If Heavy Metal had a Mount Rushmore, a guy born on this day in 1945 would be just about guaranteed a place on it. Bass player and lead singer Ian Fraser 'Lemmy'' Kilmister was in several regional groups and did stint as a roadie for Jimi Hendrix before landing a spot in the band Hawkwind. A 1975 drug arrest cost him his place in that group and led him to form Motorhead before the year was out. Lemmy lived as hard as he rocked, a lifestyle that took a toll and ultimately his life when he passed away just a few days after his birthday in 2015.
Other Noteworthy Classic Rock events on December 24 include...
1946 Guitarist Jan Akkerman of Focus born.
1964 Beatles stage their first annual Christmas concert.
1964 Beatles do Christmas show at Hammersmith Odeon with the Yardbirds an others.
1968 Guitarist Doyle Bramhall III born.
1972 Miami police halt a Manfred Mann's Earth Band concert due to noise complaints, triggering a riot.
1973 Doobie Brothers Tom Johnson arrested in Visalia, California on marijuana charge just 3 weeks before his band releases What Were Once Vices are Now Habits.
1977 The Sex Pistols play last UK concert before breaking up in Huddersfield.
1988 Nirvana starts studio sessions for debut album Bleach.
2005 Iggy Pop and the Stooges fined for playing too loud when their Lucerne, Switzerland concert registers a 102.5 decibals reading.
2012 Early Mothers of Invention vocalist Ray Collins dies at 76.
