Lemmy Kilminster’s ashes have a new home at O2 Apollo Manchester. Following Download festival last weekend, which saw long-time friend of Lemmy’s, Guns N’Roses’ Duff McKagan lead a ceremony at the Lemmy Lounge, Lemmy arrived at O2 Apollo Manchester today.
A procession of bikers drove across Manchester arriving at the venue to celebrate this new memorial, which will give fans of Lemmy and Motörhead a new opportunity to pay their respects to a true music icon before the ashes make their pilgrimage back to Download festival each June.
A much-loved venue for both Lemmy and Motörhead, they had played there 23 times across five decades throughout their legendary career.
The Motörhead frontman’s ashes were displayed alongside a custom-made slot machine that he toured with. The ceremony saw invited guests and friends gather to share stories, celebrate Lemmy’s extraordinary life, and honour a frontman whose influence on rock ‘n’ roll remains as powerful today as ever.
Long-time friend Skunk Anansie Guitarist and songwriter Ace delivered a speech about Lemmy’s legacy saying “he felt honoured” to have spent so much time with him and being a part of the Motörhead community. He added that Lemmy always had so many “great stories” and everyone who ever met him loved the “most unique rock ‘n’ roller in the World”.
“O2 Apollo Manchester is a venue Lemmy always felt at home playing. It is a venue that embodied many of the things Lemmy valued—history, authenticity, great crowds, and a deep connection to working-class rock-and-roll culture.” Motörhead manager Todd Singerman
Alan Hungerford who worked and toured with Lemmy and Motörhead for many years said, “This was our fifth Lemmy Forever event in the UK and there is no better home in Manchester for this historical moment and Lemmy’s ashes than O2 Apollo Manchester. The history here that the band have and the fact that Lemmy used to go for a pint during the drum solo at the pub behind the venue every night when we played it during the show feels incredibly fitting. Today’s been really successful and I know Lem would have loved it.”
Motörhead at O2 Apollo Manchester:
24 Nov 1979
27 Oct 1980
28 Oct 1980
10 Jun 1983
29 Oct 1984
20 Sept 1986
22 Sept 1987
13 Apr 1991
10 Jun 1995
9 Oct 1998
21 May 2001
13 Oct 2002
13 Oct 2003
14 Nov 2004
5 Nov 2005
5 Nov 2006
14 Nov 2008
21 Nov 2009
16 Nov 2010
18 Nov 2011
6 Nov 2012
20 Nov 2013
4 Nov 2014
Photo credit: Eddy Highton
