No Remorse (Motörhead album)

Recording

After touring in support of their 1983 LP Another Perfect Day, guitarist Brian "Robbo" Robertson and drummer Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor left Motörhead and eventually decided to form the band 'Operator' together. It had been Taylor who had suggested Motörhead hire Robertson to complete the Iron Fist tour after "Fast" Eddie Clarke had abruptly quit. In the Motörhead documentary The Guts and the Glory Taylor explains:

"..I had a good talk to myself and thought, 'Well, maybe it's about time I move on,' you know. 'Cause I enjoyed playing with Robbo so much, maybe I'll get a band together with him, or something like that. I didn't really have a plan.."

In his memoir White Line Fever Lemmy reflects on Taylor's departure:

"..I hadn't been seeing much of Phil but I had been getting the impression that he wasn't really that keen any more. Although we didn't discuss his reasons for leaving the band, I think part of it was because he wanted to become a serious musician, or whatever it is people think heavy metal isn't which, if you ask me, is total bullshit...And our troubles with Brian Robertson aside, Philthy was one of the biggest Thin Lizzy fans in existence...There we were with auditions to do that day with two guitarists who had travelled from Cheltenham and Wales. Now I didn't have a drummer! But I have to admit, Phil was a gentleman about the whole thing...He did leave decently, unlike some of Motörhead's former members.."

Taylor informed Lemmy he was leaving shortly after Lemmy had decided to hire two new guitarists, the first being Phil Campbell, whose band Persian Risk had played shows with Motörhead, and Michael Burston, who had gained a reputation playing in Wiltshire clubs and pubs and received the nickname Würzel after the children's TV character Worzel Gummridge. Campbell suggested the band hire ex-Saxon drummer Pete Gill. Lemmy recalls that their trouble with Bronze started after Eddie Clarke left; the company did not like Brian Robertson, and without much faith in the new lineup, they preferred to do a compilation of the band's old songs. Lemmy said that was an indication that they were "readying the death knell" of the band and so he insisted the band record new material for it. Between 19–25 May 1984, the new lineup recorded six songs at Britannia Row Studios, London: "Snaggletooth", "Steal Your Face", "Locomotive", "Killed by Death" and two different versions (lyrics and music) of "Under the Knife". Four of these songs concluded each side of the vinyl release. The two versions of "Under the Knife" were released on 1 September 1984 as the B-side of the "Killed by Death" 12" vinyl pressing. "Killed By Death" became a mainstay in live performances since its release and, as with many Motörhead songs, the lyrics show Lemmy's skill at composing lyrics which can be, at the same time in some cases, menacing, tongue-in-cheek, political, satirical, advisory (especially about drugs) and prophetic. The band also made a video for the song which was banned by MTV. Lemmy took charge of selecting the tracks for the album and wrote a commentary about each song.

Release

In addition to the usual cardboard sleeve, the original LPs were also available in a leather-effect sleeve which had silver on black artwork, completely reworked by Joe Petagno in much finer detail than the original with various differences (such as an iron cross). There was a cassette version released in a leather pouch with wording mimicking the Government Health Warning often found on a cigarette packet, about the contents being potentially damaging to the health. They also did a television advert for the album, which featured a brief medley of several songs before Lemmy's voice was heard to declare, "No Remorse... go out and get it!"

The band promoted the album with their No Remorse – Death on the Road tour, conducted between 24 October – 7 November 1984. They also made a live appearance on 26 October on the ITV pop/rock music program The Tube, playing "Killed by Death," "Steal Your Face" and "Overkill." However, the program credits came up during "Steal Your Face," which faded out as the broadcast concluded. "Overkill" would eventually be broadcast some 20 years later, during a retrospective Best of the Tube TV series.

Motörhead would later record a song called No Remorse, which is on their Hammered album of 2002.

Reception

AllMusic review states:

"..There have been dozens and dozens of Motörhead compilations released over the decades, but the first one remains definitive, even if it's not perfect...No Remorse is to Motörhead what We Sold Our Soul for Rock 'n' Roll is to Black Sabbath – an age-old collection that every metalhead seemed to own at some point, the one that seemed to define the band for generations on end. No Remorse is one of those classic albums, no doubt.."

Track listing

All tracks written by Kilmister, Clarke, Taylor except where noted.

Personnel

Production

NOTE: No Remorse does not list where tracks A6, B12, C6, D12 and CD2 13 and 14 were recorded in 1984, on any version to date so far