New Photobook On MOTÖRHEAD Focuses On The Years 1977- 1980
MOTÖRHEAD is considered by many to be the loudest band in rock n roll and lord knows they are proud of it. With that title and the infamy surrounding the band, one can guess that there are some crazy stories out there but now we are getting an inside look into the band from Graham Mitchell, who was MOTÖRHEAD's tour manager in the late 1970s and early 1980s and a new book: "Fast & Loose: Snapshots From The Graham Mitchell Archive, 1977-1982", collects nearly 100 of his snapshots, including many that have never been published before.
"I somehow knew how important it all was," Mitchell says. "I knew I needed to capture at least some of those moments. I'd see the band to the stage and then immediately go out into the house, jostle with the punters, and get what I could."
One of the most influential hard rock bands of all time, MOTÖRHEAD mixed rock, punk, and heavy metal into an aggressive blend of pure explosive energy. During the era documented in "Fast & Loose", the classic "three amigos" lineup of the band (Lemmy Kilmister, Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor, and "Fast" Eddie Clarke) toured relentlessly and recorded a half dozen classic albums that continue to impact the music world today. All three of their estates participated and gave their blessing for "Fast & Loose".
In the period covered in the photographs, Mitchell was not only the band's tour manager but, in his own words, "their babysitter, their procurer of women, their procurer of drugs, procurer of everything." Somehow, in the midst of the whirlwind, when Graham picked up his camera he snapped amazing images of the group that document the raw power of MOTÖRHEAD with an unparalleled intimacy that only a trusted member of the inner circle could capture.
From side-stage performance shots, to up close images of band gear, to Lemmy wearing a slice of turkey as an eye patch, what's presented in "Fast & Loose" is a true insider's view.
"Most of my images," Graham reveals, "are one-shot photos, and there's no flash on any of them. They were done at 400 ASA to speed up the film and take advantage of whatever natural light I could get, so I was always flying by the seat of my pants whenever I clicked the shutter." Through it all, he managed to capture the harsh realities of the road (band members washing their hair in a tiny sink), the inevitable fun (living it up with members of the band WEAPON backstage in Glasgow), and even the tender moments (spending time with Phil Taylor's dad).
"Fast & Loose" is an up-close-and-personal look at a one-of-a-kind group that is essential for any diehard fan. Published by BMG, it's available now in the U.S., and will be released in the U.K. on December 30.
