Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons announce 50 Years of Motörhead UK tour

They play 21 shows in 2025

Phil Campbell on stage at Hellfest
Author: Scott ColothanPublished 11th Oct 2024
Last updated 11th Oct 2024

Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons will embark on a UK & Ireland tour in February, March and April 2025 celebrating the 50th anniversary of Motörhead.

Pontypridd rocker Phil Campbell joined Motörhead as a sprightly 23-year-old in 1984 and he remained a constant member for 31 years until Lemmy’s untimely death in December 2015.

Although not part of the classic ‘Three Amigos’ Motörhead line-up, Phil was the second longest-serving member of the band behind leader Lemmy, and he appeared on every studio album from ‘Orgasmatron’ to ‘Bad Magic.’

Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons in 2023

Next year’s ‘Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons Celebrate 50 Years of Motörhead’ tour will see Phil, his sons Todd, Dane and Tyla, and vocalist Joel Peters delve into Motörhead’s fearsome back catalogue.

The 21-date trek visits England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland, opening at Southampton The 1865 on Saturday 15th February 2025 and wrapping up two months later on Sunday 20th April 2025 at Belfast Limelight 2.

Tickets to the vast majority of the shows are on sale from Planet Rock Tickets now.

Since their inception in 2016, Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons have released three albums of original material, ‘The Age of Absurdity’, ‘We’re The Bastards’ and ‘Kings of the Asylum.’

Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons’ Celebrate 50 Years of Motörhead tour dates:

FEBRUARY 2025

Southampton The 1865 – 15th

Brighton Concorde 2 – 16th

Sheffield Corporation – 28th

MARCH 2025

Leicester O2 Academy 2 – 2nd

Frome Cheese & Grain – 13th

Exeter Phoenix – 14th

Falmouth Princess Pavilion – 15th

Lincoln The Drill – 20th

Oxford O2 Academy 2 – 21st

Wolverhampton KK’s Steel Mill – 22nd

Norwich Waterfront – 27th

Manchester Rebellion – 28th

Newcastle The Grove – 29th

Glasgow Garage – 30th

APRIL 2025

Derby The Hairy Dog – 3rd

Buckley Tivoli – 4th

Leeds Warehouse – 5th

London O2 Academy Islington – 6th

Limerick Dolan’s Warehouse – 18th

Dublin Whelan’s – 19th

Belfast Limelight 2 – 20th

Buy Phil Campbell tickets

Phil Campbell's 50 Years of Motorhead tour

Lemmy's legendary life in photos:

Lemmy's Childhood

Ian Fraser Kilmister was born on 24th December 1945 in the Burslem area of Stoke-on-Trent (pictured). After his father, Sydney, separated from his mum Jessie when Lemmy was three months old, he moved to Newcastle-under-Lyme and later to Madeley. Aged 10, Lemmy settled in the Welsh village of Benllech with his mum and her new husband, former rugby player George L. Willis.

Lemmy's secondary school

From the mid-1950s, Lemmy attended Ysgol Syr Thomas Jones comprehensive school in Anglesey where he acquired his 'Lemmy' nickname. Commenting on his school life, Lemmy told WalesOnline in 2015: "Funnily enough, being the only English kid among 700 Welsh ones didn't make for the happiest time – but it was interesting from an anthropological point of view."

Lemmy's first hero Little Richard

At school, Lemmy discovered rock n' roll music and decided to take up music himself after seeing a guitar-playing pupil "surrounded by chicks." His heroes in the late 1950s included Billy Fury, Marti Wilde, Johnny Kidd and the Pirates, Elvis and Little Richard. He said of Little Richard: "It's Little Richard's fault, all of it. Little Richard is directly responsible for Motörhead. I heard (1958 single) 'Good Golly, Mrs. Molly' and that was the end of it."

The Beatles at The Cavern Club

Lemmy's real epiphany moment came when, aged 16, he witnessed his idols The Beatles performing at The Cavern Club in Liverpool in 1961. Following the"f---ing tremendous" performance, Lemmy became a keen Beatles aficionado. He told NME in 2010: "The Beatles changed the world, they really did. I mean, the generation that was with them, which includes me, we believed that we could make the world better."

