A beer with a shot of Lemmy

I now have something new to add to my bucket list.

Have a beer with Lemmy Kilmister.

Well, in a sense, I guess I already did. I recently read his autobiography, which felt as if I was hearing his life story while sitting next to him on a barstool. It was casual. It was fun. And most importantly, it was entertaining – in a very simplistic way.

The book, “White Line Fever: The Autobiography,” was given to me by a co-worker who learned I was an avid rock fan.

“This will be right up your alley,” he proudly proclaimed.

Uh, alley? Sure, I knew Lemmy. No rock fan can claim to be a rock fan and not know Lemmy. He’s a character all by himself. And I believe I got a chance to meet the real Lemmy in his book. The best part … it reads as if we were two guys pounding – ahem, sipping - beers at the bar.

I’m confident Lemmy wanted it that way.

Best known for the being Motörhead – its founder, main songwriter, vocalist and bassist – Lemmy turns out to be much, much more than that. I’m not going to spoil the book, because it’ll make a great read this summer on the beach, on your porch or more appropriately anywhere with a cocktail or "pint" in hand.

What I found most intriguing – other than the fact Lemmy’s blood is so diluted with decades of alcohol and drug use it’s toxic, and he can’t undergo a blood transfusion (I’ll let him explain) – was that he was once a Jimmy Hendrix roadie and also wrote “Mamma I’m Coming Home” for Ozzy Osbourne, of which the royalties have earned him more money than his entire time with Motörhead.  

And just think … I highlight roughly five pages of the 320-page book.

Thanks for the beer, Lemmy. Next round is on me!

 - Jaime North