Motörhead Set to Unveil Long-Lost 1976 Album ‘The Manticore Tapes’
Nearly five decades after their first studio session, Motörhead are set to unveil a long-lost 1976 album titled ‘The Manticore Tapes’. This collection features recordings from the band’s earliest days, showcasing the original ‘Three Amigos’ line-up—Lemmy Kilmister, ‘Fast’ Eddie Clarke, and Phil ‘Philthy Animal’ Taylor.
The album is scheduled for release on 27TH June and derives its name from Emerson, Lake & Palmer’s famed Manticore Studio in Fulham, where the material was first recorded. Long considered missing, the tapes were recently recovered and meticulously restored. The restoration process was led by Cameron Webb, a longtime collaborator of the band, at Maple Studios in California, with final mastering by Andrew Alekel at Bolskine House in Los Angeles.
Set to mark the group’s 50th anniversary, ‘The Manticore Tapes’ will include 11 previously unreleased tracks. These consist of alternative takes, instrumentals, and early versions of songs that would later appear on their 1977 self-titled debut and the 1979 album ‘On Parole’. The release will be available on both vinyl and CD formats.
Image Courtesy: uDiscover Music
In addition to the main release, a deluxe expanded book-pack will feature Blitzkrieg on Birmingham ’77, a live album capturing their performance at the legendary Barbarella’s venue in Birmingham. It also includes other previously unheard live recordings from that show.
In related news, a statue honouring the late Lemmy Kilmister is set to be constructed in his birthplace, Burslem, part of Stoke-on-Trent. The plan has been approved by the local city council. The sculpture will be created by Andy Edwards, the artist behind Liverpool’s well-known Beatles statue. Lemmy was born in Burslem and spent part of his childhood in Newcastle-under-Lyme before moving to Wales. He eventually went on to form Motörhead in 1975.
Meanwhile, Motörhead’s drummer Mikkey Dee recently opened up about a serious health scare. He revealed that he had a near-death experience after battling sepsis, joking that he was almost “playing drums with Lemmy in heaven.”
The upcoming release of ‘The Manticore Tapes’ not only revives a hidden chapter in Motörhead’s history but also serves as a fitting tribute to their enduring legacy in rock music.
—Silviya.Y
