Forming in 1975 in London, England, Motörhead is one of those bands that everyone, no matter what they self-proclaimed is their tastes in Rock-n-Roll, agrees to love. A rare instance where a band fits everywhere, and nowhere at the same time, Motörhead could be a Metal band or a Punk band, but honestly, it does not even matter. Aggressive, fast, and unique to everyone else, perhaps the most distinctive quality of all is how, without question, intensely loud Motörhead is.
A band that released a massive 22 studio albums between 1977’s self-titled and 2015’s Bad Magic, sadly, four months after their last release, the band’s heart, soul, and fire, Lemmy Kilmister, died at the age of 70. Passing just four day after his birthday, even more stunning is that Lemmy was gone within two days of his aggressive cancer diagnosis. A massive loss to the Rock-n-Roll world, Lemmy was legendary for his unmistakable style with his gravelly voice, mutton chops, outlaw style clothing, and an authenticity that was like no other. Wholly himself and unashamed, he was also known for his very live-in-the-moment lifestyle, where alcohol, cigarettes, and amphetamines were a part of everyday life. With all of this in mind, anyone who crossed paths with Lemmy remembers him for his genuine kindness and caring nature, which he showed to everyone with love and respect.
A personality that everyone enjoyed being around, the common consensus is that Lemmy made you feel like you mattered, no matter how big or small their role was. All rare character attributes for any human being, now a decade after his passing, many are celebrating the 50th anniversary of Motörhead and the life of Lemmy in 2025. A celebration which included half-speed mastered color vinyl editions of 1979’s Overkill, Bomber, and 1980’s Ace of Spades, there was also the erection of a 2.25-meter bronze statue of Lemmy at his birthplace of Burslem, the fifth official annual International Motörhead Day held in May, and a ‘lost’ studio album released called The Manticore Tapes which arrived in late June. All very cool ways to celebrate, there was also the arrival of a new graphic novel entitled NO REMÖRSE: The Illustrated True Stories of Lemmy Kilmister and Motörhead.
A project announced by Z2 Comics in March 2024, it brought together 25 contributors to share their personal encounters with Lemmy, maing for a perfect tribute to this truly unique individual. Featuring candid dialogue and colorful illustrations, it arrived for wide release across the USA on July 15, 2025 and has so much to enjoy. Available as a standard hardcover edition, there is also an oversized deluxe edition book with additional art prints, plus another deluxe edition which includes a limited white 2LP vinyl compilation called No Remorse. Beyond this, there is also a minimal pressing that consists of a framed original 2012-2013 Motörhead tour laminate (from Lemmy’s personal collection), as well as the All-Access Edition (limited to only five copies), which also includes a framed AAA Artist Pass from Lemmy Kilmister’s 70th birthday party at the legendary Whisky A Go-Go.
With most of the high-end editions already sold out, you can still find the two deluxe editions for sale, and both are very much worth the time and money. Considering this, the book itself is really quite enjoyable to read in its own right. Again, including 25 contributors, you have stories from Lars Ulrich (Metallica), Slash (Guns N’ Roses), Chrissie Hynde (The Pretenders), Dee Snider (Twisted Sister), Dave Navarro (Jane’s Addiction), Lita Ford, Wayne Kramer (MC5), and Lars Frederiksen (Rancid), Kim McAuliffe (Girlschool), Dave Grohl, Ozzy Osbourne, Phil Campbell, Mikkey Dee, and Slim Jim Phantom (all of Motörhead), plus pro-wrestlers Paul “Triple H” Levesque and Corey Graves, Penelope Spheeris (Wayne’s World director), Matt Pinfield (MTV), and Riki Rachtman (Headbangers Ball), along with others who worked and were close with Lemmy such as Todd Singerman, Mikael Maglieri Jr., and Sir Neil Warnock.
A plethora of different tales, each is illustrated with amusing storyboards that add a lot to each individual’s telling. Easy to read, it flows seamlessly as you wait with curiosity to see what the next person has to say about Lemmy. Also including a heartfelt foreword from Dave Grohl, perhaps the most beautiful writing is the afterward from the late Ozzy Osbourne, who professes an absolutely genuine affection for Lemmy.
Overall, Z2 Comics has managed to encapsulate a memorial for Lemmy in the form of a graphic novel that exceeds all expectations. That is why it is highly recommended to pick up the memorable NO REMÖRSE: The Illustrated True Stories of Lemmy Kilmister and Motörhead, which Cryptic Rock gives 5 out of 5 stars.
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