UK NETFLIX DARK TOURIST ATTRACTION, THE CRIME THROUGH TIME COLLECTION @ LITTLEDEAN JAIL, FOREST OF DEAN, GLOS, GL14 3NL. A BRIEF EXHIBITION INSIGHT INTO THE LIFE AND DEATH OF FORMER MEMBER OF THE SEX PISTOLS SID VICIOUS ( 10 MAY 1952- 2 FEB 1979) & HIS GIRLFRIEND NANCY SPUNGEN. TO INCLUDE HERE ON DISPLAY, SID’S TREASURED LEATHER BIKER BOOTS & BIKE CHAIN BRACELET.

ABOVE: SID VICIOUS WITH HIS GIRLFRIEND NANCY SPUNGEN

BELOW IS THE POLICE MUGSHOT OF SID VICIOUS AT THE TIME OF ONE OF HIS MANY ARRESTS , BACK IN 1979, IN NEW YORK , USA.

BELOW … IMAGE OF SID VICIOUS WEARING THESE BIKER BOOTS WHILST PRANCING ABOUT IN PARIS WHILST FILMING A TV DOCUMENTARY .

ABOVE AND BELOW …SID VICIOUS PERFORMING SOLO WEARING THESE LEATHER BOOTS ON WHAT WAS HIS LAST LIVE PERFORMANCE AT MAX’S KANSAS CITY , NEW YORK ON SEPTEMBER 29 1978 … LATER TO BE REPORTED IN THE  NME DATED 14 OCTOBER 1978

SID VICIOUS PERFORMING SOLO WEARING THESE LEATHER BOOTS ON WHAT WAS HIS LAST LIVE PERFORMANCES AT MAX’S KANSAS CITY , NEW YORK ON SEPTEMBER 29 1978 … LATER TO BE REPORTED IN THE NME DATED 14 OCTOBER 1978

SID VICIOUS PERFORMING SOLO WEARING THESE LEATHER BOOTS ON WHAT WAS HIS LAST LIVE PERFORMANCES AT MAX’S KANSAS CITY , NEW YORK ON SEPTEMBER 29 1978 … LATER TO BE REPORTED IN THE NME DATED 14 OCTOBER 1978

NME CUTTING DATED 14 OCTOBER 1978 OF SID VICIOUS WEARING THESE BOOTS DURING HIS SOLO GIG AT MAX’S KANSAS CITY GIG … A GREAT RARE CLOSE-UP OF SID’S BOOTS AS WAS LAST WORN BY SID SHORTLY BEFORE HIS ARREST FOR THE MURDER OF HIS GIRLFRIEND NANCY SPUNGEN ON 12 OCTOBER 1978

PURCHASE RECEIPT FOR THE BOOTS … BOUGHT BY ANDY JONES FOR THE CRIME THROUGH TIME COLLECTION AT FRASERS AUCTION HOUSE , LONDON, BACK IN 2000

CLOSE UP IMAGE OF SID VICIOUS BOOTS

CLOSE UP IMAGE OF SID VICIOUS BOOTS

CLOSE UP IMAGE OF SID VICIOUS BOOTS

CLOSE UP IMAGE OF SID VICIOUS BOOTS

CLOSE UP IMAGE OF SID VICIOUS BOOTS

CLOSE UP IMAGE OF SID VICIOUS BOOTS

CLOSE UP IMAGE OF SID VICIOUS BOOTS

CLOSE UP IMAGE OF SID VICIOUS BOOTS

CLOSE UP IMAGE OF SID VICIOUS BOOTS

CLOSE UP IMAGE OF SID VICIOUS BOOTS

CLOSE UP IMAGE OF SID VICIOUS BOOTS

CLOSE UP IMAGE OF SID VICIOUS BOOTS

Above are several images of Sid Vicious most treasured leather biker boots , which he can also be seen wearing in this video of him prancing about in Paris , France . in his alleged suicide note ( many believe that this was actually written by his mother Anne Beverley ) he had requested that he be buried with his leather jacket and these leather biker boots … This was never the case as he was cremated and his ashes were secretly thrown over Nancy’s grave . His mother had subsequently kept his personal clothing last worn by him and later these boots were auctioned off in the year 2000 by Alan Parker through Frasers Auctions , London . Bought by Andy Jones of the Crime Through Time Collection and now on permanent display  at Littledean Jail , Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, UK .

Original painting by Gloucestershire artist Paul Bridgman of Sid Vicious and his girlfriend Nancy Spungen  on display in and amongst our Punk Rock Collection here at Littledean Jail.

 

ABOVE IS SID’S ( NOW WELL AGED )  BIKE CHAIN BRACELET ALONG WITH IMAGE OF HIM WEARING THIS . ALSO HERE ON DISPLAY AT THE CRIME THROUGH TIME COLLECTION , LITTLEDEAN JAIL .

Sid Vicious, born John Simon Ritchie, later named John Beverley (10 May 1957 – 2 February 1979), was an English bass guitarist, drummer and vocalist, most famous as a member of the influential punk rock band the Sex Pistols, and notorious for his arrest for the murder of his girlfriend, Nancy Spungen.

