World of music pays tribute to rock frontman after losing short battle with cancer
He learned about his cancer diagnosis on Boxing Day
Motorhead frontman Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister has died after "a short battle with an extremely aggressive cancer".
The band confirmed that the 70-year-old died at his home while "sitting in front of his favourite video game with his family".
In a statement, Motorhead said Lemmy had learned of the cancer diagnosis on 26th December.
His fellow band members wrote: "We cannot begin to express our shock and sadness, there aren't words.
"We will say more in the coming days, but for now, please... play Motorhead loud, play Hawkwind loud, play Lemmy's music LOUD.
"Have a drink or few. Share stories. Celebrate the LIFE this lovely, wonderful man celebrated so vibrantly himself. HE WOULD WANT EXACTLY THAT."
The British group, which was first formed by Lemmy in 1975, had just celebrated their 40th anniversary.
He was famed for turning amplifiers to their maximum setting during shows, and was also renowned for his fondness of whisky and distinctive "mutton chops".
Lemmy put his longevity down to never taking heroin, but he was not shy of taking other drugs: he claimed he once stayed awake for two weeks on speed.
He drank a bottle of whiskey a day with coke, but in recent years switched to vodka and orange to help manage his diabetes.
He was fascinated by military memorabilia and uniforms and his Los Angeles flat contained an impressive array of historic weaponry.
The musician claimed to have slept with more than 1,000 women, but insisted this was not so surprising given how long he had been going.
Lemmy never married, saying one had to choose between home life and the road, but had a son called Paul and another son who was adopted.
In November, Phil Taylor - a former Motorhead drummer - died aged 61 following a prolonged illness, after contributing to most of the band's best-known hits in the 1970s and 1980s, including Ace Of Spades.
Ozzy Osbourne, lead vocalist of Black Sabbath, was one of the first to pay tribute.
Meanwhile, the wrestler Triple H wrote:
Motorhead had been due to perform several shows across the UK in January - including in Newcastle, Glasgow, Manchester and London.