Motorhead Whiplash: The Grammy-Winning Metallica Cover
Motorhead Whiplash is the cover version that finally won Lemmy Kilmister’s band its first Grammy Award.
Motorhead recorded the track for the 2004 various artists tribute album Metallic Attack: The Ultimate Tribute.
The original Whiplash comes from Metallica’s 1983 debut Kill ‘Em All, one of thrash metal’s foundational records.
Motorhead’s version runs three minutes and forty nine seconds and later won Best Metal Performance at the 2005 Grammy Awards.
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⚡ Key Takeaways
- Motorhead Whiplash is a cover of Metallica’s 1983 song, recorded for the 2004 tribute album Metallic Attack: The Ultimate Tribute.
- The original Whiplash appears on Metallica’s debut album Kill ‘Em All, released in 1983.
- Motorhead’s cover won Best Metal Performance at the 47th Grammy Awards on 13 February 2005, the band’s first ever Grammy win.
- Motorhead beat Cradle of Filth, Hatebreed, Killswitch Engage, and Slipknot in that Grammy category.
- Drummer Mikkey Dee called the win total irony, saying it would have meant more for one of Motorhead’s own songs.
What Is Motorhead Whiplash?
Motorhead Whiplash is a faithful, high energy cover of a Metallica thrash classic.
The track runs three minutes and forty nine seconds, close to the tempo and structure of the original.
Motorhead recorded it specifically for a variously artist compilation honoring Metallica’s early catalog.
The cover became one of the most celebrated moments of Motorhead’s later career almost by accident.
Who Wrote the Original Whiplash?
Metallica wrote and recorded the original Whiplash for their 1983 debut album Kill ‘Em All.
The song became one of the defining tracks of the early thrash metal movement.
Its breakneck tempo and headbanging subject matter made it an obvious choice for a tribute compilation built around speed and aggression.
Lemmy Kilmister and Motorhead were a natural fit to cover a song that owed so much to their own influence on the genre.
What Album Is Motorhead Whiplash On?
Motorhead Whiplash first appeared on Metallic Attack: The Ultimate Tribute, released 3 August 2004.
Producers Bob Kulick and Bruce Bouillet assembled the compilation on the Big Deal label, covering songs from Metallica’s first five studio albums.
The full tribute album runs ten tracks across fifty two minutes and five seconds.
Motorhead’s cover later resurfaced on the band’s own compilation Under Cöver, released 1 September 2017.
Mikkey Dee drummed on the Grammy winning Motorhead Whiplash recording.
Image Credit: Photo by Kaja Konarska, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
Did Motorhead Whiplash Win a Grammy?
Motorhead Whiplash won the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance at the 47th Annual Grammy Awards on 13 February 2005.
The win marked Motorhead’s first Grammy in the band’s three decade career at that point.
Motorhead beat out Cradle of Filth, Hatebreed, Killswitch Engage, and Slipknot for the award.
The ceremony took place at the Los Angeles Convention Center and the Staples Center.
What Did Mikkey Dee Say About the Grammy?
Mikkey Dee called the Grammy win total irony, given that Motorhead’s original songs had never received the honor.
He said the award would have meant far more if it had come for one of the band’s own compositions.
The comment reflected Motorhead’s long history of critical respect without matching mainstream award recognition.
Even so, the Grammy remains a genuine milestone in the band’s official history.
Where Else Can You Hear Motorhead Whiplash?
Motorhead Whiplash appears on the original 2004 Metallic Attack tribute compilation alongside covers by other rock and metal acts.
The band later folded the track into Under Cöver, a 2017 collection of Motorhead’s studio cover versions.
Under Cöver gathered years of scattered tribute contributions into a single, official Motorhead release.
The Grammy winning status of Whiplash made it a natural centerpiece for that later compilation.
How Is Motorhead Whiplash Remembered Today?
Motorhead Whiplash is remembered today as proof of just how closely tied Motorhead and Metallica’s musical lineages really were.
The Grammy win still gets cited whenever fans debate the band’s most significant industry recognition.
Its place on Under Cöver keeps introducing new listeners to Motorhead’s own take on thrash metal’s roots.
The same 2004 sessions era also produced the acoustic surprise Whorehouse Blues on the Inferno album.
Fans of the band’s speed and aggression should also revisit Overkill and Ace of Spades.
Iron Fist shows the same relentless tempo that made Motorhead the right band to cover Metallica in the first place.
As of 2026, read the complete lineup history of the members of Motorhead across four decades of the band.
People Also Ask
Did Motorhead cover a Metallica song?
Yes, Motorhead recorded a cover of Metallica’s Whiplash for the 2004 tribute album Metallic Attack: The Ultimate Tribute, and the cover went on to win a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance.
The original Whiplash comes from Metallica’s 1983 debut album Kill ‘Em All.
Did Motorhead win a Grammy for Whiplash?
Motorhead won the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance for their cover of Whiplash at the 47th Annual Grammy Awards on 13 February 2005.
It was the band’s first Grammy win, beating Cradle of Filth, Hatebreed, Killswitch Engage, and Slipknot in the category.
What album is the Motorhead Whiplash cover on?
Motorhead Whiplash first appeared on the various artists compilation Metallic Attack: The Ultimate Tribute in 2004, then later on Motorhead’s own covers album Under Cöver in 2017.
Producers Bob Kulick and Bruce Bouillet assembled the original tribute compilation.
What did Mikkey Dee think of Motorhead winning a Grammy for a cover song?
Mikkey Dee called the Grammy win total irony, saying it would have meant more to him if Motorhead had won for one of their own original songs instead.
His comment reflected the band’s decades long reputation for influence without matching mainstream award recognition.
Watch Motorhead’s Whiplash Cover and Shop the Albums
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Ace of Spades
1980, 50th Anniversary 2 CD Edition
The album that made Motorhead legends.
Expanded with bonus tracks and remastered sound.
Overkill
1979
The album that first showed the speed later heard in the Whiplash cover.
Twin bass drums and pure velocity.
No Sleep ’til Hammersmith
1981, 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition
The live album that captures Motorhead at full speed.
Hit number 1 on the UK Albums Chart in 1981.
March or Die
1992
The album from Motorhead’s Grammy era lineup transition.
Features guest spots from Ozzy Osbourne and Slash.
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Motorhead Whiplash turned a tribute album cut into the band’s first Grammy Award win.
The cover still stands as a reminder of how deeply Motorhead and Metallica’s histories were intertwined.
As of 2026, motorhead whiplash remains one of the most surprising and celebrated moments in the band’s later career.
Last updated: July 15, 2026