Vicious joined the Sex Pistols in early 1977, to replace Glen Matlock, who had fallen out of favour with the rest of the group. Due to intravenous drug use, Vicious was hospitalized with hepatitis during the recording of the band’s only studio album Never Mind the Bollocks. Accordingly, his bass is only partially featured on one song from the album. Vicious would later appear as a lead vocalist, performing three cover songs, on the soundtrack to The Great Rock ‘n’ Roll Swindle, a largely fictionalized documentary about the Sex Pistols, produced by the group’s former manager Malcolm McLaren and directed by Julien Temple.

During the brief and chaotic ascendancy of the Sex Pistols, Vicious met eventual girlfriend and manager Nancy Spungen. Spungen and Vicious entered a destructive codependent relationship based on drug use. This culminated in Spungen’s death from an apparent stab wound while staying in New York City‘s Hotel Chelsea with Vicious. Under suspicion of having committed Spungen’s murder, Vicious was released on bail; he was later arrested again for assaulting Todd Smith, brother of Patti Smith, at a night club, and underwent drug rehabilitation on Rikers Island. In celebration of Vicious’ release from prison, his mother hosted a party for him at his girlfriend’s residence in Greenwich Village, which was attended notably by the Misfits bassist Jerry Only.

Vicious’ mother had been supplying him with drugs and paraphernalia since he was young, and assisted him in procuring heroin late that night. Vicious died in his sleep, having overdosed on the heroin his mother had procured.

Less than four weeks after Vicious’ death, the soundtrack album of The Great Rock ‘n’ Roll Swindle was released. Later that year, on 15 December, a compilation of live material recorded during his brief solo career was packaged and released as Sid Sings.

In the 1986 feature-film Sid and Nancy, Gary Oldman gave a much-acclaimed performance as Sid.

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ABOVE IS AN EXCEPTIONALLY SCARCE AND RARE SIGNED BY BOTH PHOTOGRAPH OF SID AND NANCY TOGETHER .

 

BELOW IS THE ICONIC AND CONTROVERSIAL ALBUM COVER OF THE SEX PISTOLS …” NEVER MIND THE BOLLOCKS HERE’S THE SEX PISTOLS ” THIS BEING A FULLY SIGNED BY THE ORIGINAL PISTOLS LINE UP ON A RARE RUSSIAN VERSION OF THE ALBUM .

 

 

Nancy Spungen death and Sid Vicious arrest

Sid Vicious mugshot 9 December 1978

On the morning of 12 October 1978, Vicious claimed to have awoken from a drugged stupor to find Nancy Spungen dead on the bathroom floor of their room in the Hotel Chelsea in Manhattan, New York. She had suffered a single stab wound to her abdomen and appeared to have bled to death. The knife used had been bought by Vicious on 42nd Street and was identical to a “007” flip-knife given to punk rock vocalist Stiv Bators of the Dead Boys by Dee Dee Ramone. According to Dee Dee’s wife at the time, Vera King Ramone, Vicious had bought the knife after seeing Stiv’s. Vicious was arrested and charged with her murder.^[He said they had fought that night but gave conflicting versions of what happened next, saying, “I stabbed her, but I never meant to kill her”, then saying that he did not remember and at one point during the argument Spungen had fallen onto the knife

On 22 October, ten days after Spungen’s death, Vicious attempted suicide by slitting his wrist with a smashed light bulb and was subsequently hospitalized at Bellevue Hospital where he also tried killing himself by jumping from a window as well as shouting “I want to be with my Nancy” or other similar words, but was pulled back by hospital staff. In an interview he gave in November 1978, he said that Nancy’s death was “meant to happen” and that “Nancy always said she’d die before she was 21.” Near the end of the interview, he was asked if he was having fun. In reply, he asked the interviewer if he was kidding, adding that he would like to be “under the ground.” It was also at Bellevue that he met his lawyer James Merberg, who did everything he could to keep Vicious out of jail.

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 SID VICIOUS SUICIDE BY OVERDOSE

 

On the evening of February 1, 1979, a small gathering to celebrate Vicious having made bail was held at the 63 Bank Street, New York apartment of his new girlfriend, Michelle Robinson. Sid and Michelle had started dating in November after Sid was released from Bellevue Hospital the previous October. Vicious was clean, having been on a detoxification methadone program during his time at Rikers Island. At the dinner gathering, however, Sid had some heroin delivered by his friend, English photographer Peter Kodick, against the wishes of Sid’s girlfriend and some other people at the party. It was also during this party that Sid had apparently spent the hours looking towards the future; he had plans for an album he was going to record to get his life and career on track should he be off the hook. Vicious overdosed at midnight, but everyone who was there that night worked together to get him up and walking around in order to revive him. At 3:00 am, Vicious and Michelle Robinson went to bed together. Vicious died in the night and was discovered dead by Anne and Michelle early the next morning.

In his first interview, appearing in the Daily Mirror‘s June 11, 1977 issue, Vicious said “I’ll probably die by the time I reach 25. But I’ll have lived the way I wanted to.”

A few days after Vicious’ cremation, his mother allegedly found a suicide note in the pocket of his jacket:

We had a death pact, and I have to keep my half of the bargain. Please bury me next to my baby. Bury me in my leather jacket, jeans and motorcycle boots Goodbye.

