It was during the 32nd edition of the Wacken Open Air that Lemmy Kilmister would find another resting place.
On August 2, the frontman of Motörhead, who died in 2015, will be honored with a symbolic act at the famous festival in Wacken, Germany. This event is part of “Lemmy Forever”, a weekend of “celebration of this rock and roll icon’s life and legacy”.
“Lemmy’s return to Wacken is a huge honor for us – we couldn’t tell you how much”notes the organizer Thomas Jensen. “We are going to create a place of remembrance for him that will do justice to the importance he had for an entire genre and beyond.” Holger Hübner, co-organizer, adds: “There has always been a special bond between Motörhead and Wacken Open Air; no band has played here more often. The fact that their journey ends here will always have a special meaning.”
Motörhead’s Phil Campbell and Mikkey Dee will lead the festivities, during which there will be plenty of opportunities to toast Lemmy with his friends and bands on the bill.
“The Wacken was one of Lemmy’s most cherished homes and we are thrilled he has a place here forever”says Todd Singerman, the manager of Motörhead. “He was a man of the people and as such he ‘lived’ in many places around the world. Our aim is to give him permanent rest in all his ‘houses’ around the world, and to allow his fans around the world to have a place close to them where they can both honor him and celebrate his enormous legacy and enduring influence.”
Lemmy died on December 28, 2015 at the age of 70, shortly after being diagnosed with cancer.
In June 2022, it was at Hellfest in France that part of the artist’s ashes had been spread.
Among the many other tributes to Lemmy, we previously reported that two of the late singer’s bodyguard members Motorhead (Eddie Rocha, band tour manager and Emma Cederblad, production assistant) got tattooed with ink mixed with Lemmy’s ashes. They explained this in a video titled “Motörhead Means Family for Lif” and entrusted the making of their tattoos to the artist Stina Nyman.
Rocha chose a portrait of Lemmy, while his sidekick opted for an ace of spades motif (the word “pique” translating to “Spade” in English, a reference to the track “Ace of Spades” and the band’s logo).
