Our Top 10 Motorhead Songs list presents the best Motorhead songs like “Ace of Spades,” “Hellraiser,” “The Game,” and many more. Motorhead was first formed in 1975 by Ian Fraser “Lemmy” Kilmister. After being fired from the band Hawkwind. Lemmy formed the band Motorhead with the intentions of being one of the loudest groups on the planet. From 1975 until Lemmy’s death in 2015 the band had released close to fifty albums including all live records and compilations. Choosing 10 songs from a band that has released 22 studio albums is no easy feat. However, we compose these lists as an introduction to bands for young fans who may not know much of the band’s music. Its also fun to hear the older fans bust our chops for not including their favorites.
Some critics and fans have described Motorhead as death metal, thrash metal, heavy metal and just about every other genre of rock music. In the end, they were simply a great rock and roll band that played real loud. Like all the great bands of the classic rock era such as Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath, and so on, Motorhead were defined by their own unique sound. A sound sculpted by the talents of Lemmy on bass and vocals, Larry Wallis (1975–1976), Phil Campbell (1984–2015), Eddie Clark (1976–1982), Brian Robertson 1982–1983), Michael Burston (1984–1995) on guitar and Pete Gil (1984–1987) ,Mikkey Dee (1992–2015) on drums.
All these great musicians played at various time periods as noted with the band. However, Lemmy was the one constant. When Lemmy died, so did the band. However, their music and legend lives on. Below is our testament to the great band Motorhead.
# 10 – Line in the Sand
Opening up our top 10 Motorhead songs list is the great track Line in the Sand. The song was originally released on the WWE’s soundtrack album, WWE ThemeAddict: The Music, Vol. 6. The album was released in 2004. The song’s long opening single guitar line catapults into a sea of heavy guitar riffs. It’s heavy metal perfection.
# 9 – Built For Speed
The Motorhead song “Built for Speed,” was released on the smoking Orgasmatron album. The song opened up side two of the record. We just love the sound of those drums that open the song. The Orgasmatron album was released in 1986. The album was produced by Bill Laswell who had previously worked with the Ramones, and Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones.
# 8 – Killed By Death
The No Remorse album which was a compilation album of Motorhead songs was released in 2004. The first single from the record was the great track “Killed By Death.” This may be just the best opening scene to any rock and roll video we have ever seen. It’s amazing the difference between the parents and the daughter. Lemme fixes all of that as he smashes through the living room wall on his motorcycle. Now that’s an entrance.
# 7 – Brotherhood of Man
The intensity of the song “Brotherhood of Man,” was perfectly used in a death sequence scene on the television show Son’s Of Anarchy. The song was released on the album entitled The Wörld Is Yours. The album was released in 2010. The Wörld Is Yours was the band’s twentieth album release.
# 6 – Motorhead
The song “Motorhead” was originally written by Lemmy for his band Hawkwind. It was released on the 1975 album Warrior on the Edge of Time. This version featured below has a great punk meets metal vibe that is simply to die for. The group sounds like The Ramones on this one.
# 5 – Overkill
Overkill was the title track to one of the greatest Motorhead albums ever released. Don’t miss this one. The Overkill album was released in 1979. It was the band’s second album. An album that definitely made a statement from the band. It is easily one of the best rock albums released during the decade of the 1970s. “Overkill,” was also the opening song on the record. The song was composed by Ian Fraser Kilmister, Eddie Clarke, and Phil Taylor.
# 4 – Born To Raise Hell
Is there a better more rebellious title in rock and roll than Born To Raise Hell? The song was issued on the Bastards and Airheads (Original Soundtrack) in 1994.
# 3 – The Game
The song “The Game,” was released on Motorhead’s 2002 album Hammered. The song’s opening likc is a bit reminiscent of Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir.” Although the rest of the song sounds nothing like it. Lemmy’s vocal on this one is just out of this world. We love his sinister laugh. It’s all about the Game! Such a cool tune.
# 2 – HellRaiser
The great song “Hellraiser,” which was also recorded by Ozzy in his post-Black Sabbath years was issued on the 1992 Motorhead album March ör Die. The sound of the bass and drums at the song’s intro will just knock you out. Lemmy’s vocals once again just hits it out of the park
# 1 – Ace Of Spades
Coming in at number one on our top 10 Motorhead songs list is the classic track “Ace of Spades,” from the Ace of Spades album. The record was released in November of 1980. Rock and roll doesn’t get much purer and more intense than this one. Every single second of this song is Hall Of Fame Worthy. Lemmy’s bass intro fuels still blows our minds every time we hear it. From the opening bass notes that sound more like a guitar than a bass, you know your info something special with this one.
Photo: By Andrew King (Flickr: Motorhead Port Talbot 1982) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
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When a great beloved band has as much music in their recorded history as Motorhead does, it is going to be nearly impossible for all lists to agree. I can add ten here, but I must, in all honesty, not select “Hellraiser” because the album “March Or Die” to me was a weaker Motorhead album, but again that’s just me. Anyway, here’s ten that could be the “top list” as well, showing there is a lot of great rock and roll to choose from.
10) “Sympathy For The Devil” I don’t know if Mick and Keith approve of Motorhead’s version, but it smokes like a forest fire. Something in Lemmy was too sincere to bother with deliberately doing sub par covers or his own stuff. That I cited “March Or Die” was a personal view, and I don’t want anybody to think Lemmy didn’t give it and all his material 100%.
9) “Traitor” From the great “Rock and Roll” album.
8) “Kingdom Of The Worm” A dark almost doomy tune from “Kiss Of Death”
7) “Motorhead” First song off debut of same name. What a barn burner, too.
6) “Tales Of Glory” From “Another Perfect Day”
5)”No Class” I don’t know which version is better – the “Overkill” original or the live version from “No Sleep ’til Hammersmith”.
4) “Iron Fist” Great song, highly underrated album.
3) “1916” A real surprise – very poignant, sad and respectful song dedicated to those young men who were needlessly slaughtered in WWI.
2) “Overkill” Name says it all from the second great album of the same name.
1) “Ace of Spades” No, not just the title track. The whole album. I cannot pick a single tune to except on this list. It is truly one of the greatest rock and roll albums of all time and like “Abbey Road”, “Masters of Reality”, “Sticky Fingers” and “Back In Black” to Metallica’s “Ride The Lightning” you cannot mess with the best.