Motorhead by Hawkwind Song Info
"Motorhead" was written by Ian Kilmister, Lemmy, while he was the bass player with Hawkwind and was the last song he wrote before his departure from the band. The song was written in the Hyatt Hotel (nicknamed the "Riot House") in West Hollywood, California: "I was on tour with Hawkwind in 1974, we were staying at the Riot House and Roy Wood and Wizzard were also in town. I got this urge to write a song in the middle of the night. I ran downstairs to the Wizzard room, got Roy's Ovation acoustic guitar, then hurried back to mine. I went on to the balcony and howled away for four hours. Cars were stopping and the drivers were listening then driving off, and there I was yelling away at the top of my voice." - Lemmy. The title of the song refers to a person who indulges in the recreational use of amphetamines. The song first appeared on the B side of Hawkwind's 1974 single "Kings of Speed". In July 1981 the song was released as the A side to a 7" and 12" single on the Flicknife label, this time having a Dave Brock vocal and synthesizer overdubs. Flicknife re-released the single as a 12" vinyl in October 1982. It was also used by Hawkwind on their 1986 single "Motorhead"/"Hurry on Sundown", released on Flicknife Records. In 1992 the song was added to the Dojo CD re-issues of Hawkind's "Warrior on the Edge of Time" album, and the Griffin release of the album in 1994. The song also features on various Hawkwind compilation albums. It has, very occasionally, featured in live performances by Hawkwind.
