Our Top 10 Motorhead Songs list features the best Motorhead songs, including “Ace of Spades,” “Hellraiser,” “The Game,” and more. Motorhead was first formed in 1975 by Ian Fraser “Lemmy” Kilmister. After being fired from the band Hawkwind, Lemmy formed Motorhead with guitarist Larry Wallis and drummer Lucas Fox with the intention of being one of the loudest groups on the planet. By the time of Lemmy’s death in 2015, the band had released 22 studio albums along with numerous live records and compilations. Choosing 10 songs from a band that 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. It’s 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 rock genre. 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), “Fast” Eddie Clarke (1976–1982), Brian Robertson (1982–1983), Phil Campbell (1984–2015), and Michael “Würzel” Burston (1984–1995) on guitar; and Lucas Fox (1975), Phil “Philthy Animal” Taylor (1975–1984, 1987–1992), Pete Gill (1984–1987), and Mikkey Dee (1992–2015) on drums.
All these great musicians played at different times, as noted above. However, Lemmy was the one constant. When Lemmy died, so did the band. However, their music and legend live 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 WWE’s soundtrack album WWE ThemeAddict: The Music, Vol. 6, in 2004. The song’s long opening 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 album Orgasmatron. 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 Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones and would later work with the Ramones.
# 8 – Killed by Death
The No Remorse album, a compilation of Motorhead songs, was released in 1984. “Killed by Death” was one of four new tracks recorded for the collection and was released as a single. This may be just the best opening scene to any rock and roll video we have ever seen. It’s amazing how different the parents and the daughter are. Lemmy 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 on the television show Sons 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 studio album.
# 6 – Motorhead
Lemmy originally wrote the song “Motorhead” for his band Hawkwind. Hawkwind first released it in 1975 as the B-side of the single “Kings of Speed.” It was not included on the original 1975 release of Warrior on the Edge of Time, although it appeared on later CD reissues of that album. 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. It definitely made a statement for the band. It is easily one of the best rock albums released in the 1970s. “Overkill” was also the opening song on the record. Ian Fraser Kilmister, Eddie Clarke, and Phil Taylor composed the song.
# 4 – Born to Raise Hell
Is there a better, more rebellious title in rock and roll than “Born to Raise Hell”? The song was originally released on Motorhead’s Bastards album in 1993. A re-recorded version featuring Ice-T and Whitfield Crane was used for the 1994 film Airheads and released as a single.
# 3 – The Game
The song “The Game” was first released on WWF The Music, Vol. 5 in 2001 as Triple H’s entrance theme and was later included as a bonus track on editions of Motorhead’s 2002 album Hammered. The song’s opening lick 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,” also recorded by Ozzy in his post-Black Sabbath years, was released on the 1992 Motorhead album March ör Die. The song was written by Ozzy Osbourne, Zakk Wylde, and Lemmy Kilmister. Ozzy released his version on No More Tears in 1991, followed by Motorhead’s version in 1992. The bass and drums at the song’s intro will knock you out. Lemmy’s vocals once again just hit 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 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 you’re in for 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
Updated August 21, 2026.
Top 10 Motorhead Songs article published on ClassicRockHistory.com © 2026
ClassicRockHistory.com claims ownership of all its original content and intellectual property under United States copyright laws and those of all other foreign countries. No one person, business, or organization is allowed to republish any of our original content anywhere on the web or in print without our permission. All photos used are either public domain Creative Commons photos or licensed officially from Shutterstock under license with ClassicRockHistory.com. All photo credits have been placed at the end of the article. Any theft of our content will be met with swift legal action against the infringing websites.
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.