Motörhead - Ace of Spades: The Bar Band That Redefined Metal (Whether They Liked It Or Not)

What happens when you salvage a beaten‑up classic from the graveyard? You discover why Motörhead’s Ace of Spades remains one of the most influential rock albums of all time—even if Lemmy himself refused to call it metal.

Recorded in six weeks during the summer of 1980 and unleashed that October, Ace of Spades is 36 minutes of raw, boogie‑infused rock and roll cranked up to 11. On this episode of Dig Me Out: 80s Metal, hosts Jason Ziad, Tim Minneci, and Chip Midnight resurrect this second‑chance poll winner to explore why this album sounds like nothing else—and why that matters.

The classic lineup of Lemmy Kilmister, “Fast” Eddie Clarke, and Phil “Philthy Animal” Taylor weren’t trying to invent metal. They were channeling Chuck Berry, ZZ Top, and Thin Lizzy through a blown amp, adding a danceable swing that inspired everyone from Metallica and Slayer to The Hellacopters and New Bomb Turks. This is the sound of a band that knew exactly what they did well and executed it with surgical precision—even when they got sick of playing “Ace of Spades” every night.

If you love early Van Halen, AC/DC, the Ramones, or the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, this episode is for you. We break down how Lemmy’s voice became the second guitar, why Eddie Clarke’s playing is criminally underrated, and what it means when an album charts everywhere from Sweden to Greece but barely makes a dent in the U.S.

Episode Highlights

00:00 – Intro: Why this listener‑suggested album almost didn’t happen

01:38 – The “second chance poll” rescue mission and how Testament won the first round

05:42 – Chip’s legendary three‑question interview with Lemmy (spoiler: he left to “freshen his drink”)

10:09 – Album history: recorded August–September 1980, produced by Vic Maile (Hendrix, Zeppelin, Clapton)

14:25 – Lemmy’s time in Hawkwind, The Damned, and as Jimi Hendrix’s roadie

17:29 – (We Are) The Road Crew – Why Lemmy’s tribute to roadies still makes crew members cry

18:20 – The “Ace of Spades” legend: Why Lemmy sang “eight of spades” for years and nobody noticed

19:02 – What Works: Jay breaks down the 70s swing, boogie‑rock energy, and danceable aggression

25:14 – Fast and Loose – The ZZ Top‑meets‑Motörhead shuffle that proves this is rock and roll

27:07 – How Motörhead influenced thrash, punk, and 90s action rock (Hellacopters, New Bomb Turks)

31:54 – The Chase Is Better Than the Catch – The Van Halen‑inspired riff that almost wasn’t

34:18 – Eddie Clarke’s guitar genius: Why “Fast” Eddie is the secret weapon of this album

37:58 – What Doesn’t Work: Aged lyrics, formulaic moments, and why Lemmy’s voice is an acquired taste

42:34 – Why fade‑outs are the album’s worst decision

48:53 – Final Verdicts: Worthy Album, Better EP, or Decent Single?

55:37 – Gavin Reed gets credit for suggesting this album (and arguing with Jay about whether it’s metal)

Keep the Conversation Going

This album came back from the dead because a listener like you suggested it. What record deserves a second chance? What forgotten classic or underrated gem should we dig out next?

Join the Metal Union at digmeoutpodcast.com suggest and vote on future albums. Paid subscribers get access to bonus episodes covering 70s rock, 80s metal, and 2000s rock, plus new release reviews and our private Discord community where the debates never stop.

Pick an album and join us on the podcast at dmounion.com.

For Jason, Chip, and Tim—thanks for digging with us. We’ll see you next time on Dig Me Out: 80s Metal.

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