Rocker Lemmy's ashes were scattered at festival and sent to pals in bullets

03 August 2023 , 20:15

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Lemmy onstage (Image: Redferns via Getty Images)

The ashes of late Motörhead star Lemmy have been scattered at Germany ’s Wacken Open Air Festival.

The rocker, who was born in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, died in December 2015 aged 70, just two days after he was diagnosed with “an extremely aggressive cancer”, and now his ashes are commemorating him in various locations. Lemmy’s surviving bandmates Phil Campbell, 62, and Mikkey Dee, 59, led tributes to the star as his remains were dispersed on site of the festival where the Ace of Spaces rocker played in the village of Schleswig-Holstein.

His ashes have also been used to in tattoos inked in his memory on Motörhead’s longtime tour manager Eddie Rocha and production assistant Emma Cederblad. They were also, per his request, placed inside bullets and sent to his loved ones engraved with his name “Lemmy”, whose real name was Ian Kilmister.

Bullet with Lemmy's name on it - and his ashes inside (.instagram.com/officialmotorhead/)

The group’s manager Todd Singerman added: “Wacken was one of Lemmy’s dearest homes and we’re delighted he has a place here forever. He was a man of the people, and as such, he ‘lived’ in many places worldwide. It’s our aim to allow him to rest permanently in all his ‘homes’ globally and allow his fans worldwide to have a place close to them where they can both pay respects and celebrate his enormous continuing legacy and influence.”

Festival co-organiser Thomas Jensen said: “Lemmy coming back to Wacken is an enormous honour for us - words can hardly express how enormous. We will create a place of remembrance for him that does justice to his significance for an entire genre and beyond.

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“There has always been a special connection between Motörhead and Wacken Open Air; hardly any band has played here more often. The fact that his journey also ends here will forever hold a special meaning.”

Recipients of bullets containing Lemmy’s ashes and with his name engraved on them include Judas Priest’s Rob Halford, Doro Pesch, former MTV host Riki Rachtman, and Ugly Kid Joe singer Whitfield Crane.

Ashleigh Rainbird