Ace Of Spades by Motörhead

By Fast Heart Mart | Fast Heart's Song Obsessions | 6 Oct 2023

I'm a 46 year old full time musician who has been performing under the name Fast Heart Mart since 1999. I'm not rich and famous. I mean, I'm rich in experience, rich in friends, rich in a lot of ways, but not rich in gold. I'm not famous in the grand picture, but I'm famous in some places, I guess. The point is, I've been playing my music for 24 years and sometimes I need some kind of role model to show me that I'm on a viable path in life. I mean, I start to wonder sometimes "am I crazy for still doing this music thing?". Enter Lemmy Kilmister.

Lemmy Kilmister was a man who played in a band called Motörhead for 40 years! Lemmy was the only continuous member of that band. Do you know what kind of dedication it takes to be in one band for 40 years?!?!?

I admit, I'm not much of a heavy metal fan. I like hard rock such as Guns N Roses, but I've never really cared for heavy metal. Metallica is not something you'll catch me listening to, even though I appreciate what they do (one of the best live shows I've ever seen). However, whenever I hear the song "Ace Of Spades" by Motörhead, a part of my soul is lightened knowing that I am not alone or crazy for chasing what I love to do.

"If you like to gamble
I tell you, I'm your man
You win some, you lose some
It's all the same to me

You know I'm born to lose
And gambling's for fools
But that's the way I like it, baby
I don't wanna live forever
And don't forget the joker"

Those are great lyrics for someone like myself who decided a long time ago that I was going to bet my life against a system that I don't believe in. When I decided to make music my profession in 1999, I was telling the world that I'm NOT going to put my head down, fall in line and do what society tells me. I'm going to live life my way, wether I end up busted or the winner. I have one life to live and I'm going to make it count by spending it doing something I believe in.

I know Lemmy was probably an alcoholic or drug addict, but he was a functional addict AND he always seemed like a kind guy. He wasn't a nice guy, but he was a kind guy. Lemmy lived life his own way and for that he and the song "Ace Of Spades" will always be a source of inspiration for me to continue on my path for as long as I can. In the words of Lemmy "Born to Lose, Live to Win" and "You win some, you lose some
It's all the same to me". Thank you Lemmy for showing the world your attitude of fortitude.

Check out this great documentary about Lemmy Kilmister here: