Phil Taylor, the former drummer for Motorhead, died on Wednesday after a lengthy illness. He was 61.
Lemmy released the following statement:
“Hello this is Lemmy from Motörhead. I’m feeling very sad at the moment, in fact devastated because one of my best friends died yesterday. I miss him already. His name was Phil Taylor, or Philthy Animal, and he was our drummer twice in our career. Now he’s died and it really pisses me off that they take somebody like him and leave George Bush alive. So muse on that. We’re still going, we’re still going strong, it’s just first Würzel and now Philthy, it’s a shame man. I think this rock n roll business might be bad for the human life. Oh well.”
The band posted a tribute on their Facebook page:
Born in Hasland, Chesterfield, England, Taylor was the second drummer for Motorhead, replacing the original drummer, Lucas Fox, during the recording of the band’s first album, On Parole.
Now known as “Philthy Animal” Taylor, Phil was often a rebel rouser, being arrested for drunk and disorderly conduct during the initial recording sessions and, in 1980, breaking his neck after being lifted over a friends head during a “test of strength” and being dropped on his head. Still, he went out on tour to promote the band’s new album, Ace of Spades, wearing a neck brace while his injury healed. For another tour, he kept his stick in one hand with gaffer’s tape after having broken it in a fight.
In 1984, Taylor left Motorhead and formed the band Operator with Brian Robertson of Thin Lizzy but, three years later, he returned to his original band saying he was just on a “three-year holiday”. This time, he stayed in the group until 1992 when he was fired after being warned to get his act together a number of times. His replacement, Mikkey Dee, is still with the band.
Since that time, Taylor played in a number of other bands including The Deviants, The Web of Spider and Capricorn.
“Fast” Eddie Clarke, who played guitar for the band from 1976 to 1982, said “My dear friend and brother passed away last night. He had been ill for sometime but that does not make it any easier when the time finally comes. I have known Phil since he was 21 and he was one hell of a character. Fortunately we made some fantastic music together and I have many many fond memories of our time together. Rest in Peace, Phil!”
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