Motörhead‘s Lemmy Kilmister now has a permanent home at O2 Apollo Manchester, giving fans a place to pay their respects to one of rock’s most enduring icons.
Following Download Festival, where Lemmy’s long-time friend, Guns N’ Roses‘ Duff McKagan, led a ceremony at the Lemmy Lounge, his ashes arrived at the venue on 16 June. A procession of bikers rode across Manchester to mark the new memorial, which will give fans a fresh place to honour Lemmy and Motörhead before the ashes make their annual pilgrimage back to Download each June.
It is a fitting home. A much-loved venue for the band, Motörhead played O2 Apollo Manchester 23 times across five decades. For the ceremony, Lemmy’s ashes were displayed alongside the custom-made slot machine he toured with, as invited guests gathered to share stories and celebrate his extraordinary life.
Skunk Anansie guitarist Ace spoke of Lemmy’s legacy, saying he felt honoured to have spent so much time with him, and remembering a man everyone who met him loved as the “most unique rock ‘n’ roller in the world.”
“O2 Apollo Manchester is a venue Lemmy always felt at home playing,” said Motörhead manager Todd Singerman, pointing to the history, authenticity and working-class rock-and-roll spirit the venue embodied.
Alan Hungerford, who toured with the band for many years, called it the fifth Lemmy Forever event in the UK, recalling how Lemmy would nip to the pub behind the venue for a pint during the drum solo every night they played there. “I know Lem would have loved it.”
