Motörhead release “Leavin’ Here“, the second single and its accompanying music video from the forthcoming album, The Manticore Tapes, which is set for release on 27th of June. The music video for “Leavin’ Here” is an explosively raucous mixed media visual combining unique model characters and set pieces with archive footage of the band. Originally recorded in 1976, The Manticore Tapes features previously unheard recordings from Motörhead’s classic ‘Three Amigos’ line-up.
In 1976 the seminal line-up of Motörhead was solidified a year after the band’s initial inception. Known as the ‘Three Amigos’ era of Motörhead, Lemmy (bass/vocals), Fast Eddie Clarke (guitar) and Phil ‘Philthy Animal’ Taylor (drums) joined forces and began their extraordinary journey to the top of the hard rock elite.
In August 1976 the band set up at Emerson, Lake & Palmer’s legendary Manticore Studio in Fulham to rehearse and showcase the new lineup. While they were there they recorded together for the very first time and now, forty nine years later, this long lost tape has surfaced, been dusted off and restored in all its raw glory, to celebrate the seminal hard rock bands 50th anniversary.
The release of The Manticore Tapes arrives at a poignant time, not only marking five decades since the band’s beginnings but also nearly ten years since the passing of Lemmy, whose larger-than-life persona and unwavering dedication to rock ‘n’ roll have cemented his status as an ultimate icon. This early recording provides a vital new element to Motörhead‘s documented history, especially from a period when their future was far from certain and their struggles were immense.
The 1976 Manticore session was facilitated by Frank Kennington, a former roadie for The Who who briefly managed the then-struggling Motörhead. Kennington booked the band into the Manticore complex, which was housed in a converted ABC cinema and served as prog supergroup Emerson, Lake & Palmer’s headquarters. The recordings were made on Ronnie Lane’s mobile studio, expertly operated by Ron Faucus, who successfully captured the raw essence of the band.
These aging tapes have been carefully restored by longtime Motörhead collaborator Cameron Webb at Maple Studios in California and mastered by Andrew Alekel at Bolskine House in Los Angeles. The result is a significant historical document, bringing a crucial piece of Motörhead’s evolution to public ears for the very first time.
The Manticore Tapes will be available in various formats, including a deluxe expanded bookpack containing a double LP and 7” single, a single LP, CD, and digital release.
The Manticore Tapes track listing:
- “Intro” (Instrumental)
- “Leavin’ Here”
- “V*brator”
- “Help Keep Us on the Road”
- “The Watcher”
- “Motörhead”
- “Witch Doctor” (Instrumental)
- “Iron Horse / Born to Lose” (Instrumental)
- “Leavin’ Here” (Alternate Take)
- “V*brator” (Alternate Take)
- “The Watcher” (Alternate Take)
