Lemmy stories

this is from Bob on the Motorhead list:


Well, ok, but I hope this isn't viewed as me 'snitching' on the guy...

For a long time I had heard stories of the man's legendary drinking habits; a driver of ours on one tour was a driver for the us leg of the 'perfect day'
tour and he told us that Lem was the first one awake each day and would sit in the bench seat directly behind the driver, watching the road unfurl before
him, peacefully chatting, drinking jack and coke whilst smoking a cigarette.
I also heard way back then from someone who worked at Profile Records (we were then on the same label) that he wouldn't do any radio interviews unless they supplied him with a bottle of bourbon and plent of coca-cola; and that if the station didnt comply, he was infamous for turning right around and letting another band member do the interview. The same guy at the label, however, was quick to explain that this behavior was not proof of the fact that Lem was alcoholic; just 'frugal'; always looking for free booze.

My own personal rememberances of Lem & booze? The first one that comes to mind is something that happened on the "Operation Rock and Roll" tour in
Mansfeild, Ma. (often referred to on tshirts and schedules as Boston, as it's the closest major city to Mansfeild, a small town with a graet outdorr venue:
Great Woods Ampitheatre). Backstage at the 'meet and greet', Lem could be seen ligging about with a tall, thin, half-naked blonde in one hand and a
screwdriver/marlboro combo in the other (a screwdriver is a drink made of vodka and orange juice, for those unaware), clearly a bit intoxicated
(after-show, mind you). Every one he 'met and greeted' also met the blonde, and the screwdriver was 'bottomless', as was the cig. Fans of
micro-Motor-history will recall that the next 7 or so days on the Op RnR tour
did not feature Motorhead; Lem fell down some stairs that night and cracked a
rib and the band had to sit out the next seven shows. Metal Church were
particularly disappointed, as they and M'head were filling in 'off' dates
with shows of their own together, which also stopped while Lem recuperated.

And, when my band opened for Motorhead in Cleveland on the Bastards tour, we
all went out after the show to a local strip club (the name escapes me).
Lemmy paid for just about everybody's drinks etc. himself, though I'm not
sure if he was using his own money or Motorhead's...Jack and Cokes all night
long. The best part of the night was when a waittress brought a tray of
drinks over to the table where me and some road crew guys were seated and
said: 'These are from the ugly English guy. --He's very generous isn't he?
Should I know who he is, or something?' We all broke up laughing... Including
Lem when we told him a bit later.

Lemmy drunk (capital "D") is a scary thing. He has this unnerving way of
intensely looking at your cheek...or your nose...instaed of your eyes, as if
he's really, really angry...And all of the crew guys, and all of the guys in
my band are about a foot taller than the guy, and 20 yrs younger, but when he
fixes you with that look, youre convinced he's capable of anything, and can
kick the crap ou of anyman alive. No, I've never been on the receiving end of
that look, but I've stood next to someone who has; it's just that for a
second, your'e not really sure if it's you he's staring at or the other
guy...I think it's also a way of throwing his target off balance, as well as
intoxication...

I've more 'war stories'. Don't know that the above anecdots add anything to
the discussion at hand; I think Lemmy himself might answer yes to the direct
question: 'are you an alcoholic?' Just exactly what that fact means in the
scheme of things is obviously up for debate. As I said in an earlier posting,
I think that speculating on the man's death, even in the face of some serious
evidence and history, is morbid, irresponsible, disrespectful, and at the
very least ridiculously premature.

He's a smart guy. Trust in him.
Bobm.