Wacken To Unveil Lemmy Shrine

The ashes of the late Ian “Lemmy” Kilmister will be enshrined at Wacken Open Air, Germany, to cement his immortal legacy.

Not many bands have graced the Wacken stage as often as Motörhead over the festival’s 30-plus year history, the band and the festival team have built a close relationship, so it’s only fitting that the late Motörhead frontman would be honored with a symbolic act.

On the opening day of Wacken Open Air 2023, Wednesday, Aug. 2, Motörhead’s Phil Campbell and Mikkey Dee will lead a ceremony for Lemmy, which includes bringing some of the late rock icon’s ashes to Wacken, Germany, where he “will find another resting place,” according to a press release.

The ceremony forms part of “Lemmy Forever,” a weekend celebration of the life of this defining rock star, who passed away in 2015.

Wacken co-promoter Thomas Jensen commented, “Lemmy coming back to Wacken is an enormous honor for us – words can hardly express how enormous. We will create a place of remembrance for him that does justice to his significance for an entire genre and beyond.”

Co-organiser Holger Hübner added, “There has always been a special connection between Motörhead and W:O:A, hardly any band has played here more often. The fact that his journey also ends here will forever hold a special meaning.”

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Wacken won’t be the only event of significance to Motörhead to receive a portion of Lemmy, as Motörhead manager Todd Singerman said: “Wacken was one of Lemmy’s dearest homes and we’re delighted he has a place here forever. He was a man of the people, and as such, he ‘lived’ in many places worldwide. It’s our aim to allow him to rest permanently in all his ‘homes’ globally, and allow his fans worldwide to have a place close to them where they can both pay respects and celebrate his enormous continuing legacy and influence.”

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