No artist’s death has shaken the metal world in the last decade as much as that of Ian “Lemmy” Kilmister, frontman of speed metal legends Motörhead. Lemmy died the real deal — no shame-faced sobriety, no reformed Christianity, no adult-contemporary album with a guest appearance by Diana Krall. The dude was true in life, and never stopped being true. Now, it appears that Lemmy was also true as fuck in his death, as social media posts have revealed that Lemmy’s final wish was to have his ashes pressed into bullets and distributed among his friends.
Yesterday, a series of social media posts began popping up in which some of Lemmy’s best and closest friends revealed the gift that Kilmister had given them. Notable among these was Riki Rachtman, former host of MTV’s Headbanger’s Ball.
“Before his death #Lemmy asked for his ashes to be put in some bullets & handed out to his closest friends,” tweeted Racthman. “Today I received a bullet & was literally brought to tears Thank you, @myMotorhead.”
Before his death #Lemmy asked for his ashes to be put in some bullets & handed out to his closest friends Today I received a bullet & was literally brought to tears Thank you @myMotorhead pic.twitter.com/gnI9aWe4iU
— Rev. Riki Rachtman (@RikiRachtman) March 22, 2021
In February, Whitfield Crane, frontman of ‘90s alt-metallers Ugly Kid Joe, also received a bullet, with a note attached that was shared by tennis star Pat Cash, which read as such (transcribed by The PRP):
“Whitfield,
“We all know Lemmy knew many people, but he had few that he considered friends and even fewer that he considered family. Being that you are one those people he considered family, we would like to share a little piece of him with you. Lemmy touched all our lives in a way we don’t think any of us could ever forget, but with these ashes you not only keep the memories you have, you keep Lemmy with you forever.
He was Lemmy. He played Rock ‘n’ Roll
Don’t Forget Him”
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Words by Chris Krovatin
