Phil Campbell says planned Lemmy statue in Stoke is 'well deserved' and fans would 'love it'

Motörhead guitarist Phil Campbell believes the proposed Lemmy statue in the late legend’s hometown of Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent is a fitting tribute to the great man.

Speaking to Loz Guest backstage at Planet Rockstock before his headline set with his Bastard Sons, Phil Campbell was asked about his thoughts on Lemmy statue.

“I think the guy who wants to put it up - I don't know if he's the actual sculptor - but he emailed me about some stuff and I said, ‘Yeah, go for it!’,” Campbell said.

“I mean it’s well deserved. They should put something up there as well in Stoke. People would love it.”

Commenting on how Lemmy might have reacted to being immortalised as a statue, Campbell continued: “Yeah (Lemmy would) go with the flow, yeah. It wouldn't go to his head, but he'd say, ‘fair enough people want to go in there (and) hang out with him.’”

Acclaimed British sculptor Andy Edwards has been enlisted to create the bronze statue of Ian Fraser Kilmister in Burslem’s Market Place.

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.

The steel and black marble plinth will be emblazoned with Motörhead’s fearsome mascot Snaggletooth alongside the words ‘Born To Lose, Live To Win.’

Other features will include personal and career details, a dedication and the names of 100 fans and celebrities who have supported the project.

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.'

If it gets the green light, the statue won’t be the first immortalisation of Lemmy.

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.

A colossal statue of Lemmy was unveiled at French metal festival Hellfest in Clisson, France in June 2022.

Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons headlined the Bernie Marsden Stage at Planet Rockstock on Thursday with FM, Florence Black, Matt Pearce & The Mutiny and The Bites also on the bill.

The rammed-to-the-rafters Graham Harding Stage boasted performances from WYNT, The Now and Valhalla Awaits.

You can check out photos of Day One at Planet Rockstock below.

Thursday at Planet Rockstock 2023 in photos:

Listen to Planet Rock on DAB nationwide, on our Rayo app, online or via your smart speaker (“Play Planet Rock”).

• Motorhead
• Lemmy
• Phil Campbell