After a near 20-year absence from Ireland before last year’s Vicar Street show, Lemmy and co were back in town to headline the X-tremefest in the RDS.

Although the bar seemed a bigger attraction to many than the lesser known bands on the bill, by the time Motörhead arrived on stage there was a healthy crowd ready to go. On strolled Lemmy, fag dangling from his mouth and with a brief introduction – “Good evening Dublin, we are Motörhead and we’re going to kick your ass” – it was straight into the title track from 2000’s We Are Motörhead album at deafening volume, followed instantly by two more classics – ‘No Class’ and the legendary ‘Bomber’.

With 17 studio albums under their collective belt they were never going to be short of favourites, and true to form they didn’t disappoint, even bringing back old favourite ‘Dr Rock’ after about 15 years! Also included was a tribute to Johnny and Dee Dee Ramone with the 11/2 minute punk blast of ‘R.A.M.O.N.E.S’.

Although Lemmy seemed at odds with the sound all night, at least when everything was cranked up a notch, he looked a little happier! Other highlights were the awesome ‘Orgasmatron’ before the main set ended with the double whammy of ‘Killed By Death’ and ‘Motörhead’. But we knew there was more to come. Sure enough a couple of minutes later the band reappeared and immediately launched into ‘Ace Of Spades’ which sent the crowd wild.

The gig ended with the excellent ‘Overkill’ and after the drumkit had been pounded into the stage and we had been promised a return date in the autumn, the band left the arena amid deafening feedback and the roars of a delighted if slightly punch drunk crowd.

Roll on the autumn!