In My Global Mind's candid interview with former Motörhead guitarist Phil Campbell, he shares the organic approach in which Phil Campbell And The Bastard Sons was formed, and why the band was fired-up to perform at The Independent for the live album. He also reveals their new studio album is finished and scheduled for release in September.
Campbell also discusses how he misses seeing Lemmy on his left when performing Motörhead songs, shares that Lemmy amazed him with his strength during the recording of Bad Magic despite how sick he was, and wished he had a chance to say good-bye to him properly.
On recording Motörhead's 2015 album, Bad Magic, when Lemmy was sick with cancer:
"He was on the money. He would amaze us all the time; the strength of the man from Day 1. He was a strong fellow, a strong character. You couldn't tell by the vocals on the album how sick he was, really. We knew he was sick, but I don't think we realized (how sick he was). We never talked about the end of the band, the three of us or our manager. We always talked about the next album or the next song or the next tour."
Motörhead, the iconic Godfathers of heavy metal, released their 23rd (and final) studio album Bad Magic in 2015. Instantly hailed as one of the best the beloved trio had recorded in many years, Bad Magic: Seriously Bad Magic enjoys a bonus-packed refresh, adding two previously unreleased tracks from those furious sessions:
“Bullet in Your Brain” and “Greedy Bastards” as well as a snarling, fangs-out live performance from that subsequent tour at the giant Mt Fuji Festival in Japan in 2015. Fans will also get “War, Love, Death And Injustice”, an audio interview with Lemmy conducted by Motörhead expert Robert Kiewik during the tour, and should the desire to have a chat with Lem or anyone beyond this mortal coil arise, the box-set will exclusively contain a Murder One ouija board (complete with the Ace of Spades planchette to spell out the conversation).
A new video for “Bullet In Your Brain”, featuring exclusive, never before seen footage of Motörhead in the studio for the Bad Magic sessions, is available right now. A foot-down, fist-pumping, Lemmy-bass-driven stomper with a deliciously dirty Campbell riff, and Dee-driven dynamics, both the song and footage are a tremendous treat for fans who have craved new Motörmaterial. Watch the video below.
At the time of its release back in 2015, Bad Magic arrived as a massive kick in the teeth for anyone who believed Motörhead were going to amble along into a peaceful little pasture containing fluffy little lambs, folk music and perhaps the odd medieval lute here and there. Big-rig head crushers such as “Thunder & Lightning” and “Teach Them How To Bleed” brought such people to their knees begging for forgiveness, as the album unfurled into their toughest, leanest, meanest and most uncompromising album in aeons. Much of this came down to long-time producer Cameron Webb getting the band to record live at NRG North Hollywood, Maple Studios and Grandmaster in California together for the first time in the Kilmister/Campbell/Dee era, and from the crackling punk energy of “Electricity” to Brian May of Queen’s scintillating guest-appearance on “The Devil”, a vast wealth of aggression, attitude, and excellent songwriting was cultivated in that furious working environment.
Phil Campbell didn’t just record possibly his finest guitars, he threw down most certainly his best solos for decades, while Mikkey Dee’s drumming found new tribal resonance with the Motörhead sound he had helped nurture. There was also one of Lemmy's rawest lyrical life reflections on “Till The End”, and a cover of The Rolling Stones’ “Sympathy For The Devil” which made the song feel like one of their own. One of the hidden gold-dust additions to Bad Magic: Seriously Bad Magic, is Motörhead’s famous, and internationally acclaimed, version of David Bowie’s classic “Heroes”. Originally slated for inclusion on the last release only to be withdrawn at the last minute, it was a cover version which Lemmy had a great affection for, and as such its inclusion here is both fitting and just.
As the title says, this is Motörhead delivering some Seriously Bad Magic.
Bad Magic: Seriously Bad Magic is available on Double 12” Vinyl, CD Digipak with Bonus Disc, Limited Edition Boxset, Digital Download and Streaming. The Limited Edition Boxset will contain the CD Digipak with Bonus Disc, Double 12” Vinyl, exclusive Lemmy War, Love, Death and Injustice audio interview on 12” vinyl and exclusive edition Motörhead - Murder One Ouija Board and Planchette.
Bad Magic: Seriously Bad Magic tracklisting:
"Victory Or Die"
"Thunder & Lightning"
"Fire Storm Hotel"
"Shoot Out All Of Your Lights"
"The Devil"
"Electricity"
"Evil Eye"
"Teach Them How To Bleed"
"Till The End"
"Tell Me Who To Kill"
"Choking On Your Screams"
"When The Sky Comes Looking For You"
"Sympathy For The Devil"
"Heroes"
"Bullet In Your Brain"
"Greedy Bastards"
Live at Mt Fuji Rock Festival 2015 - Sayonara Folks! tracklisting:
"We Are Motörhead"
"Damage Case"
"Stay Clean"
"Metropolis"
"Over The Top"
"String Theory"
"The Chase Is Better Than The Catch"
"Rock It"
"Lost Woman Blues"
"Doctor Rock"
"Just ‘Cos You Got The Power"
"Going To Brazil"
"Ace Of Spades"
"Overkill"
"Bullet In Your Brain" video:
Motörhead:
Lemmy Kilmister - Vocals / Bass
Phil Campbell - Guitars
Mikkey Dee - Drums
(Photo courtesy of Adrenaline PR)
