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'{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}} {{Use British English|date=August 2010}} {{Infobox song | name = Ace of Spades | cover = Ace of Spades (song).jpg | alt = | type = single | artist = [[Motörhead]] | album = [[Ace of Spades (album)|Ace of Spades]] | B-side = Dirty Love | released = 27 October 1980 | format = {{hlist|[[7-inch single]]|[[12-inch single]]}} | recorded = 4 August{{snd}}15 September 1980 | studio = Jackson's Studios, [[Rickmansworth]], England | venue = | genre = [[Speed metal]] | length = 2:48 | label = [[Bronze Records|Bronze]] | writer = {{hlist|[[Eddie Clarke (musician)|Eddie Clarke]]|[[Lemmy|Ian Kilmister]]|[[Phil Taylor (musician)|Phil Taylor]]}} | producer = [[Vic Maile]] | prev_title = [[Bomber (song)|Bomber]] | prev_year = 1979 | next_title = [[Motorhead (song)|Motorhead]] | next_year = 1981 | misc = {{Extra album cover | header = Alternative cover | type = Single | cover = AoS Christmas.jpg | border = | alt = | caption = Christmas picture sleeve edition }} }} "'''Ace of Spades'''" is a song by English [[heavy metal music|heavy metal]] band [[Motörhead]] and the title track to the album ''[[Ace of Spades (album)|Ace of Spades]]''. It was released as a single in October 1980. ==Overview== Initially issued as a 7" vinyl single on 27 October 1980 as a preview to the album ''[[Ace of Spades (album)|Ace of Spades]]'' and autumn tour, the song was also released by Bronze Records as a 12" vinyl pressing in special Christmas picture sleeves, limited to 50,000 copies. The picture of the band in Santa outfits used on the cover was taken at the [[Aylesbury]] Fair, while the band were on tour.<ref name="RC1">{{cite journal |quotes= |last=Burridge |first=Alan |authorlink=Alan Burridge (writer) |date=April 1991 |title=Motörhead |journal=[[Record Collector]] |issue=140 |pages=18–19 }}</ref> Bronze also issued German and Spanish 7" vinyl versions which had a different sleeves, as well as a Japanese release, with a colour picture insert with song lyrics in English and Japanese. One sided test pressings (not mis-presses, but used in the trade) escaped the pressing plant and are on the market.<ref>{{cite journal |quotes= |last=Burridge |first=Alan |authorlink=Alan Burridge (writer) |author2=Mick Stevenson |date=July 1993 |title=Motörhead |journal=[[Record Collector]] |issue=167 |pages=72 }}</ref> The song opens with an [[Distortion (music)|overdriven]] bass intro played by Lemmy. For the lyrics, he said he "used [[gambling]] metaphors, mostly [[Card game|cards]] and [[dice]]—when it comes to that sort of thing, I'm more into the [[slot machine|one-arm bandits]] actually, but you can't really sing about spinning fruit, and the wheels coming down".<ref>Kilmister, Lemmy & Garza, Janiss. ''White Line Fever''. Published: 2002, Simon & Schuster (Trade Division). {{ISBN|0-684-85868-1}}.</ref> On 6 September 1980, Lemmy was interviewed by Graham Neale on [[BBC Radio 1]]'s ''Rock on Saturday'' show, "[[Bomber (song)|Bomber]]", "Ace of Spades" and "Love Me Like a Reptile" were played. The following month, on 6 and 20 October, the band played the song on [[BBC]] TV show ''[[Top of the Pops]]''.<ref name="ICGM">Burridge, Alan. ''Illustrated Collector's Guide to Motörhead''. Published: 1995, Collector's Guide Publishing. {{ISBN|0-9695736-2-6}}.</ref> ==Commercial success== The song spent 13 weeks in the [[UK Singles Chart]], and originally peaked at number 15 upon its initial release. At the midweek point in January 2016 it reached No.&nbsp;9 and in the official Friday chart they reached number 13, following the death of frontman [[Lemmy]] in December 2015 and subsequent dissolution of the band. It has sold 208,830 digital copies as of January 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicweek.com/businessanalysis/read/official-charts-analysis-bieber-returns-to-singles-summit/063743|title=Official Charts Analysis: Bieber returns to singles summit|last=Jones|first=Alan|date=1 January 2016|work=[[Music Week]]|publisher=Intent Media|accessdate=1 January 2016|url-access=subscription }}</ref> It reached the top of the [[UK Rock & Metal Singles and Albums Charts]] on 9 January 2016. ==Critical reception== The song – which "put a choke on the British music charts and proved to all that a band could succeed without sacrificing its blunt power and speed"<ref>{{cite book |last=Christe |first=Ian |title=Sound of the Beast |publisher=Allison & Busby |isbn=0-7490-8351-4 |year=2004 }}</ref> – is considered the definitive Motörhead anthem,<ref>{{cite book |last=Konow |first=David |title=Bang Your Head |publisher=Three Rivers Press, c2002|isbn=0-609-80732-3 |year=2002 |page=226 has "Motorhead's signature song, Ace of Spades" }}</ref> albeit not by Lemmy. "I don't see the song that way at all," he said in 2000. "I believe we've done our best work since Eddie left the band in 1982."