Motorhead – Southampton Guildhall
“We are Motorhead and we play rock and roll!” roars bassist frontman Lemmy before the band launch into volley of blues driven heavy metal in front of sold out So’ ton crowd. The crowd is somewhat diverse composed of your bikers taking their sons to see probably their first gig as well as your metalheads and the general rock loving public.
Motorhead are of a rare breed that can never seem to have a bad gig even with slight sound problems; Lemmy can make good humour of a situation that can hinder other groups, but not Motorhead. For a man hitting 60 next year, Lemmy is still on top form delivering bluesy bass lines whilst guitarist Phil Campbell stomps around like Angus Young, but in leather trousers with thick juicy riffs against powerhouse drummer Mikkey Dee who sounds like he is manning a gattling rather than a drum kit.
Amongst classics like “Metropolis”, “No Class” and “Sacrifice” Motorhead pull out newbies “Killers” and “In the Name Of Tragedy” from their latest release Inferno proving that they’ve still got it.
Of course there is the inevitable cover of “R.A.M.O.N.E.S.” as Lemmy pays tribute the late guitarist Johnny Ramone who passed away recently. Old punk covers from the Ramones or the Sex Pistols are so difficult to get right but somehow Motorhead can pull it off with such great gusto that you realise that Motorhead are more than just metal band.
To close the set Motorhead hammer through “Bomber” and essential signature track “Ace Of Spades”. A great display from one of the best bands in the world period.