Movie Review - Lemmy: 49% Motherfucker, 51% Son Of A Bitch

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again and again, I LOVE what’s going on in Rock/Metal Media these days.  Books, Documentaries, DVD’s whether they’re home releases, VH1 exclusives, Palladia HD runs or works cool enough to screen in a movie theater…this is where it’s at. 

Last night was the one and only Chicago showing at The Music Box and despite it being a work night and a 9:45 start as well as a 45 minute one way ride into the big city, I had to be there.  True motivation was hard to come by after a full day and yet all it took were the words from a Old-Metal friend to get me on my merry way. 

For those of you living under or crushed by the rock, ‘Lemmy: 49% Motherfucker, 51% Son Of A Bitch’ is a film over four years in the making, profiling one Ian Fraser “Lemmy” Kilmister the iconic leader of Motörhead.  The band he founded in Chelsea, London back in 1975, and the same band he still fronts today.  

The directors of the film were granted all access to Lemmy’s world which by all accounts has never happened before.  It’s really fascinating to see this man, a figurehead of the entire loud music (Punk, Rock, Metal) generation ebb and flow his way through this thing we call life.  Obviously, his life is probably more exciting than yours and that’s a given, in fact I’ll guess it’s a shitload more exciting than yours so what we see on screen is pretty much his existence in a nutshell.  

We see Lemmy at his regular haunts, those being the Rainbow Bar and Grill, in the studio – either recording new Motörhead music or various sessions, one featured in the film shows Lemmy and Dave Grohl recording for the ‘We wish you a metal X-Mas…’ album, to backstage and on-stage.  The cream of the crop?  An in-depth visit to the Los Angeles apartment he’s lived in since moving to America some 20 years or so ago. 

It’s not what one would think it is. I really don’t think anything can prepare you for what this is like.  So I won’t spoil it for you, but it’s of interest.  

The movie is a homage to the man.  From his earliest musical exploits in The Rocking Vickers to the legend that breathes among us, if it’s important, it’s in here.  With some great archival footage interspersed with cameos -  each with their own take on what Lemmy as a musician or as a man has meant to them.  The film is Metallica heavy with all four current members given ample interview screen time as well as a full performance of "Damage Case" with Lem guesting with Metallica.  A rare Jason Newsted appearance is also in the film. 

As with any cameo heavy film there’s certain people, no matter what they say you just want to throw something at the screen. Those people are in here, but for whatever reason it’s somewhat tolerable. 

Some great time is spent with Lemmy's son, Paul. A level headed guy, super calm and enjoying the time with his father.  There's a true bond there, it's a strong point of the film.  But yes, Paul's participation is pretty vital to getting a slight insight to the interior of the hardened shell of a man one fan loudly claims "will survive a nuclear bomb...along with cockroaches!" 

The last thing I’ll say is I wondered how the film was going to portray the man.  With a few of the recent Metal Docs, despite what you thought of the featured band going in, you definitely thought more of them on the way out.  The Anvil movie for instance, how could you not root for that?  Even the Rush movie had people gushing about the trio’s off-stage demeanor, again it had people gravitating towards them.  Ending up in their corner.  

I’m proud to say the movie is as cut and dry as the film’s subject.  The filmmakers do not try to paint a pretty picture, it seems pretty accurate.  He’s no saint, neither are we, but for a multitude of reasons he comes across as even cooler than before. While not exactly a laugh-a-minute the deeper side of Lemmy is given a slight peek, it's not always pretty, but again, just pure.  

By now the free world has seen this on cable, so I’m done babbling.  The movie is kick ass.  The DVD comes out this coming Tuesday, Feb 15^th.  The BluRay is supposed to have some 4 hours of extras. '49% Motherfucker, 51% Son Of A Bitch' is a unapologetic, unflinching look into the life of a true original. Cheers to the filmmakers and to the first to pour a drink and always the last man standing, Lemmy.