Initially started with idea from a die-hard fan, a 3 meters (Editor’s note: 8+ feet for you non-metric system using readers) statute in the likeness of Metal legend Lemmy of Motörhead, by renowned sculptor Andy Edwards will proceed with the blessing of the town of Burslem, UK. Although Lemmy, who passed away in late 2015 ,lived for the last 45 years of his life in Hollywood, the statue will be erected at Burslem’s Market Place, near Lemmy’s birthplace. Andy Edwards has created countless commissions, including The Beatles statue on Liverpool’s Pier Head, and will use real clay from Burslem town to make the statue. The concerns centered around “good-natured but potentially incident-generating attention.” To combat those challenges, and possible defacement other statues have suffered, the artist has agreed to raise the statue’s plinth from 2.5 meters to 3 meters, ensuring a more respectful and secure placement. This will be the third monument in the world to lemmy following the bronze statue at The Rainbow Bar and Grill in Los Angeles, Lemmy’s favorite hangout, and Clisson, France at Hellfest in 2022. Donate to the GoFundMe, launched with a goal of raising £50,000, and check out the artists’ conception video below.
Donate here:
https://gofund.me/cd7a9049
Read a statement from the organizers:
To All ….Our intentions.
This project is the coming together of three individuals and one shared dream – to create a permanent
monument and dynamic bronze statue of Ian ‘Lemmy’ Kilmister in his birthplace in the UK, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent. Mark Curran, commercial developer and owner of the Hard Days Night and Zimmerman’s bars in Stoke-on-Trent began a search for a sculptor worthy of immortalising his hero Lemmy during the lockdown of 2020. he found internationally renowned artist Andy Edwards, sculptor of the world famous Liverpool Waterfront Beatles statue fame on his doorstep also in Stoke-on-Trent. Andy turned out to share a passion for Motörhead having been a follower since the Overkill Tour and attendee of the infamous Heavy Metal Holocaust at Vale Park, Burslem in 1981 along with 25,000 others. The meeting of Mark and Andy resulted in the creation of a new working scale model design for a monumental 8ft statue and ambitious plans for an accompanying bar, live events venue, recording studio museum and arts centre dedicated to the memory of Lemmy and glory of the Motorhead extended family. Peter Lang-Stephens completes a powerful union of driving forces having pioneered plans for a UK Lemmy statue in the 90’s and Commander of the faithful Motörhead Wörld.
With their combined focus in one direction, a prime site has been agreed in the centre of Lemmy’s home town Burslem directly in front of the iconic and historic Town Hall and it’s famed Gold Angel and enthusiastic cross party support from Stoke-on-Trent city council given to the planning application. The reception locally has been so enthusiastic as to offer for development the former Queen’s Theatre (originally and interestingly once called the Blood Tub). the 3000 capacity live venue is still resplendent with its art deco fittings and the attached newly refurbished Princes Ballroom would provide an excellent dance studio and rehearsal rooms a bar and kitchen area perfect for the development to a franchise of LA’s famous Rainbow Bar and Grill it’s another aspect of huge potential. other rooms within the complex with high ceilings very reminiscent of Abbey Road’s Studio 2 are exciting prospects. sculpture workshop drumming school and space for a 20 room hotel and retail can also be accommodated within the grade 2 building. New Arts Centre that boasts international brands like the Ace Cafe that set alongside new entrepreneurial small businesses complete this exciting vision. comprehensive floor layout plans and a virtual walk through have also been. obtained.
Funding
Landmark of an original statue is obviously key development and there are clear funding plans based on previous successful models drafted because of Lemmy’s universal popularity it is only right that this is a publicly generated unenabled project. incorporated in the design of the 8 foot black granite plinth is a rear face inscribed with the names of ‘The 500’ – a with thanks to space where for a £10 donation porters could find their name alongside that of a musical hero or celebrity this initiative alone would guarantee half the funding of the statue immediately completing the funding and enabling the entire completion and installation of the monument would be the offer of a limited edition of 25 bronze casts of the original 18 inch tall scale model numbered and authenticated. the sculpture and construction of the artwork would be entirely in public in a visitor friendly environment within the factory tour of the world of Wedgwood in Stoke-on-Trent to manage this in close association to the Motörcast, Motörhead Wörld and it is very much hoped Official Motörhead we would like to establish the forum of a dedicated website, Web page place to share ideas news and opportunities. This is the stage that we are at and we would respectfully love your opinion and the engagement of the wider Motörhead Community.