Lemmy joins The Rocking' Vickers

Having relocated to North West England, Lemmy cut his gigging teeth playing guitar with The Rainmakers and The Motown Sect before he joined his first 'proper' band, Blackpool rock and rollers The Rockin' Vickers in 1965. The Rockin' Vickers achieved modest success in Finland, and they released three UK singles with Lemmy in their ranks, including a cover of The Kinks' 'Dandy.'

Lemmy becomes Jimi Hendrix's roadie

After first witnessing Jimi Hendrix in live action at the Blackpool Opera House in April 1967, Lemmy moved to London later that year and became his roadie. He witnessed Hendrix performing live twice a night for three months. Lemmy said: "The only guy I knew in London shared a place with Noel Redding and he was part of Hendrix's road crew and they go out on tour and I was humping gear and they were doing 'Axis Bold As Love'. It was amazing. Hendrix was an original. There has never been anything like him since and certainly not before."

Lemmy joins Sam Gopal

Lemmy moved into psychedelic sonic realms when he joined Sam Gopal in 1968 as their vocalist and guitarist. The London band were managed by Cream and Bee Gees manager Robert Stigwood and they released one studio album, 'Escalator', in 1969. Lemmy appears as Ian Willis on the record, as he was considering changing his surname to that of his stepfather George Willis. In 1969, Lemmy met his future Hawkwind band mate Simon King in a record shop. The drummer successfully persuaded Lemmy to join his Oxfordshire-based psychedelic outfit Opal Butterfly, however the group split the following year.

Lemmy becomes a member of Hawkwind

In August 1971, two months before they released their second studio album 'In Search of Space', Lemmy joined psychedelic space rock outfit Hawkwind. Originally set to become a second guitarist, Lemmy started playing bass when the band's usual player failed to turn up for a charity gig in Notting Hill. Lemmy remarked years later: "Their bass player was pretty much saying 'please steal my gig!' So, I stole his gig."

Lemmy hones his bass playing in Hawkwind

Previously a rhythm guitarist, Lemmy honed his trademark bass sound with Hawkwind. He told Classic Rock Magazine in 2014: "I really found myself as an instrumentalist in Hawkwind. Before that I was just a guitar player who was pretending to be good, when actually I was no good at all. In Hawkwind I became a good bass player. It was where I learned I was good at something."

Hawkwind release 'Silver Machine'

Penned by vocalist Robert Calvert and guitarist Dave Brock's wife Sylvia McManus, Hawkind's 1972 single 'Silver Machine' became a Number 3 hit upon its release and it remains the band's most popular anthem, commercially at least. Calvert sang lead vocals on the original version, however the band considered it weak and Lemmy was drafted in to sing on the new recording. Reflecting upon the first version, Lemmy said decades later: "It sounded like Captain Kirk reading 'Blowing in the Wind'. They tried everybody singing it except me. Then, as a last shot, Douglas (Smith) said, 'Try Lemmy'. And I did it in one take or two." Calvert, who was sectioned at the time of the re-record, was "not pleased" when he found out.

Lemmy is fired by Hawkwind

Lemmy recorded three studio albums with Hawkwind – 'Doremi Fasol Latido' (1972), 'Hall of the Mountain Grill' (1974) and 'Warrior on the Edge of Time' (1975). He was fired from the band a day before the release of 'Warrior on the Edge of Time' after he was caught in possession of drugs crossing the border from the US into Canada. Police wrongly thought the drug was speed and, after a short time behind bars, Lemmy was released. Despite the mix-up, Hawkwind ousted him for his erratic behaviour. He later remarked: "(Hawkwind) dismissed me for doing the wrong drugs."

Lemmy forms Motörhead

Now a free agent, Lemmy decided formed a new band in 1975 with the sole ambition of them becoming "the dirtiest rock'n'roll band in the world. If you moved in next door, your lawn would die." After being wisely advised that 'Bastard' was an unsuitable moniker, Lemmy named his band Motörhead after the final song he penned and recorded with Hawkwind, 'Motorhead', which appeared as a B-side to 'Kings of Speed.' The first incarnation of Motörhead featured guitarist Larry Wallis (formerly of Pink Fairies) and drummer Lucas Fox alongside Lemmy.

