Philthy Animal Taylor: Motorhead’s Classic Era Drummer
Philthy Animal Taylor drummed behind some of Motorhead’s most explosive records across two separate stints in the band.
Born Philip John Taylor on 21 September 1954 in Hasland, Derbyshire, he grew up in Leeds and took formal drum lessons before a chance meeting changed his life.
Alongside Lemmy Kilmister and Fast Eddie Clarke, Taylor formed one third of Motorhead’s classic lineup, playing on eleven studio albums and four live releases across his career with the band.
He survived a broken neck mid tour, left and rejoined the band twice, and remained one of British heavy metal’s most instantly recognizable drummers until his death in 2015.
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Image Credit: Photo by Andrew King, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
📋 Table of Contents [+]
⚡ Key Takeaways
- Philthy Animal Taylor drummed for Motorhead from 1975 to 1984 and again from 1987 to 1992.
- He broke his neck shortly after recording Ace of Spades in 1980 but kept touring in a neck brace.
- Taylor was fired from Motorhead in 1992 after recording I Ain’t No Nice Guy.
- He briefly rejoined Lemmy and Fast Eddie Clarke on stage in Birmingham on 6 November 2014.
- Philthy Animal Taylor died on 12 November 2015 at age 61 from liver failure.
Philthy Animal Taylor’s Early Life and Path to Drumming
Philthy Animal Taylor was born Philip John Taylor on 21 September 1954 in Hasland, Derbyshire.
He lived briefly in Ashington, Northumberland, before his family settled in Leeds, Yorkshire, where he grew up.
On his father’s advice, Taylor took formal drum lessons at Leeds College of Music.
He first crossed paths with Lemmy Kilmister in 1973, while Lemmy was still playing in Hawkwind, and the two struck up a fast friendship.
How Did Philthy Animal Taylor Join Motorhead?
Philthy joined Motorhead in 1975, replacing original drummer Lucas Fox during the recording of the band’s first album, On Parole.
Lemmy later said Fox simply was not working out, while Taylor had a car and could drive the band back to the studio.
Taylor, in turn, introduced Lemmy to guitarist Fast Eddie Clarke, having worked alongside him while painting a houseboat.
That chance introduction completed the trio that would soon become known as Motorhead’s classic lineup.
Philthy Animal Taylor and Motorhead’s Classic Lineup
Philthy Animal Taylor played on the band’s self titled debut album, Motorhead, released in 1977.
He then drummed on Overkill and Bomber, both released in 1979, followed by Ace of Spades in 1980.
No Sleep ’til Hammersmith, Iron Fist, and Another Perfect Day rounded out his first run with the band through 1983.
Across those years, Taylor’s speed and power behind the kit helped define the aggressive tempo that became Motorhead’s trademark.
💡 Did You Know?
Philthy Animal Taylor appears in drag, brandishing a rolling pin, in Girlschool’s 1980 promotional video for their song Yeah, Right.
How Did Philthy Animal Taylor Break His Neck?
Taylor broke his neck shortly after recording Ace of Spades in 1980.
The injury happened during a test of strength, when he was lifted above a friend’s head and then dropped on his head.
He continued touring and recording in a neck brace, visible in the music video for Ace of Spades itself.
The injury left a calcium deposit on the back of his neck that he wore as a badge of honor for the rest of his career.
Why Did Philthy Animal Taylor Leave Motorhead in 1984?
Philthy Animal Taylor left Motorhead in 1984 after nearly a decade behind the kit.
The following year he appeared with the band Waysted and joined former Motorhead guitarist Brian Robertson in a short lived project called Operator.
In 1986 he toured as part of Scottish singer Frankie Miller’s backing band.
Taylor later admitted he always regretted the split, joking that he had simply taken a three year holiday.
Philthy Animal Taylor’s Return and Final Departure in 1992
Animal Taylor returned to Motorhead in 1987, drumming on Rock ‘n’ Roll, the live album Nö Sleep at All, and 1916 in 1991.
He also played on part of March or Die in 1992, appearing only on the track I Ain’t No Nice Guy.
After being warned three times over the previous two years to improve his performance, Taylor was fired from the band immediately after that session.
His final Motorhead recording closed out a second run that had lasted five years.
What Did Philthy Animal Taylor Do After Motorhead?
He stayed active in music for the rest of his life after leaving Motorhead for good.
Between 2005 and 2008 he played in The Web of Spider alongside guitarist Whitey Kirst, known for his work with Iggy Pop.
He also formed Little Villains with James Childs of the UK band Airbus, a project that produced two albums released after Taylor’s death, Philthy Lies in 2019 and Taylor Made in 2020.
Taylor drummed sporadically for Mick Farren and the Deviants and made a memorable one off appearance with American thrash band Overkill, a group named directly after his own former band’s song.
In 2007 he briefly worked on a project called Capricorn alongside former Danzig guitarist Todd Youth, former Monster Magnet guitarist Phil Caivano, and former Nashville Pussy bassist Corey Parks.
