Second time I’ve done this in a week and I’m angry about it, Phil ‘Philthy Animal’ Taylor has passed away aged 61. It may sound a little trite, but I am absolutely gutted to hear the news. The classic line up of Motörhead released four absolutely peerless albums from March 1979 to June 1981*, to my mind a run equal, if not better, than anyone has ever managed in heavy metal. That speed, that fury, that iron-clad sound; part-metal/part-punk/totally fucking ferocious, was built on quite a handy rhythm section. Phil absolutely pummelled his drums into oblivion, he drove that band every bit as much as his illustrious leader did, as a blur of sticks, metal, snot and sweat.
You want proof of his status as one, if not the, best metal drummer ever? just listen to the live version of ‘Overkill’ from No Sleep ’til Hammersmith, nothing else needs to be said. Not a clean living chap by all accounts, certainly not back in the day and by all accounts a fractious fella to work with, he had two stints with the band and basically played on all my favourite Motörhead albums. I was lucky enough to see him play with Motörhead one time I saw them and it was brilliant too.
He came, he saw, he played a lot of drums very fast, he wore very tight black trousers, he had more fun than most of us get to pack into a lifetime and he left an enviable recorded legacy. R.I.P. Mr Taylor.
They made proper rock stars in those days!
Very down.
*four albums in 27 months! Lazy bastards in bands these days would only manage one and a remix EP in that time span these days!
Sorry to hear it Joe, I appreciated this tribute.
Is it sacrilege to say he was the band? Seriously, his was my favorite part.
Yeah, sick. But hey, the music’s still here. 🙂
61 as a ‘ordinary’ mortal is shite. But isn’t 61 in ROCK YEARS awesome? I think that officially made him about 610!
Lemmy, when he spontaneously combusts, will be over 700 years old.
I think I’m going to write a sitcom in tribute, about a retirement home for aged rock stars. Y’know the ones that couldn’t make it to Valhalla. I think it’ll be run by a vindictive matron called Madonna – who’s actually a living mummy. She’ll be known to the unruly residents as Granny Fanny. It’ll be a sort of cross between Benidorm and Cuckoo’s Nest.
Sorry, my grief reaction is always the same – write something silly.
Only one Motorhead album to spin here. Fortunately it is No Sleep. Somehow fitting.
Commiserations, metal dudes.
This just begs the question, how in the hell is Keith still alive?
Damn shame. I was never a huge Motorhead fan, but I loved what bits I’ve heard. Of course the ‘Ace of Spades’ album. His drumming always impressed me.
Shite news! A total drum legend. This was a very nice tribute, well done! RIP Philthy.
Total shite news – why is it only the best rockers fall off their perch?
Usually because they fit a lifetime of rock and roll indulgence in a time frame that it would take us mere mortals two lifetimes to accomplish. He came, he saw, he violated.
Valhalla I am coming.
That is indeed sad news. RIP.
Yeah, a real bummer as Mike said.
And I feel even more awful because of my initial surprise that it wasn’t Lemmy first. Badbadbad.
Not at all, the odds were on him to go first – hopefully not until the year 2112 though.
Thanks for posting. ‘Twas Scott who broke the news to me. I’ve been bummed all day. Thanks for posting. RIP Philthy.
I just found out half an hour ago. I’m seriously bummed out about it. What a band they were, I know it hardly needs saying, but … wow!
Just fixed the Overkill video btw.
A true pioneer of metal drumming.
If you wanna see something cool, get the Making of Ace of Spades DVD. Philthy was hilarious. He showed off the giant hump in his neck.
I will do. I’m going to spin the LP a bit later on tonight.
Damn right you will. I’ll spin one of those silver disc things.