Rock n Roll Motorhead: The Title Track Critics Loved

Rock n Roll Motorhead is the title track and opening song on the band’s eighth studio album, released in August 1987.

Critics singled it out as one of the record’s only true highlights.

The song never became a single, but it remains a fan favorite from Motorhead’s late 1980s catalogue.

Here is the true story behind Rock n Roll Motorhead, its writing, its reception, and its lasting reputation.

What Is Rock n Roll Motorhead About?

The song is a self referential celebration of rock and roll itself, delivered with Motorhead’s usual speed and volume.

Lemmy Kilmister’s lyrics treat rock and roll as a way of life rather than just a music genre.

The track opens the album at full force, setting the tone for everything that follows.

It plays as a mission statement for a band that had already spent a decade defining the genre on its own terms.

Who Wrote Rock n Roll Motorhead?

Lemmy Kilmister, Wurzel, Phil Campbell, and Phil “Philthy Animal” Taylor wrote the song together as a full band composition.

Taylor had rejoined Motorhead on drums for this album, returning after Pete Gill’s stint behind the kit.

The band recorded the album with the same production team behind several of their late 1980s releases.

The finished track became the natural choice to open the record and give it its name.

What Album Is It From?

Rock n Roll is the title track of Motorhead’s eighth studio album, released in August 1987.

The album reached number 34 on the UK Albums Chart, the band’s lowest charting release inside the Top 40.

Despite the modest chart run, the title track and Eat the Rich became the record’s most enduring songs.

The album marked the middle point of Motorhead’s four piece, twin guitar era.

How Did Critics Receive Rock n Roll Motorhead?

Critics called the title track one of the album’s only true highlights, alongside its more famous single Eat the Rich.

Reviewers generally judged the rest of the record as inconsistent compared to Motorhead’s mid 1980s peak.

The title track’s speed and hook made it stand out clearly from the album’s more uneven material.

It remains the song most frequently cited when critics revisit the album decades later.

Its album mate Eat the Rich carried that same record’s satirical bite into its own single release.

Did Rock n Roll Motorhead Chart as a Single?

No, the song was never released as a standalone single in its own right.

It exists only as an album track, unlike its labelmate Eat the Rich, which did get its own single release.

The album itself reached number 34 on the UK Albums Chart following its 1987 release.

Fans mainly discovered the title track through the full album rather than radio or chart exposure.

How Does It Compare to Motorhead’s Earlier Anthems?

The song shares the same driving speed as the band’s classic era anthems from earlier in the decade.

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

It lacks the same chart success of the band’s biggest hits, but matches their intensity note for note.

Many longtime fans consider it an underrated entry in Motorhead’s run of self referential rock songs.

Why Do Fans Still Discuss Rock n Roll Motorhead?

Fans still discuss the song because it captures the band at full throttle despite the album’s mixed reception overall.

Live performances of the track from the late 1980s remain popular among collectors of vintage Motorhead bootlegs.

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

Nearly four decades on, Rock n Roll Motorhead still plays like a statement of purpose from a band that never slowed down.

People Also Ask

What is Rock n Roll by Motorhead about?

Rock n Roll is a self referential Motorhead song celebrating rock and roll as a way of life, serving as the title track and opening song on the band’s eighth studio album, released in August 1987.

Lemmy Kilmister, Wurzel, Phil Campbell, and Phil Taylor wrote it together as a full band composition.

Who wrote Rock n Roll?

Lemmy Kilmister, Wurzel, Phil Campbell, and Phil “Philthy Animal” Taylor wrote Rock n Roll together in 1987, with Taylor rejoining the band on drums for this album after Pete Gill’s earlier stint.

The song became the natural choice to open and title the finished record.

What album is Rock n Roll from?

Rock n Roll is the title track of Motorhead’s eighth studio album of the same name, released in August 1987 and reaching number 34 on the UK Albums Chart.

That chart position made it the band’s lowest charting release inside the UK Top 40.

Was Rock n Roll released as a single?

No, Rock n Roll was never released as a standalone single, unlike its album mate Eat the Rich, which did get its own single release in November 1987.

The song remains known only as an album track and live favorite rather than a chart hit.

Listen to Rock n Roll

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Last updated: July 14, 2026