Sculptor Pays Tribute to Lemmy with Statue in His Hometown

Sculptor Andy Edwards has described legendary Motorhead frontman Lemmy as a personal hero, expressing his admiration for the iconic musician with a new statue set to be unveiled in his hometown of Burslem, Staffordshire, on 8 May.

Edwards, known for his previous works such as the statues of Brian Clough and Peter Taylor at Derby County FC and The Beatles at Liverpool’s Pier Head, said, “Motorhead are the hardest, loudest band in the world – why wouldn't you make those your heroes? We’re from Stoke-on-Trent, and Lemmy’s one of us.”

Lemmy, born Ian Kilmister in 1945 in Burslem before moving to Newcastle-under-Lyme, passed away in 2015. His connection to the region has remained strong, with his memory deeply embedded in the local community. To honour Lemmy’s legacy, the statue will also feature a special tribute: some of Lemmy's ashes will be interred in the statue’s plinth by his bandmate Phil Campbell.

For Edwards, Lemmy’s influence runs deep. The sculptor recalled first seeing Motorhead perform live in 1979 at Hanley’s Victoria Hall, shortly after a friend introduced him to their album Overkill. He revealed that the statue was inspired by a photo of Lemmy from the album’s back cover.

Edwards explained that the idea for the statue took root around three years ago and was later supported by Motorhead’s management, who covered the cost of the project. Edwards, who also attended a 1981 concert at Vale Park, referred to that period as Motorhead’s peak and wanted to create something that would evoke the same sense of nostalgia and joy for fans.

“I wanted to recreate as many details as possible to capture the essence of Lemmy, including his iconic Rickenbacker 4001 guitar, which he played at Vale Park,” Edwards said. “If you miss these details, people feel something is off, and they won’t stop to appreciate it. I want people to linger, to spark their memories and imaginations.”

Even the choice of jeans was carefully considered, with Edwards debating whether to depict Lemmy wearing Wrangler or Levi’s jeans, as he sought to encapsulate the rock star’s legendary swagger.

"You've got to care about it, it’s got to come from the heart,” Edwards added, reflecting on the love and respect that went into creating the statue.