Metal Family Tree

This is a project aimed at making it easy to see who inspired the bands you love or even hate. For this I try not to use any influences that the band don’t claim themselves. There will be a focus on predecessors but successors will be added as they site the band. These trees become more and more interactive as new bands are added, allowing you to click any band that has a tree and jump to it.

We want our lists to be better. If you know something that belongs on this list, let us know. When in doubt we will leave it out, so we need reliable sources.

Motörhead brought forth a raw sound and speed that changed the musical world. Lemmy very often rejected the metal label and said they were a hard rock or rock ‘n’ roll band. Either way, metal music wouldn’t be the same today with out the huge impact that Motörhead had on the next generation of musicians. The classic Motörhead line up was made up of Lemmy, guitarist "Fast" Eddie Clarke, and drummer Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor. Brian "Robbo" Robertson would be on guitar for one album. Phil "Zööm/Wizzö" Campbell and Michael "Würzel" Burston would be on guitar during the time Motörhead had two guitar players and then Campbell would be the sole guitar player after Würzel was no longer in the band. Drummer Pete Gill would be in the band for a short time before Mikkey Dee who would continue on for the rest of the time. All these members of Motorhead shared in writing credits.

Motörhead can be seen as a multi-generation band with the later line ups consisting of younger musicians with newer influences. Because of this, influences will be separated by phases

Phase One

Phase One consists of the influences of the original core line up with Eddie on guitar and ends in 1982 with the first significant line up change. Influences shared between earlier and later members will still be noted here.

Little Richard is one of the original rock ‘n’ roll icons. Lemmy has mentioned him in numerous interviews. He often talks about hearing Little Richard around 11 or 12 and it really having a big impact on him.

Buddy Rich

Eddie Cochran

Chuck Berry

The Everly Brothers where a rock ‘n’ roll and country duo. Lemmy named them as an influence.

The Yardbirds at different times featured Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton. Eddie named them as an influence with Clapton and said it was the first time he was drawn to lead guitar.

The Who were one of the first real Hard Rock bands and John Entwistle was a big influence on Lemmy. Phil Taylor was a fan of Keith Moon.

Joe Walsh

MC5 are some of the first hard rockers. Lemmy said he basically wanted to be MC5 when starting Motorhead.

John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton on guitar was named as an influence by Eddie.

Jimi Hendrix has been on of the most influential guitar players. Eddie said he was more of a Clapton guy but was also influenced by Hendrix. Campbell said Hendrix was the reason he wanted to play guitar. Phil Taylor was a fan of Mitch Mitchell. (O… — Jimi Hendrix has been on of the most influential guitar players. Eddie said he was more of a Clapton guy but was also influenced by Hendrix. Campbell said Hendrix was the reason he wanted to play guitar. Phil Taylor was a fan of Mitch Mitchell. (On a side note, when Lemmy was a roadie for Jimi he was told by him he’d never be good at guitar.)

Heavy and psychedelic, Cream was another influential band featuring Eric Clapton. Once again, an influence on Eddie.

Jeff Beck has been a big influence to many guitar players. Eddie said he was a big fan of the Truth album. — Jeff Beck has been a big influence to many guitar players. Eddie said he was a big fan of the *Truth* album.

Deep Purple were hugely influential for many bands. Eddie named them as an influence. Phil Taylor named Ian Paice as one of his favorite drummers. Mikkey Dee also named him as his favorite.

Originally featuring Peter Frampton on guitar, Eddie was a fan of the band and Peter.

Santana, as in Carlos Santana, were a Latin, jazz, psychedelic rock band. Eddie was a fan of the first two albums.

Led Zeppelin are one of the most influential bands. Phil Taylor named Bonham as an influence. Campbell named Jimmy Page as an influence.

Wishbone Ash were a progressive rock band. Phil Taylor said he use to like drummer Steve Upton.

The Police were sorta part of the new wave punk movement. Phil Taylor is a big fan of them and drummer Stewart Copeland.

Phase Two and Beyond

This Phase begins after Eddie Clark is replaced and covers influences from newer members that are not shared with older members.

B. B. King is an important blues guitarist. Brian named him as a guitarist he admires.

Todd Rundgren

Rory Gallagher was a blues rock player. Würzel was said to be a huge fan.

Black Sabbath, the fathers of heavy metal were named as an influence by Campbell and Mikkey Dee.

