Motorhead legend Lemmy Kilmister’s ashes have a powerful new permanent home at a venue he loved deeply, continuing the late icon’s larger-than-life legacy in true rock ‘n’ roll fashion. A special portion of Lemmy’s remains, housed in a custom urn alongside his beloved fruit machine, is now on public display at O2 Apollo Manchester, a spot he played an astonishing 23 times with Motorhead.
The journey began at Download Festival on June 12, 2026, where Guns N’ Roses bassist and longtime friend Duff McKagan led a heartfelt “Lemmy Forever” ceremony. Fans gathered at Lemmy’s Lounge bar to pay respects, with the ashes enshrined next to the iconic slot machine for the entire weekend.
On June 16, a procession of bikers escorted the urn through Manchester streets to its new home at the O2 Apollo. A moving ceremony followed, featuring a speech from Skunk Anansie guitarist and Motorhead community member Ace. He shared: “He felt honoured” to have spent so much time with Lemmy, adding that the icon always had “great stories” and was “the most unique rock ‘n’ roller in the World.”
Motorhead manager Todd Singerman highlighted the venue’s significance: “O2 Apollo Manchester is a venue Lemmy always felt at home playing. It is a venue that embodied many of the things Lemmy valued—history, authenticity, great crowds, and a deep connection to working-class rock-and-roll culture.”
Alan Hungerford, who toured extensively with Lemmy and Motorhead, added: “This was our fifth Lemmy Forever event in the UK and there is no better home in Manchester for this historical moment and Lemmy’s ashes than O2 Apollo Manchester. The history here that the band have and the fact that Lemmy used to go for a pint during the drum solo at the pub behind the venue every night… feels incredibly fitting. Today’s been really successful and I know Lem would have loved it.”
The arrangement ensures the ashes will return to Donington Park’s Download Festival every June, creating an annual pilgrimage for fans while remaining at the Apollo year-round. This marks the latest in the ongoing “Lemmy Forever” tributes that celebrate the bassist, singer, and cultural force who passed in 2015 at age 70.
Lemmy’s connection to Manchester runs deep, with Motorhead’s extensive history at the venue underscoring why it was chosen as a fitting resting place. The display invites fans to pay respects to the man who embodied raw, unapologetic rock ‘n’ roll for decades.