Motörhead's classic line-up is born

Signed to United Artists, Lemmy and his Motörhead band mates decamped to Rockfield Studios in Monmouth, Wales in late 1976 to record their debut album. Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor was recruited as the new drummer midway through the sessions. The album was shelved by their record label but it was later released as 'On Parole' in 1979. A month after they left Monmouth, Lemmy decided to expand Motörhead to a four-piece and recruited Taylor's friend "Fast" Eddie Clarke as a second guitarist. However, Larry Wallis swiftly quit to return to Pink Fairies and the 'classic' Motörhead line-up of Lemmy, Clarke and Taylor was born.

The Three Amigos

Lemmy recorded five studio albums with the classic "Three Amigos" line-up of Motörhead – 'Motörhead' (1977), 'Overkill' (1979), 'Bomber' (1979), 'Ace of Spades' (1980) and 'Iron Fist' (1982) – and achieved considerable success. His guttural growl and pummelling bass playing was integral to Motörhead's unique sound alongside "Fast" Eddie Clarke searing guitars and Filthy's animalistic drums.

Motörhead's debut album and Snaggletooth

The "classic" Motörhead line-up didn't get off to a good start, however. Just a few months after hiring "Fast" Eddie Clarke, the skint band decided to call it quits after playing a farewell show at the Marquee Club in London on 1st April. Lemmy's friend Ted Carroll, who hosted the Marquee Club gig, persuaded the band to spend two days at Escape Studios in Kent to record a single with producer John "Speedy" Keen. They ended up recording eight songs and debut album 'Motörhead' was released through Carroll's imprint on Chiswick Records on 12th August 1977. The album also introduced Motörhead's mascot Snaggletooth to the world.

Lemmy at Reading Festival in 1979

Lemmy pulling his signature move by holding his bass like a gun at Reading Festival on 24th August 1979. Alongside two appearances on Top of the Pops, a John Peel session, and their rapturously received Bomber tour, the Reading slot was a pivotal moment in Motörhead's ascendency at the end of the decade.

Lemmy saves The Damned

In 1976, Lemmy joined forces with The Damned's Captain Sensible and Rat Scabies and they played a concert as Les Punks. Three years later, he recorded an EP and played a handful of gigs with the same musicians as The Doomed. Captain Sensible credits Lemmy with saving The Damned, saying: "Without Lemmy and his encouragement, I don't think we would have gone on. But he had another band to do, so he couldn't do it full-time. Lemmy was a great man – a real charmer, an absolute gentleman. But he always reserved the right to be as f---ing rude as necessary if the occasion demanded it!"

Motörhead unleash 'Ace of Spades'

In October 1980, Motörhead unleashed their legendary single 'Ace of Spades'. A track that propelled Motörhead to global fame, the rip-snorting speed metal anthem opens with a frenetic bass intro from Lemmy before his trademark guttural growl takes centre stage. Despite widely being regarded as one of Motörhead's defining anthems, Lemmy said in 2000: ""I don't see the song that way at all. I believe we've done our best work since Eddie left the band in 1982."

Motörhead on Top of the Pops

A dapper suited and booted Lemmy backstage at Top of the Pops in London in February 1981 where Headgirl – a collaboration between Motörhead and Girlschool – performed their cover of Johnny Kidd & the Pirates' 'Please Don't Touch.' Motörhead appeared on Top of the Pops numerous times in the late 70s and early 80s.

Lemmy with Snaggletooth

Lemmy posing with Motörhead's fearsome mascot Snaggletooth at a London photoshoot in 1982.

Lemmy in 1982

Lemmy pictured in Chalk Farm, London in the summer of 1982. Earlier that year Motörhead released their fifth album 'Iron Fist', their final release with the classic Three Amigos line-up.

Motörhead appear on The Young Ones

Lemmy appeared on the Bambi episode of anarchic BBC comedy The Young Ones in 1984. Motörhead performed 'Ace of Spades' in the delapidated student house with their newly recruited guitarists Würzel and Phil Campbell, while Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor departed the group shortly afterwards.

Lemmy at Hammersmith Odeon

Lemmy in his imperious live glory at London's Hammersmith Odeon in 1984. Three years earlier, Motörhead released their legendary live album recorded at the same venue, 'No Sleep 'til Hammersmith', which debuted at Number 1 on the UK album chart.

Lemmy in 1984

Lemmy strapped to a fake electric chair during a photo session for the 'Killed By Death' single in Pimlico, London in July 1984.