Since Spungen was Jewish, she was buried in a Jewish cemetery. As Vicious was not Jewish, he could not be buried with her. According to the book Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk by Legs McNeil and Gillian McCain, Jerry Only of the Misfits drove Anne and her sister, and two of Sid’s friends to the cemetery where Nancy was buried and Anne scattered Sid’s ashes over Nancy Spungen’s grave. In the same book, it is alleged that the cemetery didn’t want to be associated with Vicious and his inherent negative reputation, and it is speculated that this was of greater importance to them than the above stated reason he and Nancy weren’t able to be buried together.

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R.I.P. FORMER HAWKWIND AND MOTORHEAD LEGENDARY FRONTMAN IAN “LEMMY” KILMISTER ( 1945 -2015 )

R.I.P.  FORMER HAWKWIND AND  MOTORHEAD  LEGENDARY FRONTMAN   IAN “LEMMY” KILMISTER ( 1945 -2015 )

The last pictures of Lemmy: Motörhead frontman looks frail at his 70th birthday party – just days before he died of aggressive cancer

Motörhead founder and frontman Ian ‘Lemmy’ Kilmister has died aged 70

• Veteran rocker was diagnosed with cancer just two days before his death
• The British heavy metal band had been due to tour the UK this January
• Tributes have been pouring in from figures within the music community
• Rocker said he drank a bottle of Jack Daniels a day for ‘many years’

Wide eyes staring out above sunken cheeks, Motörhead frontman Lemmy looks a shadow of his hell-raising younger self in these two photographs taken just days before his death.

In one image, posted on Twitter by Sebastian Bach, frontman of heavy metal band Skid Row, Lemmy is seen propped against a bar in what appears to be a black military uniform. 

A second picture, apparently taken that same night, shows the 70-year-old rocker with two young female fans. The women flash their smiles at the camera while Lemmy looks dutifully into the lens.

On Boxing Day, just 10 days after these images were shared online, Lemmy was told he had an aggressive form of cancer, though it is still not known what kind.

Forty-eight hours later the heavy metal icon died while sitting in front of his favourite poker video game at his Los Angeles home, surrounded by family.

Frail: Lemmy on December 16 in a photo posted by Sebastian Bach, frontman of heavy metal band Skid Row. The picture was captioned with Ace of Spades lyrics, ‘you win some, you lose some, it’s all the same to me’

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His death was announced in a statement on the Motörhead Facebook page, which remembered a ‘mighty, noble friend’ and called on fans to play his music loud and ‘have a drink or few’. 

The news has sent shockwaves through the music industry, with Ozzy Osborne, Billy Idol and Brian May among those paying tribute to their friend. 

Committing himself to music after watching the Beatles perform at Liverpool’s Cavern Club when he was a teenager, Lemmy’s life has become the stuff of industry legend.

He worked as a roadie for Jimi Hendrix and played bass in space rock band Hawkwind – before being kicked out for his drug use – before founding Motörhead in 1975.

Cementing his rock-and-roll credentials, he boasted about sleeping with more than 1,000 women and claimed he drank a bottle of Jack Daniels every day for years.

He also became known for his controversial collection of Third Reich memorabilia.

Ozzy Osbourne tweeted: ‘Lost one of my best friends, Lemmy, today. He will be sadly missed. He was a warrior and a legend. I will see you on the other side.’ 

Grammy award-winning band Motörhead, who released 23 studio albums over a 40-year period, announced Kilmister’s death on their official Facebook page. 

Rock legends Gene Simmons, Ozzy Osbourne and Billy Idol posted tributes to Lemmy Kilmister on Twitter

Sad post: Ozzy’s wife Sharon also posted a moving message about her friend of 38 years

The post read: ‘There is no easy way to say this…our mighty, noble friend Lemmy passed away today after a short battle with an extremely aggressive cancer.

‘He had learnt of the disease on December 26th, and was at home, sitting in front of his favorite video game from The Rainbow which had recently made it’s way down the street, with his family.

‘We cannot begin to express our shock and sadness, there aren’t words.

‘HE WAS ONE OF A KIND’: ALICE COOPER’S TRIBUTE TO LEMMY

‘When we say “one of a kind” in rock’n roll, Lemmy was the epitome of that — one of the most beloved characters in rock’n roll. 

‘I can’t think of anyone who didn’t adore Lemmy; you can’t say “heavy metal” without mentioning Lemmy. 

‘If you’re a 13 year old kid learning to play bass, you want to play like Lemmy. He was one of a kind. 

‘And I will personally miss seeing him out on the road. We did many shows together and we looked forward to it every time we were touring with Motorhead. 

‘Rock’n roll heaven just got heavier.’ 

‘We will say more in the coming days, but for now, please…play Motörhead loud, play Hawkwind loud, play Lemmy’s music LOUD. Have a drink or few.’

His death comes just over a month after the passing of his bandmate Phil ‘Philthy Animal’ Taylor. 

Tributes have poured in for Kilmister from well-known artists and figures within the rock and metal community following his death on Monday.

Sharon Osbourne tweeted: ‘My dear friend, Lemmy, passed away today. I’ve known him for 38 years. He will be so missed but he will never be forgotten.’

While musician Billy Idol posted: ‘Lemmy RIP…. @mymotorhead my condolences to his family..’ 

Queen guitarist Brian May said: ‘Sitting here, Re-Tweeting, distracted, and wondering what I can possibly say about our utterly unique friend Lemmy’s passing. Ouch.’

