Ex-Motörhead sticksman, Phil ‘Philthy Animal’ Taylor, has died aged 61.
Originally from Chesterfield, Taylor joined the London metal band in 1975, not long after its conception.
Alongside Ian ‘Lemmy’ Kilmister and Larry Wallis, Taylor played with the band for a year before guitarist Wallis was fired, to be replaced by Eddie ‘Fast’ Clarke. Following this, what came to be known as the ‘classic’ Motörhead line-up was born.
Taylor began recording with Motörhead during the process of making their album On Parole, and continued to do so until after the recording of Another Perfect Day in 1984.
In his time away from Lemmy & Co, Taylor formed his own band, the Operators, and toured with others such as Frankie Miller’s touring band. After three years, Taylor re-joined Motörhead in 1987 for another five year stint, before leaving for good.
In the end, he could put his name to eleven Motörhead albums, having played drums on their biggest hits; the likes of The Ace Of Spades and Overkill.
The band have paid tribute to their former drummer on Facebook, in a post that read: ‘Lil’ Philthy…he who once shouted ‘stop wincing about’ on an album…he who fuelled many a young boy’s punk/metal hairstyles…he who played the drums with fury and intent…he who liked to call people ‘wazzocks’ once in a while…friend, Roman, Derbyshire man…rest in peace…with much love.’
Taylor died on Wednesday night after a long battle with illness.
