James Hetfield Creates A New Tattoo Using Lemmy Kilmister's Cremated Ash

James Hetfield (Instagram @metallica)

JAKARTA - Metallica frontman James Hetfield showed off a new tattoo on his middle finger. The tattoo is very meaningful, because the ink used is mixed with cremation ashes from the vocalist and bassist of Motorhead, Lemmy Kilmister.

"Black coins mixed with a bunch of ashes of his cremation that was so generous were given to me," said James Hetfield, citing a statement on Metallica's Instagram upload, Friday, April 19.

"So now he's still able to fly the bird around the world," he continued.

Hetfield also revealed how the figure of Lemmy Kilmister has been an inspiration in shaping Metallica's music.

"This tattoo, is a tribute to my friend and inspiration, Mr. Lemmy Kilmister. Without him, there would be no Metallica," he said.

For information, Lemmy Kilmister was born in Staffordshire, England on December 24, 1945. He formed a Motorhead with Larry Wallis (guitar) and Lucas Fox (drums) in 1975.

Although other personnel took turns going in and out, Kilmister remained loyal as frontman of Motorhead until his last breath. He died at the age of 70 on December 28, 2015.

With Motorhead, Lemmy Kilmister has released 23 studio albums and won the Grammy Awards in 2005.

His name and Motorhead were also nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2020.