Black Sabbath founding member Geezer Butler said: ‘Very sad to hear of Lemmy’s passing. We’ve lost a true, true legend. RIP.’ 

Ex-Motorhead guitarist ‘Fast’ Eddie Clarke, who played with the heavy metal group between 1976 to 1982, also paid tribute to his friend, saying ‘he was like a brother to me’.

‘I am devastated. We did so much together, the three of us. The world seems a really empty place right now. I am having trouble finding the words … He will live on in our hearts. R.I.P Lemmy!’

Kiss star Gene Simmons said: ‘Lemmy: Rest In Peace. Shake the heavens, my friend.’ 

Nikki Sixx, of US band Motley Crue, added: ‘I’ll miss you buddy and our conversations. You were always a pillar of dignity. RIP Lemmy.’ 

Inspiration: Metallic posted a shared statement about their ‘primary’ source of inspiration as a band

Shocked: Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea was in a state of complete shock at the news

‘Rest In Peace’: Tributes also came flooding in from the likes of Slipknot star Corey Taylor

Rock band Judas Priest tweeted: ‘Words about Lemmy can never be enough so we will simply say farewell Lord Lemmy thank you for the music, the shows.’

Aerosmith drummer Joey Kramer added: ‘RIP #Lemmy heaven is Rockin tonight.’ 

Heavy metal band Metallica posted: ‘Lemmy, you are one of the primary reasons this band exists. We’re forever grateful for all of your inspiration. RIP’.

‘I WAS A ROADIE FOR JIMI HENDRIX … SO I’M HARD TO F***ING IMPRESS’: LEMMY IN HIS OWN WORDS

Motorhead frontman Lemmy will be remembered not only for his great music, but also for his many memorable quotes. 

‘They would come on stage [The Beatles] and you were just awestruck. They had that presence, which is very rare. Hendrix had it, Ozzy Osbourne has it to an extent. You’ve either got it or you haven’t’ – 

From an interview with The Independent.

‘I like being the centre of attention as much as anybody so I didn’t mind. I was in it for the girls, to tell the truth. I think if more musicians told the truth, that would be the reason why most of them are in it. When you’re young and you’re desperate to get laid, you work out that being a bricklayer isn’t that attractive.’

From an interview with The Independent.

‘There’s only two kinds of music I can’t stand: rap and opera. Opera because it’s too overblown and rap because I just don’t hear it. I just don’t get it’

From an interview with Rolling Stone online

‘I was a roadie for Jimi Hendrix for seven months, so I’m pretty hard to f*****g impress, man. You’d have to beat Jimi Hendrix to impress me and I don’t see anybody doing that’ 

When asked by Rolling Stone if he listened to younger bands during a 2012 interview

‘I don’t know any happily married couples, not even my parents. There was a magazine in England who said I screwed 2,000 women and I didn’t, I said 1,000. When you think about it, it isn’t that unreasonable. I’m not even married, and I’ve been doing this since I was 16. And I’m now 66, so that’s like 50 years. I could’ve done more if I’ve tried, I guess’

From an interview with Spin in October 2012 

Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea wrote: ‘Lemmy got let in on the big secret. One of the greatest rockers of all time. Amazingly unique incredible bass player. My hero. Wow.’ 

‘My friend died today. We’ll all miss you. Your name was Lemmy, and you played Rock n Roll. Rest in Peace, my man. #RIPLemmy’, shared Slipknot’s Corey Taylor.

Mötley Crüe vocalist Vince Neil shared, ‘Wow just heard, Lemmy was a friend and legend. #Rip’.

Guns N’ Roses bassist Duff McKagan added: ‘Rest In Peace Lemmy. A hell of a man who suffered no fools. U shall be missed brother, and, THANK u 4 the years of unwavering kick ass R&R.’

But his unique brand of heavy metal resonated with fans outside the genre.

Rapper Ice T said: ‘Just got the sad news about the loss of Lemmy from MOTORHEAD….. RIP ‘Raise Hell Homie …

‘I got to hang with Lemmy.. Did a song and this video for a movie. LEGEND.’

Beverley Knight, who is starring as Grizabella in Cats the musical, said: ‘That wonderful gravelly voice now silenced.’

And author Neil Gaiman added: ‘RIP Lemmy, a man I saw playing the fruit machines in late night dives, and once thanked for getting me in to one.’

Figures from the world of wrestling, with which the band had a close affinity, posted messages of sorrow. 

WWE star Triple H said: ‘RIPLemmy One life, lived your way, from the beginning, till the end See you down the road my friend … Thank you for the gift of your sound.’

Ex-WWE wrestler ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin, added: ‘Damn just heard Lemmy passed away. Swig of beer to one bad ass original rocker. Motorhead one of the all time influential bands.’

And Bubba Ray Dudley, also a WWE star, tweeted: ‘Who would win in a fight GOD or #Lemmy? Very sad. RIP brother. Glad to have met you and drink Jack n Cokes with you!!’

The news of Kilmister’s death in Los Angeles was originally broken by respected rock DJ Eddie Trunk via a series of posts on his Twitter account.

His post read: ‘Sorry to report that I have confirmed Lemmy @mymotorhead has passed away just now at the age of 70. RIP to a true original icon of rock.’

He followed it with: ‘Sadly this news is 100% confirmed and just happened. Let’s celebrate a true rock warrior and icon who gave us timeless music! #RIPLemmy’.

