Lemmy Kilmister, the founding member and frontman of Motörhead, and a leading figure in hard rock's resurgence in the late '70s and its endurance since, has died of cancer, according to the band's Facebook page.
"There is no easy way to say this...our mighty, noble friend Kilmister passed away today after a short battle with an extremely aggressive cancer," the band wrote on Facebook , adding that the rock veteran had just learned of his condition on December 26th , while at home with his family, "sitting in front of his favorite video game from The Rainbow... We cannot begin to express our shock and sadness, there aren't words."
Kilmister, whose gruff vocals and pummeling bass were central to that sound, cut a distinctive presence offstage as well, with his mutton chops and prominent facial moles.