Lemmy the deranged bishop

Three decades before Papa Emeritus and Ghost arrived on the scene, Lemmy posed as a deranged bishop in a Motörhead photoshoot in the mid-80s.

Lemmy and his friend Samantha Fox

Lemmy with his close friend, glamour model Samantha Fox in 1985. Paying tribute to Lemmy following his death in 2015, Fox told Metal Hammer: "When my dad died Lemmy wrote me a beautiful poem; it was like two pages of A4 paper. He read it to me and it made me cry so much. I said, 'Lemmy, stop it now, stop it now.' He had this full-on rock'n'roll persona but he was a real softie and could write some beautiful poetry. When my dad died he said, 'Don't worry, Sam, when you get married I'll walk you up the aisle.' How great would that have been? But that marriage never happened!"

Lemmy in 1988

Lemmy on stage with Motörhead in New York City in 1988. The band were touring their eighth album 'Rock 'n' Roll.'

Lemmy moves to Los Angeles

Lemmy proudly clutching one of his beloved Rickenbacker bass guitars in Los Angeles. Lemmy moved to Los Angeles in 1990 and stayed there until his death.

Lemmy on stage in 1991

Ian 'Lemmy' Kilmister performs onstage with Motörhead at the World Music Theater in Tinley Park, Illinois on 20th July 1991.

Lemmy's memorabilia

Lemmy at his Los Angeles home. Lemmy was a keen collector of military regalia and Nazi memorabilia – he vehemently denounced Nazism, racism and Adolf Hitler but stated he collected Nazi ephemerae as he liked how it looked.

Lemmy at the Rainbow Bar & Grill

Here's Lemmy pictured outside his favourite watering hole, The Rainbow Bar and Grill in Hollywood, in 2001. His apartment was just two blocks away from the famous boozer.

Lemmy with a Jack Daniel's

Lemmy clutching a Jack Daniel's and coke outside The Rainbow Bar and Grill. The 2005 documentary Motörhead: Live Fast Die Old claimed that Lemmy drank a bottle of Jack Daniel's every day for over 30 years. He gave up drinking JD in 2013 due to health reasons.

Lemmy in 2003

Motörhead legend Lemmy at a Los Angeles photoshoot in 2003

Lemmy immortalised at Hollywood's RockWalk

In September 2003, Lemmy and his Motörhead band mates Phil Campbell and Mikkey Dee had their hands pressed into concrete as they were inducted into Hollywood's RockWalk at Whisky A Go-Go.

Lemmy with Dave Grohl

Lemmy with arguably his biggest fan, Foo Fighters lynchpin Dave Grohl in 2004. Lemmy played bass and sang on the track 'Shake Your Blood' by Dave Grohl's heavy metal side project Probot. Grohl said at the time: "We recorded (Lemmy's) track in Los Angeles in maybe two takes about a year and a half ago. Until then I'd never met what I'd call a real rock 'n' roll hero before. F--- Elvis and Keith Richards, Lemmy's the king of rock 'n' roll—he told me he never considered Motörhead a metal band, he was quite adamant. Lemmy's a living, breathing, drinking and snorting f---ing legend. No one else comes close."

Lemmy in 2004

Lemmy photographed prior to Motörhead's A Night at the Opera concert at the Royal Opera House at Covent Garden, London in February 2004. The one-off gig at the Vilar Floral Hall was part of One Amazing Week, a series of events showcasing London's cultural life.

Motörhead win their only Grammy

Motörhead won their first and only Grammy Award in 2005 in the Best Metal Performance category for their cover of Metallica's 'Whiplash', which appeared on the album 'Metallic Attack: The Ultimate Tribute.'

Motörhead make their debut at Download Festival

Lemmy photographed on stage with Motörhead at Download Festival in June 2005 where they headlined the second stage on the Sunday night. It was the band's first appearance on the hallowed turf of Donington Park since Monsters of Rock in 1986.

Lemmy in 2006

Lemmy flips the bird at a London photoshoot in 2006. The band's tenth album 'Kiss of Death' was released that summer.