Reaction: Tributes to Kilmister have poured in from well-known artists and figures within the rock and metal community following his death on Monday. Here he is pictured playing in Helsinki earlier this month

Kilmister, who was born in Stoke-on-Trent on Christmas Eve 1945, founded Motorhead in 1975. The group later became one of the defining metal bands of the 1980s.

He wrote in his autobiography, White Line Fever, that he had been fired from his previous band Hawkwind for ‘doing the wrong drugs’. 

His exit followed his arrest at the Canadian border for possessing cocaine and spent five days in prison, causing the band to cancel some of a US tour.

Famous for his hard-rocking lifestyle, Kilmister said he drank a bottle of Jack Daniels every day for many years, and also claimed to have slept with more than 1,000 women. 

He said he had never married because the love of his life, a woman named Susan Bennett, had died of a heroin overdose aged 19. He dedicated his autobiography to Ms Bennett.  

But he had struggled to quit his vices in his later years, according to the band’s manager Todd Singerman.

The news was originally broken by respected rock DJ Eddie Trunk via a series of posts on his Twitter account

Kilmister was also known for his extensive – and controversial – collection of Third Reich memorabilia. 

He even had an Iron Cross encrusted on his bass, leading to accusations that he had Nazi sympathies. 

But he maintained he ‘only collected the stuff. [he] didn’t collect the ideas.’

In one interview, he said: ‘By collecting Nazi memorabilia, it doesn’t mean I’m a fascist, or a skinhead. I just liked the clobber.

‘I’ve always liked a good uniform, and throughout history, it’s always been the bad guys who dressed the best: Napoleon, the Confederates, the Nazis.’

Ace in the pack: Kilmister, who was born in Stoke-on-Trent on Christmas Eve 1945, founded Motorhead in 1975 after being fired from previous band Hawkwind

The musician, who suffered from diabetes, had been plagued with health problems in recent times and the band were forced to postpone a string of shows earlier this year. 

In an interview with Decibel magazine last year, Singerman revealed: ‘He’s been up and down — he’s got a really bad diabetic problem and it changes on a daily basis.

‘A lot of it is fighting the bad habits, the things he’s not supposed to do any more. He’s stopped smoking, but he probably sneaks Jack and Coke here and there — he’d be lying if he said he’d stopped.’ 

Hours before appearing at the Monsters of Rock Festival in Brazil in April, Kilmister was reportedly taken ill with gastric distress and dehydration.

And in 2013, the band were forced to postpone shows in Italy and Austria after the rock veteran suffered a haematoma.

In the same year he was fitted with a defibrillator to correct heart problems.

In a recent interview with German magazine Lust For Life, Kilmister said he had been ‘close to death’ during his last surgery.

‘It was the only moment I was stalked by the devil called doubt. I wondered if I’d make it. I’m not afraid of death – I often sing about it. 

‘So I wasn’t shaking in my bed, but I did have the feeling I wasn’t done yet. I still wanted to do shows and make records. That feeling pulled me through all this.’ 

Motörhead were set to tour the UK in January in support of their 23rd album ‘Bad Magic’, which was released in August of this year.

In June, the band graced Glastonbury festival for the first time in their 40-year history, playing a triumphant afternoon set on the Pyramid Stage.

Motörhead are perhaps best known for their single Ace Of Spades, while the fanged face that appears on their album artwork has become one of rock’s most recognisable figures.

It took several years for the band to break into the popular charts, which came when they achieved critical acclaim with the 1980 Ace Of Spades album, which reached number four in the UK chart. 

FROM STOKE-ON-TRENT TO HEAVY METAL STAR: THE RISE OF A ROCK ICON

Ladies’ man: Lemmy with tattoo artist and TV personality Kat Von D at a 2012 event

Many a hell-raiser has boasted of a life filled with booze, sex and drugs, but very few have lived it with the conviction and defiance of Lemmy, Motörhead frontman, who has died aged 70.

Born in Stoke-on-Trent on Christmas Eve, Ian Kilmister committed himself to rock-and-roll after watching the Beatles at Liverpool’s Cavern Club as a teenager.

He worked as a roadie for Jimi Hendrix, played bass in space rock band Hawkwind – before being kicked out for his drug use – and founded Motörhead – all on a bottle of Jack Daniels a day.

He also boasted of sleeping with 1,000 women, built up an impressive – if controversial – collection of Third Reich memorabilia and entertained millions despite an ever-growing list of health problems.

The most recent diagnosis was on Boxing Day, when Lemmy was told he had an aggressive form of cancer. Just 48 hours later, the rock icon lost his life to the disease, surrounded by family at his Los Angeles home. 

After his father left just three weeks after his birth, Kimister was brought up by his mother and grandmother. It was apparent from an early age he would not follow a conventional path in life.

In his autobiography, he wrote: ‘I had problems at school right from the start. The teachers and I didn’t see eye-to-eye: they wanted me to learn, and I didn’t want to… 

‘I played truant constantly, and that was it from day one, really.’ 

He picked up his nickname aged 11, when he moved to Anglesey, north Wales, with his mother and her second husband. 

After finishing school, and a brief stint working at a riding school, Lemmy worked at a washing machine factory.

He later Stockport in Manchester where he became involved in the local music scene, eventually joining a band called The Rockin’ Vickers.

