Philip John Taylor Better known as one-third of the classic Motorhead lineup and affectionately known as Phil “Philthy Animal” Taylor was born on 21st September 1954.  he had two spells with the band, recording eleven studio albums and four live albums. before passing away on this day in 2015.

Northerner Taylor grew up in Leeds and joined Lemmy when the band were recording the ‘On Parole’ album and it was Taylor who introduced Fast Eddie to the line up shortly after. “Philthy Phil” also broke his neck after falling from or being dropped by a mate  who lifted him above his head in a show of strength that went wrong  but Taylor played in a neck brace but this was nothing new to the drummer as he also broke his hand punching a guy on the eve of a tour but just taped up his stick to his fist.  He first left Lemmy in 84 and had stints in Waysted with Pete Way and toured with Frankie Millar.  It wasn’t long before he returned to the fold in ’87  but it wasn’t to last as he was fired some five years later due to his lifestyle choices and as a result a lack of quality in his playing.

He did however make an appearance with Fast Eddie when Motorhead played Birmingham in 2014.  Taylor passed away on this day in 2015 after being ill.  Liver failure was recorded as cause of death he was only 61.  his bandmates paid tribute to their departed brother with Eddie saying,

“My dear friend and brother passed away last night. He had been ill for some time but that does not make it any easier when the time finally comes. I have known Phil since he was 21 and he was one hell of a character. Fortunately, we made some fantastic music together and I have many many fond memories of our time together. Rest in Peace, Phil!”

Lemmy commented,

“I’m feeling very sad at the moment, in fact devastated because one of my best friends died yesterday. I miss him already. His name was Phil Taylor, or Philthy Animal, and he was our drummer twice in our career. Now he’s died and it really pisses me off that they take somebody like him and leave George Bush alive. So muse on that. We’re still going, we’re still going strong, it’s just first Wurzel and now Philthy, it’s a shame man. I think this rock’n’roll business might be bad for the human life”.

Rest in peace Philthy.  What a force of nature the classic ‘Head were.