A Quick Word About the Passing of Philthy Phil, Original Drummer for Motorhead

Heavy music fans and drummers are mourning the loss of a huge influence. Maybe bigger than most people realize. 

Think of when heavy music truly got it's kick start. Long after Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, The Scorpions and Judas Priest busted through. Sure, the darkness of metal and things of such were installed with those bands, but for heavy metal music to beef up and add more punch, that true steroid-like injection would have come from the combo of British metal and punk rock. British New Wave of Heavy Metal. The most referred to example and rightfully so would be Motorhead.

Now Lemmy always says they're a rock n' roll band and I do agree with that. Motorhead has always been rock n' roll, but so much more too due to what they did with the rock n roll. They were something new and everything since owes a tip of the hat to Motorhead for pissing off Chuck Berry and sticking him in an 18-wheeler.

Lemmy has always been the head captain of SS Motorhead, but if you know their sound, the boat wasn't going anywhere without the drumming of Phil Taylor. That machine like, non-stop, locomotive steamrolling was charged by Lemmy's guitar playing style of bass and Phil's explosive, relentless drumming. And short as he may have been, make no mistakes... he was a tough son of a bitch. Tougher than any drummers I've heard of. You see, during his career with Motorhead, Phil dealt with some.. health challenges I guess you could say.

After piggy backing on a friend's shoulders and falling, Phil dealt with a broken neck that gave way to more problems. Most musicians today would alert the Twitter world then tend to their wounds for many months and perhaps longer. Updating us on Tiwtter. Phil? He went back on the road playing drums for Motorhead in a neck brace.

One time after a bar room brawl, Phil's hand was left broken from smashing a bloke in the face. Not a smart idea if you're a drummer;  a drummer NOT in Motorhead. Phil? He taped his broken hand up and continued touring. And folks, he wasn't playing jazz music with paintbrush drum sticks. He was playing the heaviest music of all time. At that time, there was nothing heavier. They were LOUDER THAN EVERYTHING ELSE.

As we look at the influential people in the rock n' roll hall of fame, or lack there of; as people think influential bands and artists in the world of rock/metal and beyond; you simply can't have the discussion without the inclusion of Motorhead and "Philthy Animal" Phil Taylor.

I mean, you could, but you're be wrong and foolish. And even though he's gone now, Phil would still find a way to come back and prove you wrong.