Phil Campbell

Biography

Philip Anthony Campbell (7 May 1961 – 13 March 2026) was a Welsh rock musician, best known as the guitarist in Motörhead from 1984 until its disbandment in 2015 upon the death of founder and frontman Lemmy. He also toured with his own band Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons, featuring his three sons.

Early life and career

Philip Anthony Campbell was born in Pontypridd on 7 May 1961, and started playing guitar when he was 10-years-old, inspired and influenced by guitarists such as Jimi Hendrix, Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi, Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page, Jan Akkerman, Michael Schenker and Todd Rundgren. At the age of 12, Campbell met Lemmy after a Hawkwind gig and asked him for an autograph. By the age of 14, Campbell was playing semi-professionally with a cabaret band called Contrast. He later played with a pub-rock band called Roktopus (not to be confused with Rocktopus) at gigs in and around South Wales. He bought his first Les Paul in 1978 at a New Year's Day guitar sale at a shop on Ealing Broadway, London. The guitar was later stolen but returned.
In 1979, Campbell formed the heavy metal band, Persian Risk, playing on their 7" singles, "Calling For You" (1981) and "Ridin' High" (1983). Compilation albums have been issued which feature some of his work with Persian Risk.

Motörhead

On 8 February 1984, following the departure of Brian Robertson, Motörhead held auditions for a new guitarist, narrowing the candidates down to two guitarists: Michael "Würzel" Burston and Philip Campbell. Though Lemmy had first planned on hiring only one guitarist, he hired both Würzel and Campbell upon hearing them play together.
On 14 February 1984, Motörhead were the musical guest for The Young Ones episode "Bambi". One of the band's most popular compilations, No Remorse, followed shortly, it was released on 15 September. Campbell subsequently toured the world with the band and remained a constant member of Motörhead until they disbanded.
On 28 December 2015, band founder and sole constant member Lemmy died. The following day, drummer Mikkey Dee announced that Motörhead had disbanded, stating: "We will not be doing any more tours or anything. And there will not be any more records. But the fire survives, and Lemmy lives on in the hearts of everyone."
In April 2020, Campbell opened up about how hard it was to see Lemmy struggle towards the end of his life saying that Lemmy “wasn’t quite himself” and that he had been “ageing a little bit more” on Motörhead’s final tour. He also admitted that the end of Motörhead was not easy to adjust to at first.

Debut solo studio album

In February 2016, Campbell entered the studio along with former Slipknot percussionist Chris Fehn to record a new solo album.
Campbell's debut solo studio album Old Lions Still Roar×Old Lions Still Roar25 October 2019 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Rocking Chair4:262Straight Up4:303Faith in Fire3:554Swing It3:535Left for Dead5:256Walk the Talk3:597These Old Boots5:078Dancing Dogs (Love Survives)3:289Dead Roses4:0210Tears From a Glass Eye2:42 was released on 25 October 2019 and features guest vocals from Alice Cooper, Rob Halford, Dee Snider and Benji Webbe.

Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons

The second Motorhead's Motorboat was a themed five-day cruise from Miami to the Bahamas and featured Phil Campbell's All Starr Band - one of the many support acts to headliners Motorhead, Anthrax and Slayer - who became Phil Campbell And The Bastard Sons.
In November 2016, his new project Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons released their first recording, a self-titled EP. The band subsequently performed in supporting slots with Guns N' Roses, Hawkwind, Saxon, and Airbourne.
In August 2017, Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons announced that they were to start recording their debut album. On 26 October 2017, Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons announced the title of the debut album as The Age of Absurdity, which was released on 26 January 2018 on Nuclear Blast Records. The album was produced by Romesh Dodangoda.
The band's line-up for the inaugural album featured Phil and his three sons, together with former Attack! Attack! vocalist from South Wales Neil Starr. Neil was replaced with vocalist Joel Peters in late 2021.

Phil Campbell – guitar
Todd Campbell – guitar/harmonica
Dane Campbell – drums
Tyla Campbell – bass
Joel Peters – vocals
Romesh Dodangoda – percussion and keyboards on 'Into the Dark'
Dave Brock – guitar and vocals on 'Silver Machine'
Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons released a cover of Hawkwind's "Silver Machine" on 21 April 2018 for Record Store Day. The track was previously available as a bonus track on some CD versions of The Age of Absurdity.
The second, We're the Bastards, was released in 2020 again featuring Neil Starr on vocals.
The third, a live album called Live in the North, featuring Joel Peters on vocals, was recorded in Sunderland in 2021 and released in March 2023.
The fourth, Kings of the Asylum, was released on 1 September 2023, supported by three videos in the buildup featuring the tracks "Schizophrenia", "Hammer and Dance" and "Strike the Match", recorded at a special invite-only event in Cardiff.

Family

Campbell resided in Pontypridd with his wife, Gaynor, and their children.

Death

Campbell died suddenly of complications from surgery on 13 March 2026, at the age of 64. His death was announced one day later on a social media post made by the band. He was laid to rest in Wales on 13 May 2026.