Plans to immortalize the legendary Motörhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister with a statue in his birthplace of Burslem have received official approval. Lemmy, who passed away in 2015, was the iconic voice and bassist behind Motörhead from its formation in 1975 until his death. The band gained widespread acclaim with their hit “Ace of Spades” in 1980.
The proposed statue faced scrutiny due to concerns raised by the police regarding the potential for it to attract enthusiastic but potentially disruptive crowds. Despite these concerns, the project was greenlit, with the statue set to be a 2.25m bronze figure, resting on a plinth in the Market Place of the town. Funding efforts are currently underway to bring this vision to life.
The statue will be crafted from Staffordshire clay and designed by Andy Edwards, a sculptor renowned for his work on statues of notable figures such as Brian Clough, Peter Taylor, and The Beatles. The design has undergone modifications to address police concerns, including increasing the height of the statue’s plinth from 2.5m to 3m and altering the plinth material from polished black granite to sandstone to complement the surrounding architecture.
Lemmy’s connection to Burslem and his international fame as a musician make the statue a fitting tribute. Before forming Motörhead, Lemmy was a member of Hawkwind but was dismissed from the band in 1975, which led him to start Motörhead. The statue aims to capture Lemmy in a characteristic pose with his bass guitar, contributing to his enduring legacy.
Staffordshire Police have expressed their support for the statue in principle, highlighting Lemmy’s status as a “celebrated local son.” However, they voiced concerns over the potential for the statue, particularly the microphone stand element, to be climbed on or damaged.
The statue will capture Lemmy, born Ian Fraser Kilmister, in an iconic pose with his bass guitar, singing up towards a raised microphone, encapsulating the essence of his stage presence.
The community and fans of Lemmy are rallying behind the project, with a Go Fund Me campaign already raising a portion of the £50,000 needed for the statue.
