Louie Louie Motorhead: The 1978 Cover That Baffled Fans

Louie Louie Motorhead is the band’s 1978 cover of the rhythm and blues standard, released as a standalone single.

It arrived between the Overkill and Bomber albums, a strange detour for a band built on speed and volume.

The single barely dented the UK charts, but it introduced Motorhead to a whole new audience through television.

Here is the true story behind Louie Louie Motorhead, from its 1950s origins to its brief chart run.

What Is Louie Louie Motorhead About?

The song follows a sailor telling a bartender named Louie about missing the girl he left behind.

Motorhead kept the simple three chord structure but pushed the tempo and the guitar tone harder than any prior version.

Lemmy Kilmister’s rough vocal delivery turned a garage rock staple into something closer to punk.

The band treated it as a loose, fun single rather than a serious artistic statement.

Who Originally Wrote Louie Louie?

Richard Berry wrote and recorded the original version of Louie Louie in 1956, releasing it in 1957.

Berry’s original never charted nationally, though it found some airplay on regional radio in the Pacific Northwest.

The Kingsmen’s 1963 cover became the definitive version, peaking at number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 for six weeks.

By the time Motorhead recorded their version in 1978, the song had already been covered by dozens of rock and roll acts.

When Did Motorhead Release Their Version?

Bronze Records released Motorhead’s Louie Louie single in September 1978 under catalogue number BRO60.

It arrived between the Overkill and Bomber albums, both released within the same 12 months.

Motorhead recorded the track during the same period of intense activity that produced most of their late 1970s catalogue.

The single stood apart from the band’s original material as their first and only cover single of that era.

The following year’s Bomber album, home to deep cuts like Stone Dead Forever, built directly on that momentum.

How High Did Louie Louie Motorhead Chart?

The single peaked at number 68 on the UK Singles Chart on 30 September 1978.

It had entered the chart two weeks earlier at number 75 on 16 September 1978.

The single spent a total of two weeks in the UK Top 100 before dropping off entirely.

Modest as the chart run was, it gave Motorhead their first taste of national chart exposure.

What Was on the B-Side of Louie Louie Motorhead?

The B-side carried the original Motorhead track Tear Ya Down, credited to the band’s classic three piece lineup.

Lemmy Kilmister, Fast Eddie Clarke, and Phil Taylor recorded both sides during the same Bronze era sessions.

Some later reissues paired the single with an alternate studio take recorded during the same period.

Both versions remain collector favorites among fans of Motorhead’s Bronze Records back catalogue.

How Did Fans First See Motorhead Perform It?

Motorhead performed the song on BBC’s Top of the Pops on 25 October 1978, their first ever television appearance.

The band also recorded a John Peel radio session featuring the track later the same year.

Television exposure introduced Motorhead to viewers who had never heard the band on record before.

Overkill, released the following March, built directly on that new audience.

Why Do Fans Still Discuss Louie Louie Motorhead?

Fans still discuss the single because it shows Motorhead experimenting outside their own songwriting at a pivotal early moment.

Hawkwind, the band Lemmy played bass for before Motorhead, gave him the same restless taste for unlikely cover songs.

As of 2026, read the complete lineup history of the members of Motorhead across four decades of the band.

The single remains a curious footnote in an otherwise entirely original run of late 1970s Motorhead releases.

People Also Ask

Who wrote Louie Louie?

Richard Berry wrote and first recorded Louie Louie in 1956, releasing it in 1957, though The Kingsmen’s 1963 cover became the best known version, peaking at number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Motorhead recorded their own cover of the song in 1978, released as a standalone single.

When did Motorhead release Louie Louie?

Motorhead released their cover of Louie Louie as a single in September 1978 through Bronze Records under catalogue number BRO60.

It arrived between the band’s Overkill and Bomber albums, both released within the same year.

How high did Motorhead’s Louie Louie chart?

The single peaked at number 68 on the UK Singles Chart on 30 September 1978, after entering at number 75 two weeks earlier.

It spent a total of two weeks on the chart before dropping off.

What was the B-side of Motorhead’s Louie Louie single?

The B-side of the single was the original Motorhead track Tear Ya Down, recorded during the same 1978 Bronze Records sessions.

Both songs featured the band’s classic three piece lineup of Lemmy Kilmister, Fast Eddie Clarke, and Phil Taylor.

Was Louie Louie Motorhead’s first TV appearance?

Yes, Motorhead performed Louie Louie on BBC’s Top of the Pops on 25 October 1978, marking the band’s first ever television appearance.

The exposure introduced Motorhead to a national audience well beyond their existing club and touring fanbase.

Watch the Top of the Pops Performance

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Louie Louie Motorhead stands as a fun, scrappy detour in a catalogue otherwise built entirely on original material.

Forty-eight years later, Louie Louie Motorhead remains a curious footnote that introduced the band to national television audiences.

Last updated: July 14, 2026