Focus were a progressive rock band. Campbell named Jan Akkerman of Focus as an influence.

UFO, rock/hard rock/ even a few metal songs, with Michael Schenker on guitar they was a very influential band. Campbell named UFO/Schenker as an influence.

ZZ Top are an important blues rock band. Brian said he was a fan after discovering them.

Thin Lizzy were a very influential rock/hard rock band known for their guitar harmonies. Mikkey Dee named drummer Brian Downey as an influence.

Rush were a hugely influential progressive hard rock. Mikkey Dee named Neil Peart as an influence.

Rainbow was legendary with Ritchie Blackmore and Ronnie James Dio. Mikkey Dee named them as an influence.

Journey were a huge arena rock band. Mikkey Dee named one time drummer Steve Smith as an influence

Blue Oyster Cult were named as an influence by Mikkey Dee.

Lemmy has said he most often writes songs on acoustic guitar and only occasionally writes on bass. He originally played guitar but switched to bass for the first time when the bassist didn’t show up for a Hawkwind gig. Phil Taylor said Motorhead doesn’t have a bass player, that Lemmy is a guitar player playing bass.

Lemmy mentions Duane Eddy was an influence in his sound but not his playing.

Larry Wallis was the original guitar player with Motorhead but never recorded with them. He does have one writing credit on the first album though.

Phil Taylor started playing drums when his dad told him to in order to keep him out of trouble. He first took lessons learning only on the snare drum from an old WWI military drummer. He says he dad was into jazz so he heard drummers like Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich and a few other jazz drummers, but didn’t really consider that his thing. He names Bernard Purdie as an influence saying he was a session player who did a lot of Mowtown records. Purdie was a session player but not for Mowtown that I’m aware of.

Another Perfect Day had Brian Robertson co-writing and playing guitar. Brian Robertson first began as a classically trained pianist for eight years before picking up guitar. He says he’s not a fan of flashy players like Hendrix. He mentions being a fan of ZZ Top, after discovering on tour in through Texas. He said he admires guys like B. B. King. I have seen other blues guitarists as his influences, but have not been able to corroborate them. (sources for Brian are noted in the Thin Lizzy Family Tree)

Phil Campbell was the member in Motorhead the longest other than Lemmy, from 1984 onward. In his down time some other music he listens to includes: Doobie Brothers, James Taylor, Madonna, Focus, Satriani, Vai. He mentions being honored to be named as one of Lemmy’s favorite guitar players along side Hendrix and Beck.

Michael "Würzel" Burston played along side Phil Campbell from 1983-1995 marking the period that Motorhead had two guitar players. I couldn’t find any interviews with him but according to a member of another band he was in, Wurzel was a huge Rory Gallagher fan.

Former Saxon drummer, Pete Gill drummed with Motorhead from 1984-1987. He said he grew up listening to The Beatles, and The Rolling Stones. In an interview he said he got a kick out of playing military and Latin style drums. I haven’t been able to find much on any influence for him.

Mikkey Dee (formerly of King Diamond) joined Motorhead in 1992 and was there till the end. He said his biggest inspiration for drumming came from his Uncle and cousins who were drummers and played in several Swedish bands.

Bands influenced by Motörhead!

As this project advances, bands will be added here… there are many!

German Thrash and first wave black metal.

Taking Black Metal in a progressive direction.

Sources:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rnZriMDlx4
https://www.guitarworld.com/features/lemmy-the-final-interview-i-was-born-to-play-the-bass
https://myglobalmind.com/2016/12/27/rock-vault-lemmy-kilmister-motorhead-will-never-give/
http://bravewords.com/news/motorheads-lemmy-kilmister-talks-little-richard-hawkwind-being-best-worst-band-in-the-world
https://www.goldminemag.com/articles/fast-eddie-clarke-reveals-10-albums-changed-life
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgbHv-VQkTs
http://www.metalliville.co.uk/bankup/INTERVIEWS%20Folder/Phil%20Taylor.htm
https://www.vintageguitar.com/2919/philip-campbell/
http://www.mf-b.ru/articles/m_press14-eng.htm
http://getreadytorock.me.uk/blog/2018/09/interview-tim-atkinson-leader-of-down/
http://www.perun.hr/pete-gill-motorhead-it-was-guitarist-phil-campbell-who-got-me-into-motorhead
https://www.metal-rules.com/interviews/WeAreMotorhead.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfClM8Qzu7s