Around the same period he also collaborated with guitarist Chris Holmes, formerly of the heavy metal band W.A.S.P.
For the fan club tribute release Sheep in Wolves’ Clothing in 2008, Taylor rejoined Mick Farren to re-record the old Motorhead and Farren collaboration Lost Johnny.
💡 Did You Know?
In 2009, Philthy Animal Taylor joined American thrash metal band Overkill on stage at the Islington Academy to play a cover of the Motorhead song the band had named itself after.
Philthy Animal Taylor’s 2014 Reunion With Motorhead
Philthy Animal Taylor reunited briefly with Lemmy and Fast Eddie Clarke on 6 November 2014 at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham.
Unlike Clarke, who performed the song on guitar, Taylor came on stage during Ace of Spades mainly to wave to the crowd before leaving again.
The brief appearance still marked a rare moment with three quarters of Motorhead’s classic era together in one room.
It became one of Taylor’s last public appearances before his death the following year.
Philthy Animal Taylor’s Drumming Style and Legacy
Taylor drummed with a raw, propulsive style built for speed rather than technical flash.
His playing anchored some of the fastest and most influential tracks in early British heavy metal, helping inspire the double kick drumming later common across the genre.
Taylor also appeared on the 2004 DVD Classic Albums: Ace of Spades, discussing the making of the record and playing several of its tracks on camera.
His resilience became part of his legend, continuing to perform through a broken neck and, on another occasion, a broken hand taped to his drumstick with gaffer tape.
That second injury came after Taylor broke his hand punching a man outside his London flat, yet he refused to sit out the resulting tour dates.
Bandmates and fans alike came to see that willingness to play through pain as central to his reputation as one of rock’s toughest drummers.
How Did Philthy Animal Taylor Die?
Philthy Animal Taylor died on 12 November 2015 in London at age 61 after a period of illness.
Liver failure was cited as the cause of death.
Fast Eddie Clarke called him his dear friend and brother, remembering fond memories of the music they made together.
Lemmy told Classic Rock he was devastated, noting that Motorhead had now lost both Taylor and former guitarist Michael “Wurzel” Burston within a few years of each other.
People Also Ask
How long was Philthy Animal Taylor in Motorhead?
Philthy Animal Taylor drummed for Motorhead across two separate stints, from 1975 to 1984 and again from 1987 to 1992, appearing on eleven studio albums.
He was part of the band’s classic lineup alongside Lemmy Kilmister and Fast Eddie Clarke.
Why is he called Philthy Animal Taylor?
Philthy Animal was the stage nickname adopted by drummer Philip John Taylor throughout his career with Motorhead and beyond.
The name became so closely associated with him that it is used interchangeably with his given name in most band histories.
Did Philthy Animal Taylor really break his neck?
Yes, Philthy Animal Taylor broke his neck in 1980 shortly after recording Ace of Spades, during a test of strength that ended with him being dropped on his head.
He continued touring and recording in a neck brace, visible in the official Ace of Spades music video.
Why was Philthy Animal Taylor fired from Motorhead?
Philthy Animal Taylor was fired from Motorhead in 1992 after recording I Ain’t No Nice Guy, following repeated warnings about his performance over the previous two years.
It marked the end of his second and final stint with the band.
Watch Philthy Animal Taylor in Action and Shop Motorhead Albums
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Ace of Spades
1980
Recorded just before Taylor broke his neck.
Its music video shows him drumming in a neck brace.
Overkill
1979
Taylor’s double kick drumming helped define the title track.
A breakthrough record for the classic lineup.
1916
1991
Recorded during Taylor’s second stint with the band.
One of the last full albums he completed with Motorhead.
March or Die
1992
Taylor’s final Motorhead session before his firing.
He played on only one track, I Ain’t No Nice Guy.
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Ace of Spades Motorhead: Inside Rock’s Defining Anthem
The song Taylor was recording when the injury that led to his broken neck occurred.
Iron Fist Motorhead: Inside the 1982 Title Track
One of the last songs Taylor recorded during his original run with the band.
I Ain’t No Nice Guy: Motorhead’s Ozzy and Slash Collaboration
Taylor’s very last recording session with Motorhead before his 1992 firing.
Motorhead Debut Album: The Chaotic Birth of a Legend
The 1977 record that introduced Taylor’s drumming to the world.
Philthy Animal Taylor’s drumming helped push Motorhead into becoming a genuine heavy metal institution, a legacy that still shapes how the band is remembered today.
From surviving a broken neck to two separate tours of duty in the band, his story is one of the most colorful in the group’s history.
Read the full lineup history of the members of Motorhead to see how Philthy Animal Taylor’s era fits into the band’s larger story.
As of 2026, Philthy Animal Taylor remains one of the most beloved and instantly recognizable drummers in heavy metal history.
Last updated: July 25, 2026