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Artist News
Former Motörhead drummer Phil Taylor dies
By Andy Malt | Published on Friday 13 November 2015
Former Motörhead drummer Phil ‘Philthy Animal’ Taylor died on Wednesday, his one-time bandmate ‘Fast’ Eddie Clarke announced on Facebook yesterday. Taylor was 61.
“My dear friend and brother passed away last night”, wrote Clarke. “He had been ill for some time but that does not make it any easier when the time finally comes. I have known Phil since he was 21 and he was one hell of a character. Fortunately we made some fantastic music together and I have many many fond memories of our time together. Rest in Peace, Phil!”
Taylor was a member of Motörhead from 1975 to 1984, appearing on their first six albums and embodying the band’s wild image. In 1980, he performed in a neck brace, having broken his neck after a friend lifted him up and then dropped him onto his head. Prior to this, he had performed with a broken hand, taping a drumstick to said hand until he was able to grip it again himself.
He rejoined the band in 1987, but was fired in 1992. He reunited with Clarke and frontman Lemmy briefly in 2014, appearing on stage at a show in Birmingham, though he did not perform.
