Whether you’re a die-hard fan of 1980s American metal or a casual observer, one thing remains clear: Metallica’s meteoric rise and enduring influence are undeniable. A band forged in the fires of hard rock and hardcore punk, Metallica became one of the defining forces behind thrash metal and ultimately rose to become a global symbol of the American metal movement. In their early years, Kirk Hammett and the rest of Metallica took deep inspiration from one band in particular: Motörhead.
Motörhead always defied classification. Though often slotted into metal or hard rock categories, the band’s sound was far more elusive. Frontman Lemmy Kilmister famously dismissed genre labels altogether, once stating, “Motörhead don’t fit into any category, really. We’re a rock ‘n’ roll band, which no one knows how to market anymore.”
Despite any ambiguity around their label, Motörhead’s explosive, high-speed delivery transcended musical boundaries. Bursting onto the scene in the mid-1970s, they struck a chord not just with metal fans but also with punk rockers, who connected with Kilmister’s rebellious, “live fast, die young” attitude and the group’s raw energy. Their music bridged the gaps between subcultures, winning over mainstream rock listeners in the process.
Kirk Hammett was one of those captivated fans. Raised on a steady diet of Led Zeppelin and drawn to the nascent hardcore punk scene in San Francisco, Hammett was naturally predisposed to heavy, aggressive music. By 1979, he had joined Exodus, one of the pioneering thrash metal bands. But Motörhead brought something new — a synthesis of Hammett’s punk and metal influences.
In a recent conversation with Metal Hammer, Hammett reflected on the moment Lemmy Kilmister and Motörhead entered his life. “When I first saw the cover of ‘Ace Of Spades,’ I just fucking knew, man,” he said. He had already heard Overkill and been struck by its speed and ferocity. “I remember thinking, ‘This is way faster than Scorpions or UFO. Overkill, cool!’ But then a week or whatever later, I saw that ‘Ace Of Spades’ cover and was just like, okay, I’ve gotta buy this album.”
That record would become a watershed moment in Hammett’s musical life. “I got home and put it on… Oh my god,” he recounted. “Lemmy opens up his voice and starts singing, my mind fucking exploded.”
As Hammett recalls, the appeal of Lemmy’s voice was universal among his circle of punk-loving friends. “Me and all my friends were into punk rock, right?” he explained. “Local San Francisco hardcore bands; me and my friends fucking loved it. The tone of Lemmy’s voice was like he’d got a distortion box in his throat. The sound of that bass, too! I felt like I was in the mud with those guys. It’s so dirty and aggressive, so real!”
Lemmy’s guttural growl and Motörhead’s relentless sonic assault clearly left a deep impression on Hammett, shaping his artistic trajectory as he joined Metallica in 1983. It wasn’t just Hammett who revered Kilmister; the entire band viewed Lemmy as the ultimate rock and roll icon. In return, Lemmy supported Metallica and even performed live with them on multiple occasions — a powerful fusion of two generations of rock giants.
The mutual admiration between Metallica and Motörhead illustrates more than shared stages or genre ties. It underscores how artists like Lemmy Kilmister didn’t just create music — they created moments of transformation. For Kirk Hammett, hearing Ace of Spades wasn’t just a listening experience; it was a spiritual awakening. And for the broader rock and metal world, Lemmy’s legacy continues to resonate — with distortion in his throat and raw, relentless authenticity.
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