The music world farewelled legendary Motörhead frontman Ian “Lemmy” Kilmister over the weekend with a star-studded memorial service in Los Angeles.
Though the service itself was a private, invite-only affair, the world at large was given a very special seat for the event, with the whole thing being live-streamed on YouTube.
As some 250,000-odd people tuned in, a parade of Lemmy’s high-profile pals took turns delivering stories of the great man – of both his legendary carefree, hard-living lifestyle, but also of his tremendous warmth, kindness, gentlemanly manner, and heart. Luminaries such as Slash, Scott Ian of Anthrax, Rob Halford from Judas Priest, even the WWE‘s Triple H all took the stage to share their thoughts.
But it was the eulogy delivered by Dave Grohl – one of Lemmy’s closest pals and a frequent musical collaborator – that brought the house down.
Grohl’s touching, emotional tribute covered first meeting the man he frequently described as his “hero,” right through their subsequent friendship. Fighting back tears, Grohl then produced a Bible pamphlet he had signed by Little Richard – the performer Lemmy had idolised growing up – revealing he had planned to give it to Lemmy on his birthday.
Grohl then read out a psalm from that pamphlet – Precious Lord, Take My Hand – before toasting his hero, his idol, and his friend, as the sound of distorted feedback from Lemmy’s signature Rickenbacker bass rang to close out the service.
Cheers, Lem. Thanks for everything.
Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images.
Source: Uproxx.
