Scott “Wino” Weinrich Reflects on His Complicated Love for Motörhead

First Impressions: The Power of Lemmy

In a recent interview with Veil Of Sound, renowned U.S. doom and heavy metal icon Scott “Wino” Weinrich, best known as the voice of The Obsessed, Saint Vitus, and Spirit Caravan, shared his complex relationship with Motörhead. Wino recounted how his first encounter with the band was not through their music but rather through the striking presence of their legendary frontman, Lemmy Kilmister.

Wino reminisced about discovering Motörhead while browsing records at a mall during his youth. He vividly described pulling out the album On Parole, captivated by the cover featuring Lemmy holding his bass, adorned with a Maltese cross. “I was like, ‘Wow, look at that motherfucker.’ I bought that record sight unseen just because of the way he looked,” Wino recalled.

Musical Connections and Disconnections

Despite his initial excitement, Wino admitted that the album did not resonate with him entirely, except for one notable track: “I didn’t like anything on the whole record except for that version of ‘Iron Horse’ / ‘Born To Lose’ — that slow, bluesy version of ‘Iron Horse’.” This highlights Wino’s preference for emotion-driven music over technical perfection, a quality he sees mirrored in his own work with Saint Vitus.

The Essence of Motörhead

Wino articulated that the essence of Motörhead was not rooted in musical precision but rather in raw emotion and attitude. He stated, “Motörhead is sort of like Saint Vitus. It’s more about a feeling. It’s a feeling. The music is there, it’s raw, it’s great. The early shit was great.”

Declining Interest: A Shift in Sound

However, Wino candidly acknowledged a decline in his enthusiasm for Motörhead’s later works. After the iconic live album No Sleep ‘Til Hammersmith, he revealed, “To be honest with you, I never bought anything after No Sleep ‘Til Hammersmith. After that it became too much of the same shit.” This marks a clear distinction between his admiration for the band’s early material and his disinterest in their later output.

Critique of Guitarists

Wino did not hold back when discussing Motörhead’s guitarists, particularly criticizing “Fast” Eddie Clarke’s style. “I wasn’t the biggest ‘Fast’ Eddie Clarke fan, really, of his style or his stuff at all. I think he was pretty limited,” he stated bluntly. Furthermore, his thoughts on Lemmy’s later songwriting were equally straightforward, expressing a distaste for tracks like “Hellraiser”: “I can’t listen to any of that ‘Hellraiser’ shit.”

Finding Gems in Later Works

Despite his criticisms, Wino did find a gem among Motörhead’s later tracks. He praised “Just ‘Cos You Got the Power,” noting, “The only song I like from the newer stuff after No Sleep — it’s not on Ace Of Spades — it’s ‘Just ‘Cos You Got the Power’. Two guitars, man.”

A Surprising Comparison

Wino concluded his reflections with an unexpected comparison between Motörhead’s later guitarists, Würzel and Phil Campbell. He opined, “Würzel — honestly, I think Würzel was a better guitar player than Phil Campbell. I spent some time with Phil Campbell personally, driving around, trying to score speed for him and shit, getting high with him. And he was really jealous of Würzel, man. That was funny.”

Conclusion

Scott “Wino” Weinrich’s reflections on Motörhead reveal a nuanced appreciation for the band that transcends mere fandom. While he acknowledges the powerful impact of their early music and Lemmy’s iconic presence, he is equally critical of their later works and guitarists. This candidness speaks to Wino’s deep connection to music as an emotional experience, one that resonates with raw authenticity rather than technical perfection.

FAQs

What was Wino’s first encounter with Motörhead?

Wino first encountered Motörhead while browsing records at a mall, where he was captivated by the cover of the album On Parole featuring Lemmy.

Which Motörhead song did Wino enjoy the most?

Wino expressed his appreciation for the slow, bluesy version of “Iron Horse” from the album On Parole and highlighted “Just ‘Cos You Got the Power” as a favorite from their later works.

What was Wino’s opinion on Motörhead’s later albums?

Wino admitted that he lost interest in Motörhead’s music after No Sleep ‘Til Hammersmith, feeling that their later material became repetitive.

How does Wino compare Motörhead and Saint Vitus?

Wino compares Motörhead to Saint Vitus, emphasizing that both bands prioritize raw emotion and feeling over technical perfection in their music.