This day in HISTOROCK !! Motorhead !!

      This day in HISTOROCK !!

              In 1981, Motorhead scored their only UK No.1 album with 'No Sleep Til Hammersmith' !! The live album was recorded at the Leeds and Newcastle shows during their Short, Sharp Pain In The Neck tour in 1981 !! The tour name refers to the injury sustained by Phil Taylor when he was dropped on his head during some after-show horseplay. Despite the title of the album, the London venue the Hammersmith Odeon was never played on the tour and the songs 'Iron Horse/Born To Lose' were from a 1980 show !! Lemmy has stated : "We wanted No Sleep 'til Hammersmith to be a double album, but only had enough material for three sides". At time of the album's release, the band were in the middle of their first tour of North America, supporting Ozzy Osbourne !! Backstage at the Leeds and Newcastle shows the band were presented with silver and gold record for sales of 'Ace of Spades', a silver record for 'Overkill' and a silver record for 'Please Don't Touch' !! When asked about the success of Hammersmith, Lemmy said : "The success of the album was due to an anticipation from our fan base for a live album, due to the fact we have toured so heavily in the past, but I think it was also "our downfall" due to the difficulty in following up its success" !! Although Motorhead have never duplicated the success of Hammersmith they still remain both a vital and major player in the metal market !! Check out the video for 'Ace Of Spades' live on Top Of The Pops in 1980 !!

Keep on ROCKIN !!
Trike :-)