He left the group in 1967 and moved to London in search of fame and fortune. He also spent seven months travelling with Jimi Hendrix as a roadie.

Five years later he became a bassist for Hawkwind.

In 1975 he formed Motorhead, but after two years of little recognition and living in squats, the group decided to split and played farewell show at the Marquee Club in London.

But a record producer at the gig offered the band some time in studio to record a single. 

The group made the most of the opportunity, eventually recording 13 tracks that formed their first album. Called Motorhead, it reached number 43 in the UK charts.

The Grammy-award winning band took several years to break into popular consciousness. 

But it all changed in 1980 with the release of their fourth album, Ace of Spades, which went on to become one of their biggest hits. Over the the next 30 years released a further 17 albums.

Motörhead’s loud, fast style was a pioneering force in heavy metal, with Kilmister’s vocal growl and aggressive bass inspiring countless other bands. 

Lemmy with Billy Idol, right, and a female friend at the Royal Albert Hall, in London in 1989

The group recently celebrated their 40th year by releasing their 23rd studio album, Bad Magic, and were set to play dates in the UK and Europe over the next few months as part of a world tour. 

Lemmy attracted much controversy throughout his career, never making any secret of his alcohol and drug intake, and openly posing in Nazi paraphernalia in 2008.

But he defended the move claiming he did not support the ideology, and was simply a fan of the uniforms.

Lemmy was an avid collector of German military regalia, and had an Iron Cross encrusted on his bass, leading to accusations that he had Nazi sympathies.

However, in a 2010 interview he said: ‘I only collect the stuff. I didn’t collect the ideas.’ 

 

 

ICONIC FIGURES THAT DIED TOO YOUNG – KURT COBAIN (February 20, 1967 – April 5, 1994)

Iconic figures that died too young …. some say self inflicted and deservedly so , whilst others would strongly disagree….  including legendary American Grunge rock singer/songwriter & Nirvana frontman – Kurt Cobain are all featured here on display at Littledean Jail alongside our True Crime, Murderabilia, Sleaze & Scandal, The bizarre and the Taboo subject matters .  

brilliant track and video of Kurt and the rest of Nirvana performing  “Smells like teen spirit “

below is a crime scene picture as featured in the press coverage of the day after his suicide

below is Kurt  Cobain’s death certificate

Above Is Kurt’s suicide note and below a printed version

 Below is the crime scene illustration

Kurt Donald Cobain (February 20, 1967 – April 5, 1994)^[2][3] was an American singer-songwriter, musician and artist, best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the grunge band Nirvana. Cobain formed Nirvana with Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1985 and established it as part of the Seattle music scene, having its debut album Bleach released on the independent record label Sub Pop in 1989.

After signing with major label DGC Records, the band found breakthrough success with “Smells Like Teen Spirit” from its second album Nevermind(1991). Following the success of Nevermind, Nirvana was labeled “the flagship band” of Generation X, and Cobain hailed as “the spokesman of a generation”.^[4] Cobain, however, was often uncomfortable and frustrated, believing his message and artistic vision to have been misinterpreted by the public, with his personal issues often subject to media attention. He challenged Nirvana’s audience with its final studio album In Utero (1993).

During the last years of his life, Cobain struggled with heroin addiction, illness and depression. He also had difficulty coping with his fame and public image, and the professional and lifelong personal pressures surrounding himself and his wife, musician Courtney Love. On April 8, 1994, Cobain was found dead at his home in Seattle, the victim of what was officially ruled a suicide by a self-inflicted shotgun wound to the head. The circumstances ofhis death at age 27 have become a topic of public fascination and debate. Since their debut, Nirvana, with Cobain as a songwriter, has sold over 25 million albums in the U.S., and over 50 million worldwide.^[5][6]

 

Seattle police known to be at the scene were:
Capt. Larry Farrar
Lt. George Marberg, Lt. Al Gerdes, Lt. Ziminsky
Sgt. Don Cameron, Sgt. Jeff Getchman
Det. Jim Yoshida, Det. Steve Kirkland
Off. Joe Fewel, Off. Von Levandowski
King County Medical Examiners:
Investigator Dave Delgado
Dr. Nick Hartshorne, Dr. Donald Raey

Officers who were present made very little effort to preserve the scene and document it thoroughly; arriving at 9:50am the scene was secured by 11:55am. Perhaps this was corruption or incompetence without intent, either way its negligence. These reports of the scene are clearly based on fact but inaccuracies fill the holes; inaccuracies that paint a suicidal environment.

“Nowhere in the police handling of the scene will you find any indication that the detectives were there to do anything but write up a report on the death and then get out of there… No standard
forensics testing such as fingerprint, footprint, fiber sampling, etcetera, was done at the scene.Homicide detectives were apparently willing to entertain no notion but that this was a suicide.” –Richard Lee – “No evidence, it seems, is needed to close a case of alleged self-murder.”

From the limited visual view and description the greenhouse appears clinical and does not corroborate with what Dylan Carlson and others have said; “It’s just a dirty little room.” Along with Dylan’s other statement – “I’ve never seen the house this clean before,” these testimonies lead to the suspicion of an intently ‘swept’ crime scene, a fundamental observation in every investigation implying a more complicated scenario.

