Motorhead’s original guitarist Larry Wallis dead at 70

Larry Wallis: 1949 - 2019 (Image credit: David Corio/Redferns - Getty)

Original Motorhead guitarist Larry Wallis, who also played with bands including Pink Fairies, Blodwyn Pig and UFO, has died at the age of 70.

The news was confirmed on Motorhead’s official website

Wallis played on Motorhead’s On Parole album, which although released in 1979 as the band’s fourth album, was recorded in late 75/early 76 and launched on the back of the success of their first three records.

The guitarist co-wrote the track Vibrator, but left Motorhead in 1976.

Prior to his time with Lemmy, Wallis hooked up with Steve Peregrin Took’s Shagrat and later joined Blodwyn Pig with Jack Lancaster. Wallis also toured across Europe with UFO but left the band in 1972.

Wallis joined Pink Fairies that same year and played on their 1973 album Kings Of Oblivion and was part of the band’s reunion in 1987 and appeared on the Kill ‘Em And Eat ‘Em album.

He also played with Mick Farren and The Deviants and released a solo album Death In The Guitarfternoon in 2001.

Along with his playing, Wallis also served as a producer with New Wave and punk label Stiff Records and produced Wreckless Eric’s A Louder Silence in 1977.

No cause of death has been revealed.

Scott Munro
Louder e-commerce editor

Scott has spent 35 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in the summer of 2014 before moving to the e-commerce team in 2020. Scott keeps Louder’s buyer’s guides up to date, writes about the best deals for music fans, keeps on top of the latest tech releases and reviews headphones, speakers, earplugs and more. Over the last 10 years, Scott has written more than 11,000 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog. He's previously written for publications including IGN, the Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald newspapers, covering everything from daily news and weekly features, to tech reviews, video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, Marillion and Rush.