Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers

The Rise of Motörhead

By: Martin Popoff

Narrated by: A. T. Chandler

Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers is the first book to celebrate the classic-era Motörhead lineup of Lemmy Kilmister, "Fast" Eddie Clarke, and Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor. Through interviews with all of the principal troublemakers, Martin Popoff celebrates the formation of the band and the records that made them legends: Motörhead, Overkill, Bomber, Ace of Spades, No Sleep 'til Hammersmith, and Iron Fist. An in-depth coda brings the story up to date with the shocking recent deaths of Taylor and Kilmister.

Motörhead comes to life in this book as bad-luck bad boys - doused in drink and drugs, most notably speed - incapable of running their lives right save for Fast Eddie, who is charged with holding things together. Popoff also examines the heady climate of music through the band's rise to prominence during the New Wave of British heavy metal, with detailed reflection on Motörhead's unique position in the scene as both originators and embattled survivors who carried on the renegade spirit of those times.

©2017 Martin Popoff (P)2017 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Martin has the most thorough knowledge of heavy metal of anybody I've ever met." (Dee Snider, Twisted Sister frontman)

not bad but not what I thought

wasn't bad but not what I thought. covers the original lineup and felt more like long-winded reviews of their first handful of albums instead of a history of the band

Nearly ideal

This particular Motorhead book is quite well done and it is always interesting hearing the divergent opinions of the main characters. I personally would have liked to hear more from Lemmy, but that's a small problem.

Excellent book by Popoff

Very entertaining read about the classic years. Narrator thinks he's Batman but the material rises above.

awsome look into motorhead

it was a good book from start to finish really give you a inside look at the original line up of motor head.

well written and researched

fantastic look at one of the last true rock n roll gods. personally I would have rather heard more tales of their rock n roll debauchery and less about the band members fighting but a great read that really gives a deep dive into the og lineup.

Great Listen!

Very insightful look into the history, evolution and interaction of the band members throughout the years. A must-read for the avid fan.

LOVED IT!

One of the best books I've listened to so far. Hands down. I plan on listening to it at least a few more times as there is so much info to absorb.

Good but not great.

What did you love best about Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers?

The best bits are of course the stories from the studio and how the respective albums came to be and for a novice motorhead fan this will be a great listen. On the other hand, if you know your Motorhead - you've read the articles, seen the interviews and watched the films - then you're going to be listening to a lot of stories you've heard before, only this time round they have far less punch as it isn't Lemmy, Fast Eddie or Philthy that's telling them, it's some american dude who calls NWOBHM "N-W-O-B-H-M" (and that's only one of quite a few gaffs, which really subtract from the enjoyment of the book i'm afraid - the devil is in the details).

Would you be willing to try another one of A. T. Chandler’s performances?

Personally i didn't enjoy the narrator. The amount of gaffs and the slow, trudging pace of his american drawl are really not a match for what is - or should be - a fast paced story. Having it read by an englishman would've been far, far better in my opinion.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

If the information within the book was new to me, yes, i could've heard it in one session. As it was, and as a die hard Motorhead fan, this was packed with stories and anecdotes i'd heard before. It was good, but not great.

Awesome book

This is a great piece, it gets into deep corners of what is Motorhead. I love it, it covers the beginnings . Hope that they will release another about later years of the greatest rock and roll band on earth. Cheers

Must listen for all fans of Rock & Roll

Great stuff that only Motörhead lived. I couldn’t put it down. Great narration. Nuff said.