The 2016 Grammys did a decidedly un-Grammys thing when they paid tribute to late metal icon Lemmy Kilmister. According to the show’s producer Ken Ehrlich, we all have Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl to thank for the awards show’s extra dash of devil horns.
“I will confess I didn’t have a lot of Motorhead on my iPad,” Ehrlich said in an interview with Billboard. “The metalheads have Dave Grohl to thank for that, because when I asked Dave if he would introduce that [In Memoriam] segment, he said to me, ‘I’ll do it if you do something for Lemmy.'”
This is far from the first time that Grohl has gone above and beyond to honor Lemmy. He permanently memorialized the singer with an Ace of Spades tattoo on his arm earlier this year. He also performed “Ace of Spades” with members of Pantera and Slayer at a recent cancer benefit and eulogized Lemmy during his memorial service, sharing a story about the time that Lemmy put aside his alcohol and cigarettes unasked when he came across Grohl with his newborn daughter.
“To most people, that would seem like nothing, I suppose. But to me, that was my hero putting out his cigarette into his drink and putting it aside because my daughter was there in the room,” Grohl said. “I think what everybody has always known or at least learned today is that Lemmy was not only that kind of… whiskey-drinking rock and roll star, but he had the biggest heart and set such a great example because he was so kind to everyone.”
As for Ehrlich, he’s been providing behind-the-scenes looks into the Grammys ceremony all week. He previously landed in hot water for saying that Taylor Swift received an advance copy of the Kanye West song “Famous,” countering the narrative that Swift was caught off-guard by the track.
(Via Billboard)