LEMMY statue creator honored at U.K. awards ceremony
03-12-2025
Internationally renowned sculptor Andy Edwards, whose work includes the statue of MOTÖRHEAD founder and bassist/vocalist Lemmy Kilmister in Burslem, Stoke on Trent, England, was recognized at the Your Heroes Awards ceremony, which was organized at University Of Staffordshire in Staffordshire, United Kingdom.
Edwards was one of three winners of the Civic Pride Award at the ceremony, which was the culmination of a six-month campaign during which groups and individuals were nominated by people within their own community.
“It was unbelievable, I was totally taken by surprise, totally shocked. I didn’t know where to put myself really,” Edwards told BBC Radio Stoke.
“I’ve got to acknowledge the kindness of all the people who put me forward. It means an incredible amount to me.”
Following a black-tie dinner, 27 awards were handed out in categories including Hero Of The NHS, Child Of Courage, Carer Of The Year and Uniformed Hero.
An audience of more than 260 people heard stories of unconditional love, daily struggles, selflessness and determination.
The evening was hosted by the awards’ founder Martin Tideswell, director of commercial strategy at University of Staffordshire.
He said: “We are unashamedly local and proud as we celebrate the unsung heroes from across our communities. Young and old, individuals and groups, the courageous and the selfless. The very best of us.”
The unveiling of the Lemmy statue was held on May 9, 2025 during the “Lemmy Forever” ceremony in Burslem.
With MOTÖRHEAD guitarist Phil Campbell attending to place Lemmy‘s ashes in a magnificent statue created by Edwards, who is a huge MOTÖRHEAD fan, the day was filled with fun, friends, and some volume too.
The ceremony commenced in Burslem town center at approximately 4:00 p.m., with friends invited to come early and make a day of it by enjoying some pre-ceremonial MOTÖRHEAD beverages at the various site-adjacent hostelries including Old Post Office bar and Ale House, while the Market Place Café also had refreshments, including a special MOTÖRHEAD roast of the day.
Some of the ceremonial festivities included a biker’s corteo accompanying the ashes, various speakers, and a roaring 21-rev salute which hit the skies in ceremonial reverence. The statue itself captures Lemmy in all his live glory from the 1981 era, which saw MOTÖRHEAD headline the Heavy Metal Holocaust just down the road at Port Vale Stadium back on August 1, 1981.
MOTÖRHEAD fan Nobby, who was at the ceremony, told BBC Radio Stoke he had been following the band since he was 15 and described the unveiling as “absolutely awesome”.
“It’s unbelievable — it looks alive. Looking at it now, he really has captured Lemmy to a tee. It’s brilliant,” he said.
“It’s well worth the wait, well worth everything and I hope it brings people to Burslem to see it.”
Edwards, who had previously created sculptures of THE BEATLES, Bob Marley, Sir Alex Ferguson, Muhammed Ali and the BEE GEES, said: “Of all the figures in music, there aren’t that many that have the unique stature that Lemmy does. He’s like an avatar of the purest spirit of rock and roll — he’s one of us. I think it’s right that it the statue has been made locally.”
Lemmy, who was born in Burslem and later lived in nearby Newcastle-under-Lyme and Madeley, died on December 28, 2015 at the age of 70 shortly after learning he had been diagnosed with cancer.
MOTÖRHEAD had to cancel a number of shows in 2015 because of Lemmy‘s poor health, although the band did manage to complete a European tour a couple of weeks before his death.
In June 2020, it was announced that Lemmy would get the biopic treatment. The upcoming film, “Lemmy”, will be directed by Greg Olliver, who previously helmed the 2010 documentary of the same name, “Lemmy”.
Back in November 2016, Rainbow Bar & Grill dedicated its patio to Lemmy and re-named it “Lemmy’s Lounge.” It was a fitting gesture from the Rainbow, as when Lemmy wasn’t touring or recording, the majority of his waking hours were spent on said patio. There was already a life-size bronze statue immortalizing Lemmy at the Rainbow, which attracts fans from all over the world, and Lemmy’s Lounge allows hardcore fans and casual patrons alike to sample the wares and atmosphere that Lemmy loved so much.
To celebrate Lemmy’s Lounge, Roxy owner Nic Adler and Goldenvoice‘s Paul Tollett kindly agreed to allow the painting of a celebratory mural commemorating the life of Lemmy and MOTÖRHEAD on the side wall of the Roxy, opposite Lemmy’s Lounge and statue.
According to Visit West Hollywood, Lemmy loved the Rainbow so much that he moved to West Hollywood to be closer to it. In the last two decades of his life, he was a daily fixture at the Rainbow whenever the band was not on tour, and he was often seen playing the bar’s video poker machine.
Lemmy died on December 28, 2015 at the age of 70 shortly after learning he had been diagnosed with cancer.
MOTÖRHEAD had to cancel a number of shows in 2015 because of Lemmy‘s poor health, although the band did manage to complete the aforementioned European tour a couple of weeks before his death.
In June 2020, it was announced that Lemmy would get the biopic treatment. The upcoming film, “Lemmy”, will be directed by Greg Olliver, who previously helmed the 2010 documentary of the same name, “Lemmy”.
A custom-made urn containing Lemmy‘s ashes is on permanent display in a columbarium at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Hollywood, California.
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