By: Rob Cavuoto
Lemmy Kilmister may be the driving force of Motörhead, but Phil Campbell is the vehicle that they travel their music journey in. Phil has been Lemmy’s right hand man and lead guitarist for 27 years, performing 14 Motörhead LPs including such classics as Bastards, Inferno, and Hammered.
After 27 years I see why these two guys have been band mates for so long. Both have great senses of humor and love a good laugh. I guess you need it being on the road for months on end. As this leg of the US tour draws to an end, their new CD, The World Is Yours
I had the chance to have a beer with Phil backstage before the Starland Ballroom show in NJ and let him share his experiences from being in Motörhead for almost 3 decades.
Phil Campbell Motorhead Photo: Rob Cavuoto
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Rob Cavuoto: The World is Yours visits more of band’s rock roots, smoother chord progression and straight ahead rock n roll grooves, was that intentional?
Phil Campbell: It’s definitely more rock n’ roll than heavy metal. That’s OK by me. We never have any plans. It’s just the way it ended up.
Rob: What gear did you use on the new CD?
Phil Campbell: I used a Bogner Uberschall amp with one of my Marshall cabinets and my two guitars, a Gibson 335 reissue for the solos and a Les Paul Silver Burst for the rhythms. I tried to keep it pretty simple. For effects, we used what the studio had. I think it was Black Star Effects.
Rob: How familiar were you with Motörhead when you first joined? ,p>
Phil Campbell: I was familiar with their bigger hits but didn’t know how to play their songs at the time. The band that I was with just ended their tour and I was able to get in touch with Lemmy’s manager and sent in some demos. For the audition I had to learn 18 songs. I did “Ace of Spades,” “Bomber” and stuff like that.
Rob: What’s best part of being in Motörhead?
Phil Campbell: Well, the worst part is going deaf. The best part is the good life. [Phil picks up his Blackberry and shows me a photo of a vintage car he recently purchased]
Phil Campbell Motorhead Photo: Rob Cavuoto
Rob: You and Lemmy have known each other for 27 years. What’s the one thing you know about him that most people don’t?
Phil Campbell: Lemmy hates onions. It’s strange, he looks like an “onion” sort of guy.
Rob: Are you more at home on the road?
Phil Campbell: That’s a good question. The crew is like my family so it’s difficult to say.
Rob: Do you have any pre-show rituals?
Phil Campbell: Nothing special really. Lemmy reads. I like to get ready sooner than later. I have recurring dreams about not being ready to get on stage and can’t find my shoes.
Rob: Like going out in your underwear?
Phil Campbell: No, not that. [Laughing]
Rob: When I asked Lemmy earlier if he would ever reunite with Phil “Philthy” Taylor and Fast Eddie Clarke, he paid you and Mikkey the highest compliment. He said that you guys are Motörhead and the future of Motörhead. What do you think of that?
Phil Campbell: After all the work that me and Mikkey put into the band over the years it would be insulting. The original line-up was good for that time, but we’re Motörhead. No disrespect to Phil and Eddie and what they achieved. We’re happy with things the way they are now.
Phil Campbell Motorhead Photo Rob Cavuoto
Rob: Any personal favorite Motörhead LP?
Phil Campbell: I think the best one is Bastards produced by Howard Benson. I just think the writing is superior to anything we’ve done, the variation of songs is great and all the work that went into it. We did it in LA and we would go borrow a guitar for the littlest parts here and there just to get it right. I even borrowed a guitar from CC Deville.
Rob: How old were you when you started playing guitar and what inspired you to start playing?
Phil Campbell: I think was 7 or 8 and my cousin had a live Hendrix LP. I loved the sound of it. In school I pretended that I could play and then it got to the point that you can’t pretend and I said “Christ I need to learn now.” [Laughing]
Rob: What was the first rock song you learned to play?
Phil Campbell: An early Status Quo song I think.
Rob: What was your first big break?
Phil Campbell: My ankle! [Laughing] I had just bought new cowboy boots and for some reason I told Phil Taylor that he drummed like a fucking cunt. He punched me while we were in the dressing room and I fell backwards down a step into the bathroom and broke my ankle. So I had to play with a broken ankle for a few weeks.
Rob: Any Spinal Tap moments with Lemmy on stage- funny, worst gigs?
Phil Campbell: Let me think. Twenty years ago there was a guy in the front row of our concert and he was making jerking off motions at me and calling me a wanker. He must’ve been doing it to me all the entire set. I had been drinking Vodka and orange juice so by the end of the night I had enough of it.
I grabbed my drink and made this big thing about it and said to the guy you take this, and when I went to throw it at him I slipped and slid went across the entire stage all the way to Lemmy. Lemmy looks at me and says “What are you doing down there Phil?” That’s was pretty funny.
Ardiril (13 years ago)
My fortune is that I don’t listen to Motorhead for the lyrics. Too good to be dumb, too dumb to be good. That is the .3% of an otherwise 99.7% Rockin Band. (I know, I know, Lemmy is still channeling Hawkwind when he sings.)