The Motörhead 40th Anniversary Tour was a concert tour performed by the English heavy metal band in celebration of their 40th anniversary, as well as in support of their 22nd and final studio album, Bad Magic. It would be the band's final tour before the death of Lemmy on 28 December 2015.
Lemmy's undisclosed health issues resulted in several concerts being cancelled. Nevertheless he continued to front Motörhead until his final concert just two weeks before his death in Los Angeles. After Lemmy's doctor had given him between two and six months to live, he had been meaning to make his diagnosis public in early 2016 but he died before a press release could be released.
Background Concerts During the first leg of the tour, Motörhead had to curtail and cut several shows because of health issues. Beginning in Salt Lake City on 27 August 2015 (in the Rocky Mountains), Motörhead ended their performance early due to Lemmy's breathing problems (the result of an altitude sickness). They also had to cancel an appearance at Denver Riot Fest on 28 August 2015.
Their tour restarted on 1 September 2015 at Emo's in Austin, Texas (it was moved from the Cedar Park Center) but the band were again forced to abandon their set after three songs and cancel subsequent shows in Texas from the September 2015 to 5 September 2015. Despite these setbacks, Lemmy was able to return in time for the band's annual Motörboat heavy metal cruise from Miami to The Bahamas between the 28 September to 2 October 2015. Motörhead was joined by bands such as Slayer, Anthrax, Exodus, Suicidal Tendencies and Corrosion of Conformity.
The second leg of Motörhead's 40th Anniversary Tour began in Europe in November. The band played concerts in Germany, Sweden, Norway and Finland. However, their 15 November show at Zénith in Paris was postponed after the November 2015 Paris attacks. Two concerts on the 28th and 30 November in Germany were also postponed due to guitarist Phil Campbell suddenly requiring hospitalisation. These two shows were then moved back to 9 and 11 December; these would become the last ever concerts played by Motörhead. Speaking after Lemmy's death, drummer Mikkey Dee said: "He was terribly gaunt. He spent all his energy on stage and afterwards he was very, very tired. It's incredible that he could even play, that he could finish the Europe tour. It was only 20 days ago. Unbelievable."
Opening acts Saxon (North America, Europe) Crobot (North America) Anthrax (North America) Girlschool (Europe)
Setlist "Bomber" "Stay Clean" "Metropolis" "When the Sky Comes Looking for You" (added on November 17) "Over the Top" Phil Campbell guitar solo "The Chase Is Better Than the Catch" "Rock It" "Lost Woman Blues" "Orgasmatron" (added on November 17) "Doctor Rock" with Mikkey Dee drum solo "Just 'Cos You Got the Power" "No Class" "Ace of Spades" Encore "Whorehouse Blues" (added on November 17) "Overkill"
Other performed songs included "Going to Brazil" "Damage Case" "We Are Motörhead" "Shoot You In The Back" "Rosalie" (Thin Lizzy cover)
Tour dates DateCityCountryVenueLeg 1 – North America19 August 2015RiversideUnited StatesRiverside Municipal Auditorium21 August 2015Las VegasHouse of Blues22 August 2015Los AngelesShrine Auditorium24 August 2015San FranciscoWarfield Theatre27 August 2015Salt Lake CityThe Complex28 August 2015DenverNational Western Complex (Riot Fest)1 September 2015AustinEmo's2 September 2015San AntonioAztec Theatre4 September 2015DallasThe Bomb Factory5 September 2015HoustonHouse of Blues8 September 2015St. LouisThe Pageant9 September 2015IndianapolisMurat Theatre11 September 2015ChicagoDouglass Park (Riot Fest)12 September 2015DetroitThe Fillmore Detroit15 September 2015WallingfordToyota Oakdale Theatre16 September 2015WantaghJones Beach Theater18 September 2015MontrealCanadaL'Olympia19 September 2015TorontoDownsview Park (Riot Fest)22 September 2015Upper DarbyUnited StatesTower Theater23 September 2015CharlotteThe Fillmore25 September 2015OrlandoHouse of Blues26 September 2015Pompano BeachPompano Beach AmphitheaterMotörboat30 September 2015Norwegian Sky1 October 2015Leg 2 – Europe17 November 2015DüsseldorfGermanyMitsubishi Electric Halle18 November 2015SaarbrückenSaarlandhalle20 November 2015MunichZenith21 November 201524 November 2015FrankfurtJahrhunderthalle25 November 2015LudwigsburgMHP Arena26 November 2015BerlinMax-Schmeling-Halle28 November 2015HamburgAlsterdorfer Sporthalle30 November 2015AarhusDenmarkACC1 December 2015GothenburgSwedenScandinavium3 December 2015OsloNorwayOslo Spektrum4 December 2015StockholmSwedenHovet6 December 2015HelsinkiFinlandHartwall Arena9 December 2015HamburgGermanyAlsterdorfer Sporthalle11 December 2015BerlinMax-Schmeling-HalleLeg 3 – Europe23 January 2016NewcastleEnglandNewcastle City Hall24 January 2016GlasgowScotlandSEC Armadillo26 January 2016ManchesterEnglandO2 Apollo Manchester27 January 2016SwindonOasis Leisure Centre29 January 2016LondonEventim Apollo30 January 20161 February 2016LilleFranceZénith de Lille2 February 2016ParisZénith Paris4 February 2016BarcelonaSpainSant Jordi Club6 February 2016MadridBarclaycard Center8 February 2016GenevaSwitzerlandGeneva Arena9 February 2016BaselSt. Jakobshalle11 February 2016MilanItalyAlcatraz14 February 2016ViennaAustriaWiener Stadthalle15 February 2016LinzTipsArena17 February 2016BratislavaSlovakiaAegon Arena18 February 2016PragueCzech RepublicForum Karlín20 February 2016BolzanoItalyTrento22 February 2016ChemnitzGermanyChemnitz Arena23 February 2016Offenbach am MainStadthalle Offenbach
Personnel Lemmy Kilmister – bass guitar, lead vocals, harmonica on "Whorehouse Blues" Phil Campbell – guitar Mikkey Dee – drums, guitar on "Whorehouse Blues"
References