Unveiling of Lemmy statue in Burslem was sea of love

The sculptor who created the statue of heavy metal legend Lemmy Kilmister has praised the hundreds of fans who turned out for its unveiling, describing the crowd as a “sea of love”.

The 2.25m bronze-cast statue of the Motörhead frontman was uncovered in the singer’s hometown of Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, during a ceremony on Friday.

The memorial, which stands on a plinth on Market Place, was designed by Andy Edwards to commemorate 10 years since the rocker’s death and 50 years since the band was formed.

The local artist told BBC Radio Stoke the event had a “festival vibe” but was more intimate.

“It was just a sea of love. The atmosphere was great… everybody was lovely,” he said.

As well as guest speakers, including Motörhead guitarist Phil Campbell, the ceremony also saw a procession of motorbikes arrive with a portion of Lemmy’s ashes, which were placed in the statue.

Edwards, whose previous work includes a famous Beatles statue at Pier Head in Liverpool, said he was thinking of organising another event in Burslem in July to mark Motörhead’s 50th anniversary.

“We need this statue in our area, we need something to bring people together and to show what kind of people we actually are,” he added.

“I don’t think it [the ceremony] can be topped, which is why we’re thinking of doing it again.”

Bloodstock festival organiser Vicky Hungerford, who was friends with Lemmy, said she has been “on a high” since attending the event.

“You had to be there to appreciate how incredible the feeling, the vibe and the day was,” she said.

Lemmy, real name Ian Fraser Kilmister, was born in Burslem in 1945 and later lived in nearby Newcastle-under-Lyme and Madeley.

He joined Hawkwind as a bassist and vocalist in 1971 before forming Motörhead four years later.

The band went on to release 23 studio albums in a career spanning 40 years until Lemmy’s death on 28 December 2015, which came after he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.