Today I’m reflecting on the passing of Phil Campbell, the guitarist who powered Motörhead for 31 years. Phil was just 64… I remember when my dad passed away at 56. At the time, that felt like an old age. Now I’m 67, and I still feel like I’m 18 inside. So when I hear that Phil was younger than me… it puts everything into perspective.
This tribute is for Phil’s family—Gaynor, Todd, Dane and Tyla—and for every fan around the world who felt that unmistakable Motörhead energy.
I’m not going to run through a full history here—you can find that anywhere. This is about how it feels to me.
Phil Campbell wasn’t just part of Motörhead… he was the sound for over three decades.
And here’s something that often gets overlooked…Motörhead were a three-piece for most of their career. That means no safety net. No second guitarist filling the gaps. Just guitar, bass, and drums—completely exposed. Yes, Lemmy’s bass filled a huge part of that sonic space… but Phil still had to create a guitar sound that was wide, deep, and relentless.
Phil came out of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal with Persian Risk. But everything changed when he joined Motörhead. Famously, Lemmy couldn’t decide between Phil and Würzel… so he hired both. And when Würzel left, Phil carried that guitar role alone. For decade after decade. Playing some of the most intense, relentless music ever created.
There’s something else this brings home… When we were younger, we looked at older generations and assumed that one day we’d stop listening to loud music. That somehow we’d “grow out of it.” But look at us now… Still here. Still listening. Still turning it up. And Phil—playing on stage with his sons in Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons—proved something beautiful: Music erases the generation gap.
That must have been incredible for him… sharing that stage, that energy, that life with his family. As music fans, these artists don’t just sit on a shelf. They walk alongside us. Ozzy. Dio. Lemmy. Jon Lord. Eddie Van Halen…They’re part of our lives. We just assume they’ll always be there. Another album. Another tour. Another chance to see them live. But over time… that changes. And when you realise that so many of those names are no longer with us…
To celebrate Phil’s playing, I’ve been spinning:
Motörhead – The Löst Tapes Raw. In your face. Pure Motörhead.
Live recordings from Donington, Malmö, Norwich, Madrid…
Motörhead – Aftershock
This is my album. The one that brought Motörhead right back into my world. And that opening track…“Heartbreaker.” What a riff. It just grabs you and says:
“What are you worrying about? Just put this on… everything will be fine.”
This is a sad moment. But it’s also a moment to celebrate. To turn the volume up. To remember why we fell in love with this music in the first place. Because after I press “publish” on this…
Aftershock is going on.
And “Heartbreaker” is going to come blasting out of those speakers. Whether the neighbours like it or not.
Thank you for all your support
