On November 11, Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor, who played drums on Motörhead's iconic early catalog passed away at the age of 61.
It was guitarist "Fast" Eddie Clarke, who played in the same lineup with Taylor, who announced the news on Facebook. He claimed that the drummer had been suffering from an unspecified illness "for some time."
Clarke wrote on Facebook. "My dear friend and brother passed away last night. He had been ill for some time but that does not make it any easier when the time finally comes. I have known Phil since he was 21 and he was one hell of a character. Fortunately we made some fantastic music together and I have many many fond memories of our time together. Rest in Peace, Phil!"
Born in Hasland, England in 1954, Taylor joined Motörhead in 1975. Clarke was a foreman working on a houseboat, trying to fund his own music career when Taylor first met him. The drummer subsequently introduced Clarke to the founder of the heavy metal band Motörhead and their singer and Bassist, Kilmister as a replacement for guitarist Larry Wallis, who quit to rededicate his time to the Pink Fairies.
Since then, the drummer and guitarist remained friends.
It was in 1975, when bassist, singer, and songwriter Lemmy formed Motorhead, which became one of the defining British metal bands of the 1980s.
Taylor quit in February 1984, after the band recorded a version of Ace of Spades for the television series The Young Ones.
Three years later, he rejoined them and was present on all the band's major albums, including Overkill, Bomber, Ace of Spades, and live recording No Sleep 'til Hammersmith.
On November 2014, Taylor reunited with Kilmister and Clarke at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham, England on stage for Motörhead's classic "Ace of Spades" only to come on to wave to the crowd and leave.
“Lil’ Philthy…he who once shouted ‘stop wincing about’ on an album…he who fueled many a young boy’s punk/metal hairstyles…he who played the drums with fury and intent…he who liked to call people ‘wazzocks’ once in a while…friend, Roman, Derbyshireman…rest in peace,” a post on the band’s official Facebook read. “With much love.”
