Motorhead can be credited with inventing the speed metal sub genre of rock music in the late 1970s. Formed around former Hawkwind band member Lemmy (the only member of the group to have remained throughout their career), Motorhead were originally to be called Bastard, but Lemmy changed the name to Motorhead in honour of the last song he wrote for Hawkwind.

During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Motorhead were at the peak of their form, releasing classic tracks such as Ace Of Spades, Stone Dead Forever and Bomber.

Despite numerous personell changes over the years, Motorhead remain a force to be reckoned with live, an inspiration to a generation of thrash and speed metal bands and continue to record and release music (their most recent studio album was 2004's Inferno).