians creates a selection of names, which in turn pass through the scrutiny of 500 rock experts from around the world.
This isn’t the first time Hetfield has honored Lemmy and his memory. This April is the news of a very special tattoo, which Hetfield got “for” Kilmister: an ace of spades (theace of swords of the famous Motörhead song) tattooed on the index finger of his right hand. Except, mixed in with the ink, there was a hint of Lemmy’s ashes, left after his body was cremated.
