Tributes are being paid to Motörhead frontman Lemmy, who died yesterday after a short battle with an extremely aggressive form of cancer. The rock legend’s passing was announced in a post on the band’s official Facebook page and within minutes fans and friends began to express their shock and sadness.

Lemmy, MotorheadMotorhead frontman Lemmy has died aged 70.

Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne led the tributes on twitter writing: ‘Lost one of my best friends, Lemmy, today. He will be sadly missed. He was a warrior and a legend. I will see you on the other side.’

Osbourne’s wife Sharon added, ‘My dear friend, Lemmy, passed away today. I’ve known him for 38 years. He will be so missed but he will never be forgotten.’ Gene Simmons of Kiss posted an old photo of the pair together and added: ‘Rest In Peace. Shake the heavens, my friend.’

More: View our Lemmy gallery

US band Metallica thanked the frontman for ‘all of your inspiration’ adding, ‘you are one of the primary reasons this band exists. We're forever grateful'. Queen guitarist Brian May wrote: ‘Sitting here, Re-Tweeting, distracted, and wondering what I can possibly say about our utterly unique friend Lemmy's passing. Ouch.’

WWE wrestler Triple H, who uses Motörhead song ‘King of Kings’ as his entrance music, tweeted: ‘#RIPLemmy One life, lived your way, from the beginning, till the end See you down the road my friend…’

Lemmy’s sudden passing was announced on the Motörhead Facebook page with a statement reading: ‘There is no easy way to say this…our mighty, noble friend Lemmy passed away today after a short battle with an extremely aggressive cancer.’

‘He had learnt of the disease on December 26th, and was at home, sitting in front of his favourite video game from The Rainbow which had recently made its way down the street, with his family. We cannot begin to express our shock and sadness, there aren’t words. We will say more in the coming days, but for now, please…play Motörhead loud, play Hawkwind loud, play Lemmy’s music LOUD.’

More: Read our review of documentary ‘Lemmy’


Born Ian Fraser Kilmister on Christmas eve 1945 in Staffordshire, Lemmy was inspired to become a musician after seeing The Beatles perform at the Cavern Club when he was 16. In 1972 he joined Hawkwind as the band’s bassist and vocalist, with the group reaching number three on the UK charts with ‘Silver Machine’ later that year.

After being fired from Hawkwind in 1975, following an arrest at the Canadian boarder, Lemmy formed Motörhead, who would go on to record twenty studio albums and sell over 30 million records worldwide. The band’s biggest hit was the anthemic ‘Ace of Spades’ in 1980.

Lemmy, MotorheadLemmy (center) with Motörhead bandmates Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor and Brian Robertson, 1983.