A new exhibition celebrating Motörhead and frontman Lemmy Kilmister will open Oct. 2 at the Punk Rock Museum in Las Vegas, bringing together personal memorabilia and equipment tied to one of rock’s most influential bands. The exhibition will include photographs from the band’s archives, handwritten lyrics and items from Lemmy’s personal collection.
One of the centerpiece attractions will give visitors an unusually hands-on connection to Motörhead’s sound: Guests will be able to play Lemmy’s bass through the actual Marshall amplifier stack he used. Lemmy’s distinctive approach to the Rickenbacker bass and his massive amplification helped establish the band’s famously loud, aggressive sound. Motörhead albums will be sold through the museum’s Vinyl Threat record store, while exclusive band merchandise will be available in the gift shop. The opening will be marked by a special event at the museum’s Three Star Punk Bar featuring Brian Slagel, founder of Metal Blade Records, as DJ.
The exhibition also underscores Motörhead’s longstanding connection to punk. Although the band became a defining force in heavy metal, Lemmy was deeply connected to Britain’s punk scene and performed with The Damned. Motörhead’s speed and intensity also influenced later punk acts including Pennywise, Rancid and Lagwagon, helping explain the band’s place at a museum devoted to punk history.
The Punk Rock Museum, located at 1422 Western Avenue, opened in 2023 and chronicles the history and culture of punk music. The Motörhead exhibition will add a major tribute to a band whose music bridged punk and metal and whose legacy has continued to influence musicians across both genres.
Head to the Punk Rock Museum’s website for details.
Editorial credit: yakub88 / Shutterstock.com
