Phil Taylor, better known as Phil “Philthy Animal” Taylor, former drummer for heavy metal icons Motorhead, died on Wednesday, November 11, 2015. He was 61.
Word of Taylor’s passing comes from his former Motorhead bandmate “Fast” Eddie Clarke, who posted the news today to his official Facebook page, noting that his friend “had been ill for sometime.” There was no mention of the cause of death.
The British-born Taylor was drummer for the popular Motorhead line-up that consisted of Ian “Lemmy” Kilmister on bass and vocals, and Clarke on guitar, and appeared on the band’s most classic albums, Overkill (1979), Bomber (1979), Ace of Spades (1980), and Iron Fist (1982). He was with the group from 1975 till 1984, when he left, but then he returned in 1987 for the album Rock and Roll before leaving again in 1992.
Taylor and Clarke reunited with Lemmy onstage in 2014 at National Indoor Arena in Birmingham, England. While Clarke stayed to play “Ace Of Spades” with the current incarnation of Motorhead, Taylor simply waved to the crowd before taking his leave.
It’s said that Taylor’s double-bass drumming on the song “Overkill” is what influenced many of today’s metal drummers, including Metallica’s Lars Ulrich, and brought the rapid-fire drum style to the forefront in the 1980s thrash metal scene. When mega thrash metal giants Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax brought their Big 4 tour to New York’s Yankee Stadium in 2011, the band members joined together for an encore to play “Overkill.”
RIP Phil “Philthy Animal” Taylor
September 21, 1954 – November 11, 2015
Video
Moțrhead РAce Of Spades (Official Video)
Lemmy Kilmister – Vocal And Bass; Eddie Clarke – Guitar; Phil Taylor – Drums
Motorhead Phil ‘Philthy Animal’ Taylor
Phil plays drums.
Motorhead Ace Of Spades Birmingham 2014. FEATURING FAST EDDIE CLARKE AND PHILTHY ANIMAL TAYLOR
Motorhead perform the ever amazing Ace Of Spades, at Birmingham NIA 2014, features original members Fast Eddie Clarke and Philthy Animal Taylor on stage once again.
Metallica with Big 4 jam – Overkill (Live – New York, NY 2011) – MetOnTour
Metallica w/ members of Slayer, Megadeth, Anthrax, & Exodus.
[Source via Blabbermouth]
RIP. Liver failed has been mentioned as cause of death.
Comment by Ernie Scheel — November 24, 2015 @ 8:42 am