Nikolas Hartshorne: “The fact that there was a suicide note left at the scene, point one. Point two: the weapon is still at the scene and point three: the nature of the injury. This was a contact shotgun wound to the mouth that required the gun to be against the decedent’s chest and with this information makes it a classic textbook example of suicide.” (VH1 Confidential)
Point one – when the authenticity of the suicide note is later questioned, Hartshorne claims one factor he pronounced as being a reason in the conclusion of suicide is now “irrelevant.” 
Point two and three – its logical to suggest that in the reconstruction of a ‘textbook’ suicide the perpetrate[s] would manipulate the crime scene fabricating the essentials, and certainly in this scene all the artifacts are ideally placed. This is no basis at all to conclude a verdict of suicide without consideration of other variables and inconsistencies present. – ‘The perfect assassination looks like suicide’

3D Crime Scene Diagram
This model is not to scale, it is directly deduced from the information provided in the police reports documenting where items were located. Polaroid and 35mm cameras were used to document the scene. The films have never been developed, and to a much lesser extent the polaroids never released – “We don’t develop photographs on suicides.” Sgt. Cameron.
Therefore the only discernible information about the crime scene is from police reports and witness accounts. (Click on the diagram for an enlarged view, please discern the fact this diagram does not take into account the pitched roof).

Excerpt from the Follow Up Report:
	The significance of the shotgun being inverted (trigger and magazine trap door pointing up) is that it places the ejection port (where the spent shell is ejected from when fired) to Kurt’s right(south). Yet the spent shell was documented as being found to Kurt’s left (north). Why? Visual 3D Reference  This scenario seems to defy the physics of when a gun is fired, the trappings of assimilation with some fundamental errors; It is to be believed the shotgun rotated 180° (while remaining in Kurt’s left hand which was found clutching the barrell, due to rigor), and also remained ideally positioned, resting parallel on Kurt’s chest directed toward his chin. Keep this in mind – “The barrel of this shotgun retracts 3” as it automatically loads the next shell into the chamber.” – (Tom Grant, p.38)

On a side related issue, in this picture it’s possible to presumably see the butt of the shotgun between Kurt’s legs as stated in the police reports.
_______________________________________________________________________________  
THE NOTE LOCATION:

“Gary Smith, who happens to be a journeyman electrician with no alcohol or drugs or criminal record in his background, also reports that a note was clearly visible by the body, so clear that he could read: “I Love You… I Love You” through the french windows. When the details filtered out to the press it seemed as if Kurt had placed the note in a planter box with a pen stuck through it (as reflected in the police reports). In reality the police photographer moved it across the room to get a better shot of it and failed to photograph it in it’s exact original position near the body.”
– A passage taken from Hank Harrison’s book, Beyond Nirvana, p54.
This apparently originates from conversation between Grant and Smith, which Grant later divulged to Harrison.
The importance being Smith’s testimony is an eye witness illustration of police tampering with material evidence.
_______________________________________________________________________________  
MISINFORMED SUICIDAL TRAITS:

Although these factors all seem small, they were widely proliferated around the death of Kurt and had an impact by misleading people to draw conclusions as to what had happened on false facts.

1.) Namely the positioning of a stool. It was reported at the time Kurt had barricaded himself inside the room: Police narrative: “There are stairs on the west side leading to the french door entry and another set of french doors on the east side which lead to a balcony. These doors are unlocked and closed but there is a stool with a box of gardening supplies on it in front of the door.” – “Off. Levandowski observed the french doors at the opposite end of the room were blocked by a stool; preventing access.”
This factor should have been of little relevance, the stool was only sitting infront of an unlocked set of doors that led to a balcony. Not only that, but the eastern french doors open outwards onto the balcony, this makes the notion of a barricade (suggesting nobody could leave) completely irrelevant; an assailant could exit and draw the stool up close to the door before shutting it.
The west entrance french doors were not blocked; Although locked, this was a simple twist lockwhich can be locked prior to leaving. Tom Grant’s explanation

April 15th, Grant met with Sgt. Cameron to discuss his suspicions and mentioned the lock on the western door does not qualify in concluding Kurt was alone, to which Cameron replied – “There was a stool wedged up against the door” – False. The misconstrued media myth of a barricade prevailed.

2.) A recognised mannerism in violent suicide is to leave a form of identification readily available. It was reported by the media that Kurt had infact left his wallet open displaying his drivers license. This is completely untrue, in reality the closed wallet was opened by an officer – “SFD asked for I.D. from the nearby wallet, and I opened the wallet which was within a couple of feet of the victims body. Inside I found a Washington state drivers license in the name of Cobain, Kurt Donald DOB/022067″.

3.) Reports documenting a crime scene should be described factually, without bias and final conclusions. In this case it obviously wasn’t; the note left at the scene was claimed to incite suicide and was written to Courtney and Frances explaining “why he had killed himself”. These remarks were pronounced before a clear evaluation could have been made and were taken as fact.

These small points which indicate manipulation of the factual crime scene were leaked to the hungry media and deceptively confirmed this as a suicide in retrospect.
_______________________________________________________________________________

BLOOD POOL?

