Motörhead and its leader, Lemmy Kilmister, were created for just one purpose – to celebrate all that was good, nasty and vital about rock n’ roll. Some bands don’t make the same album twice. Motorhead, arguably, never made more than one kind of album.

But Kilmister meant it all. Of that I am sure. The results were often great. And Motorhead is one of the most beloved bands in rock music history.

These are the sure-fire hits, the 10 best songs in the Motorhead discography. You can safely play them in any rock bar. It’ll get you a free drink every time.

The 10 Greatest Songs by Motörhead

10. “The Game (Triple H)”

It wasn’t Motörhead’s doing that the band was embraced by biker gangs, wrestling aficionados, and tough guys everywhere. It was just the way that the music sounded and the way that the people who played looked.

My local town drunk still greets me with a fist in the air and the scream of “We are Motorhead and we play rock n’ roll!” Not sure why he does it. It never fails to impress me.

“The Game” became the calling card for 2002’s “Hammered” album. It was written by Jim Johnston as the entrance theme for wrestler Triple H. The song allowed Lemmy and the boys to perform live at several high-profile wrestling events and continue to grow the group’s reputation. Sweet deal!

9. “R.A.M.O.N.E.S.”

Lemmy Kilmister wrote great songs for other artists. But he also wrote a fantastic song about another band. “R.A.M.O.N.E.S.” is an ode to a group that like Motorhead, found its niche early, never changed it, and always sounded good doing it.

“R.A.M.O.N.E.S.” becomes more valuable with each passing year, I think. It’s amazing that this sucker punch of a track could contain the story of one of punk rock’s finest in just a few verses.My advice is to go and see your rock legends while you can and while they can perform to you.

8. “Born to Raise Hell”

It was a long way from the hippie days of Hawkwind, the 1960s psychedelic-rock band that had kicked Lemmy out. Turns out his former bandmates were right. Lemmy was no good. And he loved it that way.

“Born to Raise Hell” is one of the catchiest songs in the Motorhead catalogue. It was also an opportunity to fully embrace the rock spirit of the “Airheads” comedy, and to feature Ice-T and Ugly Kid Joe’s singer Whitfield Crane. I think this is one of the catchiest tracks in the whole band’s discography.

7. “God Was Never on Your Side”

Lemmy never liked to complain. But Lemmy never liked to lie or look down on his audience either.

“God Was Never on Your Side” has the once hard-living singer and bassist ruminating on life, mortality, and just the kind of guts it takes to get through and get things done. It makes me think of Lemmy giving it his all through power through his final performances with decades-old band. A great power ballad!

6. “Hellraiser”

Lemmy Kilmister was a tremendously smart, funny man. And his talents were often called upon by other artists. Lemmy wrote songs for Ozzy Osbourne often. And “Hellraiser” sees the former Black Sabbath extend the favour by letting Lemmy guest star on the “No More Tears” album.

Motorhead would later provide its own version of the song, one in which drummer Mikkey Dee made his debut with the group.

5. “Stone Dead Forever”

“Stone Dead Forever” is one of the finest tracks on the 1979 release “Bomber.” It’s one of the songs that helped establish the image of the Motorhead members as unrelenting rebels who nobody could ever bring on the straight and narrow.

It also helped inspire the title of the compilation titled “Stone Deaf Forever!” It’s a name that, I think, summarises Motorhead’s essence and mission.

4.”Orgasmatron”

Motorhead rarely tried to diversify, explore, or change its formula. But then again, neither did Chuck Berry, AC/DC or Ramones.

You got what you expected with Motorhead. And while “Orgasmatron,” presumably inspired by “Barbarella,” is exactly what you think it is, it’s also one of the band’s best late 1980s songs.

3.”Killed by Death”

Motorhead’s music is nearly as famous as the logo, the umlaut in the name or Lemmy’s warts. But the band planned it this way all along. There wasn’t supposed to be anything sweet about peak-era Motorhead.

The single “Killed by Death” is one of the most memorable Motorhead songs and a reminder of what was just so filthy and fun about the band.

2. “Overkill”

Motörhead’s methods were extreme. But the trio of Kilmister, Fast Eddie Clarke and Phil “Philty Animal” Taylor were also rock n’ roll purists.

If you add Taylor’s manic, larger-than-life double bass drum to a Chuck Berry song, you might get close to “Overkill.” There’s not a day goes by when I don’t dream of playing the bass drum like ol’ Phil.

It’s a mighty impressive rock track. And it’s no wonder that Metallica opted to cover this to impress Lemmy.

1. “Ace of Spades”

What else could it be? There are only a few bands that have one song that is more representative of the band’s style and intentions. “Ace of Spades” tells the story of Motorhead in less than three minutes and attempts to break your neck throughout the whole affair.

“Ace of Spades” is one of the greatest songs of all time, I believe, because it cannot be worn out. There’s an energy to it that could power New York City on Christmas. It’s Motörhead’s greatest song.