Motörhead

Motörhead are a canonical speed metal band. Their name derives from a slang term for an amphetamine user.

Founded by ex-Hawkwind bassist Lemmy Kilmister in 1975, they specialize in songs that are extremely loud to the unaccustomed listener. The title of one of their live albums, "Everything Louder Than Everyone Else", reflects this fact.

The umlaut over the ö in their name is a record-cover art conceit, possibly derived from the similar "heavy metal umlaut" in the name of the Blue Öyster Cult. However, the band's name is not pronounced as the German usage; instead, Lemmy pronounces it /insert SAMPA here/. Spoof band Spinal Tap ridiculed the idea still further by putting the umlaut over the letter 'n', which cannot be illustrated in HTML!

External link:

• Band history (http://www.motorhead.ru/2bandhistory.htm)