Hellraiser Motorhead: The Song Ozzy and Lemmy Wrote Together

Hellraiser Motorhead is the band’s own 1992 recording of a song co-written by Lemmy Kilmister and Ozzy Osbourne.

Ozzy released his version first, then Motorhead recorded their own take for the March or Die album.

Three decades later, a posthumous joint version brought the song back to the UK charts.

Here is the true story behind Hellraiser Motorhead, from its songwriting origins to its unlikely modern comeback.

What Is Hellraiser Motorhead About?

The song leans into horror movie imagery, matching the tone of its title without any deeper political message.

Lemmy Kilmister’s lyrics deliver straightforward, high energy heavy metal menace rather than social commentary.

Motorhead’s version pushes the tempo harder and rougher than Ozzy Osbourne’s original studio recording.

The track works as pure horror rock, built for a live crowd rather than close lyrical analysis.

Who Wrote Hellraiser Motorhead?

Ozzy Osbourne, Zakk Wylde, and Lemmy Kilmister wrote the song together.

Ozzy recorded his own version first, releasing it on his 1991 album No More Tears.

Lemmy then brought the song to Motorhead, recording the band’s own version the following year.

Both artists kept full songwriting credit on each other’s recordings of the track.

What Album Is the Motorhead Version From?

Motorhead’s version of Hellraiser appears on March ör Die, released in 1992 through Epic Records and Sony Music.

Producers Peter Solley and Billy Sherwood recorded the track at Music Grinder Studios.

The album gave the song a rougher, faster edge compared to Ozzy Osbourne’s more polished original.

Motorhead also released their version as its own single following the album.

The album that came directly before it, 1916, showed a completely different, far quieter side of the band.

How Does It Differ From Ozzy Osbourne’s Version?

Ozzy Osbourne’s original appeared on his 1991 album No More Tears, produced by Duane Baron and John Purdell.

His version featured Zakk Wylde on guitar, Randy Castillo on drums, John Sinclair on keyboards, and Bob Daisley on bass.

Motorhead’s take strips away the keyboards entirely, replacing polish with raw speed and volume.

Both versions share the same lyrics and structure, but the two bands built completely different atmospheres around them.

Who Played Drums on Hellraiser Motorhead?

Mikkey Dee played drums on Motorhead’s version, his first studio recording with the band.

Dee joined Motorhead in 1992, taking over the drum stool for the March ör Die sessions.

He went on to become the band’s longest serving drummer, staying with Motorhead until Lemmy’s death in 2015.

Hellraiser marked the start of one of the most stable lineups in the band’s entire history.

What Was the 2021 Joint Release?

A posthumous mashup version combining Ozzy Osbourne and Lemmy Kilmister’s vocals arrived on 29 October 2021.

The release used Ozzy’s original recording as its musical foundation, with Lemmy’s vocals layered in from his own version.

An animated music video accompanied the release to mark the song’s 30th anniversary.

The joint single reached number 2 on the UK Official Physical Singles Chart and number 1 on the Official Vinyl Singles Chart in January 2022.

Why Do Fans Still Discuss Hellraiser Motorhead?

Fans still discuss the song because it captures two of metal’s biggest names writing and recording together twice over.

Hawkwind, the band Lemmy played bass for before Motorhead, shaped the same restless streak that runs through this song.

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

Three decades on, Hellraiser Motorhead remains a rare example of two rival frontmen sharing a single songwriting credit.

People Also Ask

Who wrote Hellraiser?

Ozzy Osbourne, Zakk Wylde, and Lemmy Kilmister wrote Hellraiser together, with Ozzy releasing his own version first on his 1991 album No More Tears before Motorhead recorded their own take the following year.

Both artists kept full songwriting credit on each other’s recordings.

What album is Hellraiser by Motorhead on?

Motorhead’s version of Hellraiser appears on their 1992 album March ör Die, released through Epic Records and Sony Music and recorded at Music Grinder Studios.

The band also released their version as its own single.

Who played drums on Motorhead’s Hellraiser?

Mikkey Dee played drums on Motorhead’s version of Hellraiser, his first studio recording after joining the band in 1992.

He went on to become Motorhead’s longest serving drummer, remaining with the band until Lemmy Kilmister’s death in 2015.

Is there a duet version of Hellraiser with both Ozzy and Lemmy?

Yes, a posthumous mashup combining Ozzy Osbourne and Lemmy Kilmister’s vocals was released on 29 October 2021 to mark the song’s 30th anniversary.

It reached number 2 on the UK Official Physical Singles Chart and number 1 on the Official Vinyl Singles Chart in January 2022.

Listen to Motorhead’s Hellraiser

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Hellraiser Motorhead endures as one of the rare songs shared between two of heavy metal’s biggest names.

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Last updated: July 14, 2026