Pure Punk Picks
Ace Of Spades – Motorhead
Andy Bang and I were driving to a punk show in the early eighties as we did most every weekend for most of that decade.
“Do you wanna hear Motorhead’s new album, “Ace Of Spades,” Andy inquired. “No,” I said, “I don’t really like any metal.”
“Well, this is different,” Andy replied, “Give it a try.”
What I heard was not the operatic, high vocals of the typical metal band at the time. And the music was not the precision perfect progressive music that a lot of metal was had either, seemingly on a quest to evaporate any guts or emotions from the songs.
No,- these were songs that hit hard and real, in music and in words. No fanciful lyrics, no pretty synthesizer parts. This album had aggressively, fast rhythms, kick ass playing and lyrics that were straight forward, lustful and sarcastically funny. And best yet- a voice that sounded like it gargled on Jack Daniels, razorblades and speed every morning. (Which is pretty much what Lemmy used to brush his teeth, everyday).
This was not metal. This was not even punk. Though, in attitude and rhythm it certainly was close to it. This was rock’n’roll, and not the jive rock’n’roll the mainstream rock bands claim to play but the true rock’n’roll of folks like Little Richard, Chuck Berry and Jerry Lee Lewis.
And the title song was, by far, the greatest tune on the album on an album that was full of great songs. And this song became the best known song for the band.
“You win some, you lose some. It’s all the same to me.”
Followed with a bending, killer guitar lick and hyperactive drums all building up to the desperate, maniacal plea of the chorus. “The pleasure is to play, makes no difference what you say. I don’t share your greed, the only card I need is The Ace Of Spades! The Ace Of Spades!”
The verses build the tension and excitement that doesn’t really resolve in the chorus until suddenly, the song is brought to an abrupt halt.
“You know I’m born to lose and gambling’s for fools. But that’s the way I like it baby. I don’t want to live forever.”
And Lemmy didn’t live forever but longer than what many would’ve predicated, making it to 70 years old.
But he did live his whole life how he wanted. He could’ve “retired” long ago and maybe, just should up as a M.C. at metal/hardcore festivals. How many promoters would’ve thrown him a few thousand just to be able to put his name on a bill. He could’ve shown up, got drunk, swear at the crowd and fly back to his home.
But he wanted to go out doing what he did best, what reflected who he really was, where he felt he was meant to be, doing what he felt he was made to do-playing on stage.
Life is always a sort of gamble. There’s no telling if tomorrow, you’re walking down the street and a safe falls on your head. (More likely if you’re in a cartoon). Though a couple of months ago, playing an outdoor gig, a speaker with a tripod got blown over and fell right in front of me while my head was turned. A foot closer and I might not be typing these words today.
But there’s really no gamble when what you do and follow comes from your true self, your true feeling and you follow where you’re true feelings lead you from a spark in your heart that tells you, “I don’t care if everyone thinks I’m crazy but there’s some music, some art that hits me so right and strong that I can’t ignore t and I refuse to accept the many fallacies and bullshit that society and life is spewing out at me.”
Because you know, in your mind and your soul that all that they portray is false and compromising and yours is a sweet truth, at least, it is for you.
And you know, if there ever is a true Rock’N’Roll Hall Of Fame, not that sham that resides in Cleveland, you can bet they’ll have golden statues of Iggy Pop and Lemmy. You know that would be the right thing to do.
“And don’t forget the joker.”
I think every punk is the joker, it’s the card that doesn’t really belong in the proper deck, doesn’t fit in ordinary life. But I also, think that every punk, in their own mind and soul, can inhabit a life much richer and better than most.
No matter what life deals them.
“The only thing you see, you know it’s gonna be. The Ace Of Spades! The Ace Of Spades!
(Slimedog)