According to police reports there was “obvious trama” to the head but no exit wound, resulting in“a large drying puddle of blood to the left of the victim.” – Was the volume of blood ever seriously evaluated in relation to the nature of the injury? Gary Smith who initially mistook the body for a mannequin because it looked so neat only realised the situation when he noticed blood in the right ear. Does this picture sound feasible for a shotgun wound to the head suicide? Clearly we have no pictures that display whether the pool was sufficient or non-sufficient for the type of wound made this is merely an assumption based upon Smith’s perception.
In the case of a gunshot wound to the head the wound continues to issue copious amounts of blood for a short period due to the autonomic function of the heart. There are other factors this is reliant upon such as the angle of the shot, all of which we do not yet know, inclusive of the autospy report.
This is best demonstrated by Bud Dwyer, who committed suicide on camera during a press conference (viewer discretion is advised, this is vivid imagery). The comparative lack of blood for this type of trauma is an indication that the gunshot might have been administered post-mortem, the heart had already stopped; the result of a lethal dosage of heroin, and possibly blood coagulation already begun. The supposition that no exit wound would result in a lack of blood is false, as seen in Bud Dwyer’s case the exit wound is irrelevant to the volume of blood lost. In addition the destruction to the palette of the mouth would be comparatively larger when factoring in a shotgun.
This scenario would either assume corruption on the part of the medical examiner who performed the autospy; Nikolas Hartshorne, or severe incompetence, as the picture is very different if a wound is delivered post death. The question being could the perpetrate[s] foreshadow a non-investigation by the police unless they knew someone had the power to cover it up beforehand?

It is very possible the shotgun wound was administered while Kurt was under sedation, in this case the cause of death would be a perforating shotgun wound to the mouth.
Just something to consider…
_______________________________________________________________________________

   MISCELLANEOUS:

Contents of Cigar Box
   “The cigar box contained narcotics paraphernalia    (syringes, burnt spoons, cotton, and small pieces        of what looks like black tar).”

 Featured in the picture is the open Tom Moore 
Cigar Box, along with the wallet and towels

Contents of Kurts front pant pockets:
• $63
• a piece of note paper with “Seattle Guns, 145 & Lake City” written on it. Another note which read; “Remington 20 gauge, 2 3/4 shells or shorter, set up for light load, 1088925.”
• an address book and miscellaneous papers.
• a copy of a Delta plane ticket, #788F. Dated 4/1/94, seat 2F, in the name of Cobain/Kurt.
Pocket of the brown corduroy jacket:
• Receipt for the purchase of the Remington 20 gauge shotgun dated 3/30/94.

RIP …. GLOUCESTERSHIRE’S FORMER MOTORHEAD GUITARIST “WURZEL”

WE AT THE JAIL WERE SADDENED TO HEAR OF THE DEATH OF OUR LOCAL ICONIC FORMER GUITARIST OF MOTORHEAD – WURZEL .

AS A TRIBUTE TO HIM AND IS ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVOURITE  TRACKS …HERE’S MOTORHEAD PERFORMING THE 1980 WORLDWIDE HIT  “ACE OF SPADES” LIVE

RIP …. GLOUCESTERSHIRE’S FORMER  MOTORHEAD GUITARIST “WURZEL”

(MICHAEL BURSTON)

as in the metro

Motorhead’s Wurzel dies of heart attack while pouring pint of Guinness

Legendary Motorhead guitarist Wurzel died on Saturday after suffering a heart attack while pouring a pint of Guinness and joking with friends, it has been announced.

A statement on the band’s website said: ‘We are greatly saddened to confirm that our long-time friend and comrade Wurzel died Saturday at his home.

Lemmy paid tribute to Wurzel at Knebworth (Getty)

‘Wurz was pouring a Guinness and cracking a joke when he succumbed to a heart attack; at least we know he went with a smile.’

The 61-year-old, real name Michael Burston, became part of Motorhead in 1984 and featured on nine studio and live albums until his departure in 1995.

Motorhead, who played at Knebworth on Sunday, dedicated their Sonisphere Festival set to their old bandmate.

Lemmy, the lead singer of the heavy metal band, led the tributes to Wurzel.

Posting on the band’s website: ‘Wurzel was my friend and my brother and he’s never going to laugh with me again or bitch me out or do anything. And that truly and cosmically sucks.

‘RIP Wurz. God speed. Good man.’

Lemmy recently announced the creation of a new band, HeadCat, along with Jim Phantom and Danny B Harvey, which will ‘remind the world how rock’n’roll is supposed to sound’.

The band’s first album, Walk The Walk, Talk The Talk, is out now and HeadCat will be touring in October.

AS REPORTED IN THE SUN

Motorhead rocker Wurzel dies at 61

 

 

GUITAR legend Wurzel of the band Motorhead has died, it was announced last night.

Wurzel, real name Michael Burston, suffered a heart attack “while pouring a Guinness and cracking a smile”.

The 61-year-old, originally from Cheltenham, Gloucs, joined Motorhead in 1984 after playing in other bands.

He had previously served in the Army, where he got his nickname because of his West Country accent and likeness to Worzel Gummidge the scarecrow.

He played on nine studio and live albums until his departure in 1995.

And he was a favourite with fans for his jester-like antics in contrast to the sterner image of the band’s lead singer Ian “Lemmy” Kilmister.

Lemmy said last night: “Wurzel was my friend and my brother and he’s never going to laugh with me again or bitch me out or do anything.

“And that truly and cosmically sucks. RIP Wurz. God speed. Good man.”

 

http://www.imotorhead.com/