In March 2024, I was commissioned by Vicky Hungerford, Director of Bloodstock Festival, to create a bust of Lemmy Kilmister, frontman of Motörhead, to house some of his ashes. The challenge was to capture Lemmy as he was in his prime, around 1981-1984, rather than as an ageing rock star.
As a Sussex-based metal sculptor known for working with scrap metal and mechanical salvage, I created the jacket from Challenger 2 tank parts, Harley-Davidson brake discs, bolt croppers, industrial tools, and aeroplane turbine parts. The tank components (which were used for the top pockets of his jacket) paid tribute to Lemmy’s love for military memorabilia. The hair was sculpted with shears and spanners, keeping logos and makers marks visible where possible.
The face of the sculpture was sculpted in collaboration with my friend and fellow sculptor, Paul Stanczykowski. This involved a detailed casting procedure with three different companies. From the original clay sculpt, a rubber mould encased in a fiberglass shell was created, followed by a lost wax positive, then coated in a ceramic shell. The final casting took place in Stoke-on-Trent, Lemmy’s birthplace, adding a significant emotional dimension to the project.
The scrap metal materials were heated and hammered into shape, with the bolt croppers used to create the flowing lapels of the jacket. The sculpture features a deliberate lean, adding a sense of life and movement rather than a static pose. A lockable safe was integrated to house Lemmy’s ashes, visible through a window in his jacket. The sculpture was mounted on a Harley-Davidson brake disc and car differential for easy rotation.
The sculpture was unveiled at Bloodstock Festival on August 9, 2024, by Motörhead guitarist Phil Campbell, before a cheering crowd. An emotional fan burst into tears while viewing the sculpture, initially making me worry he disliked it. However, he shared that he loved it deeply, highlighting the piece’s profound impact.
This piece was commissioned to honor Lemmy’s memory for both his close ones and his fans.
After Bloodstock festival, the sculpture will be permanently displayed in Nottingham's Rock City and exhibited annually at Bloodstock, celebrating Lemmy’s enduring legacy.
As an end note, I’ve created a short film documenting much of the making process of this piece. The film will be available for viewing on my YouTube channel once the footage has been edited together. To keep updated on this project and others visit my website at www.alanwilliamsmetalartist.comÂ
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