Lemmy and Slash

Lemmy with his good friend Slash in January 2007. Slash first met Lemmy in London 20 years earlier on Guns N' Roses' inaugural trip to the UK. Slash said in 2017: "It was the first time Guns N' Roses came to the UK (in 1987), and somebody asked us, 'Would you guys like to meet Motörhead, they're doing a record?' So it was like, 'Oh yeah!' I mean, we just go off a plane. And listened to those f__king records as a kid, and I'd seen Motörhead twice before I ever came here, so yeah, it was intimidating. But we went down there and they were cool – and Lemmy and I were friends ever since." Lemmy sang on Slash's 2010 solo single 'Doctor Alibi.'

Lemmy in 2008

Lemmy on stage with Motörhead at Vieilles Charrues Festival in France in July 2008.

Lemmy at Hammersmith Apollo

Lemmy pulls his signature bass gun move at London's Hammersmith Apollo in 2008.

Lemmy in 2010

Motörhead's Lemmy captured in 2010 by late-great photographer Mick Hutson.

Lemmy on the Gigantour in 2012

Lemmy performs with Motörhead in Illinois in February 2012 as part of the Dave Mustaine curated Gigantour. The impressive line-up on the trek also included Megadeth, Volbeat and Lacuna Coil.

Lemmy The Legend

Lemmy at the Classic Rock Roll of Honour awards at London's The Roundhouse in 2012. At the inaugural event seven years earlier, Lemmy scooped the Living Legend Award.

Lemmy at Download Festival 2013

Lemmy at Motörhead's fourth and final appearance at Download Festival in June 2013. Motörhead were scheduled to perform at the 2016 edition, however the show was axed in the wake of Lemmy's death.

Lemmy at the 57th Grammy Awards

Lemmy at the 57th Grammy Awards at The Staples Center in Los Angeles in February 2015. The band were nominated in the Best Metal Performance category for 'Heartbreaker', however they lost out to Tenacious D's cover of Dio's 'The Last in Line.'

Lemmy's penultimate UK show

Motörhead performed on The Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury in June 2015 in what proved to be their second to last UK performance – their final show on these shores happened a day later at Eden Sessions in Cornwall on 27th June.

Lemmy's final concerts

Lemmy at the Zenith venue in Munich, Germany on 20th November 2015 as part of Motörhead's 40th anniversary tour. The band's last ever concert happened at Berlin's Max-Schmeling-Halle on 11th December just 17 days before Lemmy's untimely passing.

Lemmy dies aged 70

Lemmy died at his Los Angeles apartment from prostate cancer, cardiac arrhythmia, and congestive heart failure on 28th December 2015. He passed away four days after his 70th birthday and two days after he was diagnosed with cancer.

Motörhead pay tribute to Lemmy

Announcing his death, Motörhead wrote: "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 favourite video game from The Rainbow which had recently made its way down the street, with his family. 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 Motörhead 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."

Lemmy gifts his friends bullets containing his ashes

As part of his dying wish, Lemmy gave a number of his closest friends a very special gift – a bullet with his ashes inside. Among the recipients were Judas Priest's Halford, retired tennis player Pat Cash, Michael Monroe, Doro Pesch and former Headbangers Ball host Riki Rachtman.

Lemmy statue at Rainbow Bar & Grill

A 6ft bronze Lemmy statue was unveiled at his favourite drinking establishment, West Hollywood's Rainbow Bar and Grill, on Wednesday 24th August 2016. Fans raised $23,000 to fund the sculpture.

The colossal Lemmy statue at Hellfest

A colossal statue of Motörhead legend Lemmy was unveiled at French metal festival Hellfest in Clisson, France in June 2022. Created by French artist and sculptor Caroline Brisset (pictured), the impressive statue was created from steel and concrete, and it replaced the previous Lemmy statue at Hellfest that was erected in 2016.

The planned Lemmy statue in Burslem

British sculptor Andy Edwards has been enlisted to create a proposed bronze statue of Ian Fraser Kilmister in his birthplace of Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent. The planned Lemmy statue will be sculpted in Staffordshire clay before being cast in bronze. It's proposed that the sculpture, which depicts Lemmy in his imperious on stage glory with Motörhead in the 1980s, will be installed on an 8ft (2.5m) plinth, designed to resemble an overhanging stage. Organisers have submitted the planning request to Stoke-on-Trent City Council for approval, and they argue that the new statue would 'give more purpose to this area and provide a place for the public to learn about one of Burslem's iconic inhabitants.'

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