DVD Review: Motorhead, ‘Stage Fright’

Think of Motorhead and what springs to mind? Ace Of Spades being used on a Pot Noodle advert? Lemmy acting like a bit of a twat on Never Mind The Buzzcocks? Tired old men singing out-of-date heavy metal? Because, to be honest, that was our impression as well.

All that changed, though, when we saw their new 30th Anniversary DVD, Stage Fright. Yeah, they’re old, but they do face-melting punk rock better than anyone else in the universe.

Stage Fright was recorded during a Motorhead show at the Phillipshalle in Dusseldorf last December, and proves that as far as deafeningly loud, million miles an hour ramalama rock music goes, Motorhead are a hard act to beat.

If you see Lemmy talking on TV, he tends to come across as a right
surly git. But pop a bass guitar in his hands and he instantly becomes 25 years
younger and looks far more comfortable. Stick him next to a guitarist
and a ridiculous-haired drummer and he’s complete. This, you begin to
sense, is what he was born to do.

And the songs. The songs. Motorhead kick-off with Dr. Rock and
things just get better and better. Scorching new tunes like Killers
blend easily with old favourites like the mental, false ending-a-go-go
of Overkill.

They play the touching tribute song R.A.M.O.N.E.S - at least, it
would be touching if it weren’t bellowed by a scary old man at the
speed of sound - and the breakneck genius of Going To Brazil. And Ace
Of Spades, obviously. There are touches of overcooked Biker Mice From
Mars-style guitar histrionics at times, but it hardly detracts from the
experience at all.

DVD1 also features a band commentary on the concert - you see
Motorhead stop being rock overlords and settle back down into being grumpy old
men complaining about all the flashing lights on the telly. And the
drummer talks almost exclusively about drumming, in a "wait, there’s a
good bit of drumming come up here" kind of way.

Then on DVD2, there are all kinds of extras. You can see all kinds
of under-developed rock fools pull crap rock faces to wish Motorhead
happy 30th anniversary. You can read Motorhead’s rider (containing
the decidedly un-rock phrase "We can work with a brunch"). Best of all
is the Meet The Roadcrew feature, where you can meet the band’s
show-stealing pottymouthed chef. "I’m making cunting sandwiches!", he
exasperatedly yells at one point.

More than anything, Stage Fright shows that Motorhead, 30 years on,
can still rock harder than upstarts half their age. In fact, they rock
so hard that Lemmy’s knackered himself with exhaustion. Get well soon,
Lemmy.

Motorhead - Stage Fright is released on Monday.

Find the cheapest way to buy Motorhead - Stage Fright at Kelkoo.co.uk

[story by Stuart Heritage]