Former Motorhead drummer Phil ‘Philthy Animal’ Taylor – who was a part of the band during their iconic 1975-1984 period and rejoined for a another spell between 1987 and 1992 – has died at the age of 61.
It was Taylor’s former bandmate ‘Fast’ Eddie Clarke who broke the news with a tribute to his friend who passed away on November 11th.
“My dear friend and brother passed away last night,” he wrote. “He had been ill for sometime 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.”
Taylor had joined Motorhead in time for the band’s earliest recordings and was present and correct for the classic single ‘Ace Of Spades‘ in 1980. He dubbed his three year break between 1984 and 1987 as a mere ‘holiday’.