I take a lot of inspiration from the relentless full force attack of Motörhead. I've seen them play live twice and Lemmy and team effortlessly ripped my head off and took away my hearing both nights. People like Lemmy - still kicking ass at almost 60 years old - make aging something to look forward to and nothing to fear. The glorious grotesque power of Motörhead's music is endlessly invigorating. Lemmy's songs embody the defiant spirit of rock 'n roll - nothing less than total power, raped vocal chords, swinging rhythms and a quick wit to boot.

Motörhead aren't without their challenges. They are nasty fuckers and the sexual politics in their lyrics, as well as Lemmy's fascination with Nazi Germany, can be hard to take at times. But for some reason I'm not sure I understand, I cut this band slack. Their music delivers such a powerful catharsis that I can only think of them as being generous and well-intentioned. I believe that Motörhead care and are doing a great deal of good for millions of people. These guys have spent decades on the road, bringing their powerful gutter rock to people who desperately need a release from the anti-septic sheen of so much crap that tries to present itself as music and culture. The few qualities I don't love about Lemmy and his band could never overshadow the enormous spirit and vitality that leaps from the speakers when I throw on an album like "Overkill" or "No Sleep 'Til Hammersmith." One blaring spin of "Ace of Spades" kills everything in its path. Good and evil are simultaneously cauterized by the Motörhead inferno. Plus, they have the coolest looking mascot of any metal band.

Lots of Motörhead songs are anthems for the eternally pissed off. The fury of their music makes me want to persist in my creative work and push hard on behalf of the things I value. There are plenty of motivational Lemmy lyrics to choose from; the words to "(Don't Let 'Em) Grind Ya Down" off the album "Iron Fist" are probably as good an example as any:

"(Don't Let 'Em) Grind Ya Down"
"People gonna make ya wonder if you're right
Keep ya wide awake and worried late at night
Why don't ya tell 'em to beat it
Why don't ya tell 'em to eat it
They're just a bunch of clowns
Don't let'em grind ya down
Sons of bitches, crocodile tears in their eyes
We scare 'em shitless just by showin' up alive
Why don't you tell 'em to shove it
They might as well love it
Give you runaround
Don't let'em grind ya down
Evil bastards ain't got nothin' else to do
Make your life a misery and put you off your food
Don't you dare to go under
Don't let 'em steal your thunder
Listen to the sound
Well let 'em grind that down"

Marc Fischer