Motorhead Overkill turned three speed freaks from a cult curiosity into a real band with a real future.
Released on 16 March 1979, it was the group’s second studio album and first for Bronze Records.
A single new drum kit and two weeks in the studio changed everything.
It still stands as the record where the band’s sound truly arrived.
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⚡ Key Takeaways
- Motorhead Overkill was released on 16 March 1979, the band’s second studio album and first for Bronze Records.
- Producer Jimmy Miller, known for his work with the Rolling Stones, recorded it in about two weeks in December 1978 and January 1979.
- Drummer Phil “Philthy Animal” Taylor’s new twin bass drum kit inspired the title track’s famous 16th note intro.
- The album peaked at number 24 on the UK Albums Chart, the band’s first real commercial breakthrough.
- Metallica’s Lars Ulrich has credited hearing the title track in a record store in 1979 as the reason he formed Metallica.
What Is Motorhead Overkill?
Motorhead Overkill is the band’s second studio album, released on 16 March 1979.
It was the first record the band made for Bronze Records after leaving Chiswick.
The same three piece lineup from the debut album returned here, tighter and faster than before.
This is widely seen as the record where Motorhead’s signature sound finally clicked into place.
How Was the Album Recorded?
The band recorded the album in December 1978 and January 1979.
Sessions took place at Roundhouse Recording Studios and Sound Development Studios in London.
Lemmy Kilmister wrote in his autobiography White Line Fever that the band only had a fortnight to finish the record.
He described working with producer Jimmy Miller during those sessions as pure joy.
Who Produced the Album?
Jimmy Miller produced the album, fresh off years of work with the Rolling Stones and Traffic.
Classic Rock Magazine later said his production made the band sound claustrophobic, wasted, and gloriously unwashed.
Miller was a recovering addict at the time, and stayed focused throughout these sessions.
His later reunion with the band on Bomber proved far rockier once his addiction returned.
Why Does the Drumming on Motorhead Overkill Matter So Much?
Drummer Phil “Philthy Animal” Taylor had just taken delivery of a new kit with two bass drums before the sessions began.
Taylor reportedly had no clear plan for the second drum, according to Louder.
He built the title track’s galloping 16th note intro almost by accident while experimenting with the new kit.
That single drum pattern became one of the most influential moments in heavy metal history.
Phil “Philthy Animal” Taylor’s new twin bass drum kit shaped the sound of this album.
Image Credit: Photo by Andrew King, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
What Songs Are on Motorhead Overkill?
The album runs ten tracks, opening with the title song and its famous drum intro.
Stay Clean and No Class follow, both later becoming permanent live staples.
Damage Case and Tear Ya Down keep the pace unrelenting through the album’s back half.
Capricorn, Metropolis, and Limb from Limb round out a record with almost no filler.
Who Designed the Cover Art?
Artist Joe Petagno designed the cover, continuing his work from the band’s debut album.
Petagno said he had about a week and a half to finish the artwork.
He later called the result a personal disappointment, saying it should have been more layered and detailed.
Fans still consider it one of the most striking sleeves of the band’s early catalog regardless.
How Did Motorhead Overkill Chart in 1979?
The album reached number 24 on the UK Albums Chart, a major breakthrough at the time.
Bronze Records released a green vinyl edition just three weeks after the original black vinyl pressing.
That move encouraged collectors to buy the album twice, boosting sales further.
The chart placement marked the band’s first real commercial success after two lower charting releases.
Why Did Lars Ulrich Call Motorhead Overkill a Turning Point?
Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich has said he first heard the title track in a record store in 1979.
Ulrich recalled that the double bass drum intro was unlike anything he had heard before, according to Rolling Stone.
He later called Motorhead the catalyst that convinced him to start Metallica.
Phil Taylor’s drumming on this record directly shaped how thrash metal drummers would play for decades.
Why Does Motorhead Overkill Still Matter Today?
The album matters because it proved Motorhead’s raw energy could translate into real chart success.
Its influence runs directly through thrash and speed metal, genres that did not exist yet in 1979.
The record set up the band’s run into Lemmy Kilmister‘s most celebrated years.
That run reached its peak the following year with Ace of Spades.
How Can You Listen to the Album Today?
The album remains available through a two disc BMG reissue with additional material.
It streams in full on every major platform under the band’s official catalog.
The original ten tracks still play as a tight, unbroken run of speed and aggression.
As of 2026, read the complete lineup history of the members of Motorhead across four decades of the band.
People Also Ask
When was Motorhead Overkill released?
It was released on 16 March 1979 as the band’s second studio album and first release for Bronze Records, recorded in about two weeks that winter with producer Jimmy Miller.
The album reached number 24 on the UK Albums Chart, the band’s first major commercial breakthrough.
Who produced Motorhead Overkill?
Jimmy Miller, previously known for his work with the Rolling Stones and Traffic, produced the record in December 1978 and January 1979.
Lemmy Kilmister called the sessions with Miller pure joy in his autobiography White Line Fever.
Why is the drumming on Motorhead Overkill famous?
Drummer Phil Taylor built the title track’s galloping 16th note intro on a new twin bass drum kit he had barely learned to use.
Metallica’s Lars Ulrich later cited that same drum pattern as a major influence on his own playing.
Did Motorhead Overkill chart?
Yes, Motorhead Overkill peaked at number 24 on the UK Albums Chart in 1979.
A green vinyl reissue released three weeks after the original pressing helped push sales even higher.
What songs are on Motorhead Overkill?
Motorhead Overkill contains ten tracks: Overkill, Stay Clean, (I Won’t) Pay Your Price, I’ll Be Your Sister, Capricorn, No Class, Damage Case, Tear Ya Down, Metropolis, and Limb from Limb.
Stay Clean, No Class, and Damage Case all went on to become long running staples of the band’s live sets.
Watch the Title Track and Shop Motorhead Albums
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Overkill
1979
The album that gave Motorhead its first real chart breakthrough.
Twin bass drums and pure velocity from the classic lineup.
Bomber
1979, 50th Anniversary Edition
Released just eight months after Overkill that same year.
Continues the momentum this album started.
Ace of Spades
1980, 50th Anniversary 2 CD Edition
The album that turned this breakthrough into a legend.
Expanded with bonus tracks and remastered sound.
No Sleep ’til Hammersmith
1981, 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition
Hear these same songs captured live at full speed.
Hit number 1 on the UK Albums Chart in 1981.
You Might Also Like
Ace of Spades Motorhead: Inside Rock’s Defining Anthem
The song that turned this album’s breakthrough into a lasting legend.
Bomber Motorhead: The Song Behind the Legendary Stage Rig
Recorded just months after this album, carrying the same relentless energy forward.
Jailbait Motorhead: The Most Controversial Ace of Spades Cut
Another fast, riff driven track from the same classic three piece lineup.
Killed by Death: Inside the Motorhead Song MTV Banned
Another classic era track that carried this album’s raw speed into the years that followed.
This album did not just give the band its first hit record, it gave heavy metal a new sense of speed.
Phil Taylor’s drumming on this album still echoes through thrash metal nearly fifty years later.
As of 2026, Motorhead Overkill remains the moment the band’s legend truly began.
Last updated: July 19, 2026