Motörhead’s Lemmy Kilmister Gets Proper Sendoff as 55 Harley Davidson Escort His Ashes to Nottingham Rock City

Embracing the lifestyle of a rockstar, Lemmy Kilmister used his love for music and his iconic mutton chops to become a legend in British heavy metal. Part of the legendary band Motörhead, the singer watched as the band released hit albums like Overkill, Bomber, and Ace of Spades. Sadly, after a life of chain-smoking and alcohol abuse, Kilmister passed away at 70 years old on December 28, 2015. Although nearly a decade after his passing, the musician’s legacy continues on as the rockstar received a proper sendoff thanks to the Bloodstock Open Air festival. 

After ending the Bloodstock Open Air festival, 55 Harley Davidson set out on an hour’s drive alongside a truck that held the bust of Kilmister’s ashes. Traveling to Nottingham Rock City, more than enough fans were able to catch some footage of the massive convoy. 

Once arriving, the bust was placed inside the venue’s wall and was accompanied by an Ace of Spades’ plague. Speaking about the celebration, Vicky Hungerford, the co-director of Bloodstock, said, “It’s been a very emotional weekend for all involved in the ‘Lemmy Forever’ tribute at Bloodstock. The send-off today with 55 Harley Davidsons taking the bust to Rock City in the Bloodstock truck was the finale to a superb weekend of tributes to our rock god Lem.”

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Lemmy Kilmister Ended Up On James Hetfield’s Middle Finger

The bust will remain at the venue for the rest of the year. With the Bloodstock festival taking place each August, the bust will return as Kilmister’s band performed there numerous times over the decades.

While speaking highly of the Derbyshire festival, Motörhead manager Todd Singerman said, “The people and the energy matched Lemmy’s values perfectly. [Festival organizers] Alan [Hicks] and Vicky were also great friends and basically family of Lemmy, as he was the reason that they originally got together. This is definitely a fitting honor in the continuing series of enshrinements of Lemmy’s ashes in his most loved places.” 

Outside of a bust in his honor, Kilmister’s ashes also ended up in a tattoo for Matallica’s James Hetfield. He used the ashes of the rockstar for a spade tattoo found on his middle finger. Although passing away, Kilmister’s legacy continues to live on.

(Photo by J. Quinton/WireImage)