Motörhead concert pictures ~ Bill O’Leary

A word from the photographer

ON THIS NIGHT : MOTORHEAD

Although technically not my best work, my photos of MOTORHEAD are classic if nothing else. These were shot on the “Ace of Spades” tour while opening for OZZY OSBOURNE at the Palladium Theater in New York City. The “Ace of Spades” album as well as bassist/vocalist Lemmy have both become iconic in the world of hard rock and heavy metal.

I was fortunate to get to hang out with Lemmy and drummer Phil Taylor when 4 months later they returned to New York City where they played a very small club in midtown Manhattan, I believe called Club 57.

Fast and loud

MOTORHEAD were a gigantic influence on the new heavy metal genre called thrash metal, they played fast, they played very loud and they were high energy. I look back on this time and realize how lucky I was to capture the original band at this point in their career.

All three original members have passed on now, but their legacy lives on in the world of heavy metal. To quote Lemmy’s lyrics from the anthem “Ace of Spades”, “You know I’m born to lose, and gambling’s for fools. But that’s the way I like it baby, I don’t wanna live forever”

Location and date of these concert captures 

Palladium Theater / New York  / America  / 02.05.1981

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