Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers: The Rise of Motörhead

Popoff (Metal Heart), a prolific author who specializes in hard rock and heavy metal music, writes that the speed metal and punk sound of Motörhead is “a hard music to love, music made for lovers of hard music.” That describes his exhaustive book, too. Hardcore fans will be delighted by the extensive interviews with the three members of the original lineup from 1977–82 (Lemmy Kilmister on bass and vocals, “Fast” Eddie Clarke on guitar, and Phil “Philthy Animal” Taylor on drums) and just about every producer, engineer, manager, and musician who worked with the band; even the designer who came up with their demonic logo gets a say. Popoff has a lyrical way with words, describing one album as a “middle finger of a record” and Kilmister with “his caustic caw thrust up at the mike, bass as accompanying weapon.” The side trips looking at other bands in which Motörhead played some part, including Hawkwind, Girlschool, and Twisted Sister, help to establish the music of the time in England—the only place Motörhead ever had a number one record—and provide a welcome break from the onslaught of Motörhead, which is loud even in print. (May)