White Line Fever - Lemmy: The Autobiography

5 /5
Rating
Written by Michel Renaud
Published May 24, 2003

I had been waiting for this book for a while (there had been some publishing delays), but it was well worth the wait - I went through the whole thing in about three days. This autobiography of Lemmy Kilminster (Motörhead's mainman, for those who dare not know him already) is written in such a way that you feel like Lemmy is sitting right in front of you and telling his life story. At times, he starts talking about one subject then goes on a tangent on a somewhat related event, then comes back to the subject at hand a few paragraphs later. A little bit strange at first but you quickly get used to it - as well as to the occasional English(UK) slang used here and there. :) The book covers the period from his childhood up to sometime in the year 2002 - he was born in 1945, so that covers a hell of a lot of territory, Lemmy talks about both his personal life and his life as a musician from the very beginning. There's no point enumerating all of this, that's what the book is for. I can say however that I was taken aback by many of his stories, and sometimes while reading the book I was wondering how the hell he was still alive, not to mention still touring and kicking serious ass! I've read a few biographies and I think it's the first time I ran into one that had no boring moment from start to finish. Quite a colourful character, and a living incarnation of rock 'n' roll (if you didn't already believe that, you will after reading this book..)

There are a couple of photo sections, some showing Lemmy as a small child, then later the Motörhead years, but I didn't waste to much time in there since the text itself is so damn captivating. Surely he must have held off some details, but he's included a lot of things that many other artists would probably have preferred to keep for themselves. A book that does not disappoint, even though when you reach the end you'll wish there was even more. I can recommend this book without any hesitation. Lemmy forever!