<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Classic riffs|magazine=[[Classic Rock (magazine)|Classic Rock]] #28|date=June 2001|p=7}}</ref> In March 2005, [[Q magazine|''Q'']] placed it at No.&nbsp;27 in a list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks, stating, "This song has an intro which wouldn't be out of place ushering in the end of the world." In 2009, it was named the tenth greatest hard rock song of all time by [[VH1]].<ref>{{cite web|title=spreadit.org music |url=http://music.spreadit.org/vh1-top-100-hard-rock-songs/ |accessdate=7 February 2009 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212180319/http://music.spreadit.org/vh1-top-100-hard-rock-songs/ |archivedate=12 February 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2014, ''[[NME]]'' ranked it number 155 in a list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/nme_500_greatest_songs_2014.htm|title=Rocklist.net....NME The 500 Greatest Songs Of All Time.. 2014}}</ref> In May 2019, "Ace of Spades" was named the favorite poker-themed song in a survey of 1,000 customers of online poker site [[PokerStars]]. The song reportedly "not only won, but crushed" the other finalist, "[[Poker Face (Lady Gaga song)|Poker Face]]" by [[Lady Gaga]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Aswad |first1=Jem |title=Motorhead’s 'Ace of Spades' Named Greatest Gambling Song of All Time |url=https://variety.com/2019/music/news/motorhead-ace-of-spades-greatest-gambling-song-of-all-time-pokerstars-1203227094/ |website=Variety |accessdate=4 June 2019 |language=en |date=28 May 2019}}</ref> ==Track listing== # "Ace of Spades" ([[Lemmy|Ian Kilmister]], [[Eddie Clarke (musician)|Eddie Clarke]], [[Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor|Phil Taylor]]) – 2:49 # "Dirty Love" (Kilmister, Clarke, Taylor) – 2:57 == Personnel == * [[Lemmy]]{{snd}}bass, lead vocals * [[Eddie Clarke (musician)|"Fast" Eddie Clarke]]{{snd}}lead guitar * [[Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor]]{{snd}}drums == Certifications == {{Certification Table Top}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Motorhead|title=Ace of Spades|award=Gold|relyear=2005|certyear=2019|accessdate=23 August 2019}} {{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}} ==Live version== {{Infobox song | name = Ace of Spades (live) | cover = AoS live.jpg | alt = | type = single | artist = [[Motörhead]] | album = [[No Sleep at All]] | B-side = {{hlist|"Dogs"|"Traitor"}} | released = 1988 | format = [[7-inch single]] | recorded = 2 July 1988 | studio = | venue = Hämeenlinna "Giants of Rock" Festival, Finland | genre = | length = 2:51 | label = [[GWR Records|GWR]] | writer = {{hlist|[[Eddie Clarke (musician)|Eddie Clarke]]|[[Lemmy]]|[[Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor|Phil Taylor]]}} | producer = {{hlist|[[Motörhead]]|Guy Bidmead}} | prev_title = [[Eat the Rich (Motörhead song)|Eat the Rich]] | prev_year = 1987 | next_title = [[The One to Sing the Blues]] | next_year = 1990 }} "'''Ace of Spades (live)'''" is a 1988 7-inch vinyl release of the song by Motörhead. The single has no picture sleeve; it was issued (and withdrawn) in a plain white paper cover. All three songs on the single appeared on the band's ''[[No Sleep at All]]'' live album, which was recorded at the Giants of Rock Festival in [[Hämeenlinna]], Finland on 2 July 1988. The band had wanted "Traitor" as the A-side, but "Ace of Spades" was chosen instead, when the band noticed the change, they refused to allow the single to be distributed to the shops. So despite the popularity the song had achieved, this single was not as successful as the original version, which reached No. 15 in the [[UK Singles Chart]] in 1980, as it became only available at gigs and through the Motörheadbangers fan club.<ref>{{cite journal |quotes= |last=Burridge |first=Alan |authorlink=Alan Burridge (writer) |author2=Mick Stevenson |date=July 1993 |title=Motörhead |journal=[[Record Collector]] |issue=167 |pages=72–73 }}</ref> The song became a staple of the band's live set, with Lemmy acknowledging that despite becoming "sick" of performing it, they "can't ditch Ace of Spades, it wouldn't be right. If I go to see [[Little Richard]], I expect to hear ''[[Good Golly Miss Molly]]'', or I'd be pissed off".<ref>{{cite book |last=Shaw |first=Harry |title=Lemmy... In his own words |publisher=Omnibus Press (c) 2002|isbn=0-7119-9109-X |year=2002 |page= 39}}</ref> However, Lemmy softened his view on performing Ace of Spades live later on, saying "I used to have that thought occasionally, but I killed it. "Ace of Spades" has been really good to us, and it's one of the best songs that I ever wrote. So I suppose you have to put up with it, because everybody wants to hear it, every night."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Nicholson |first1=Rob |title=Lemmy : Double Down |url=https://www.bassplayer.com/artists/lemmy-double-down |website=Bassplayer.com |publisher=Bass Player |accessdate=21 September 2018}}</ref> Live versions have appeared on the albums ''[[No Sleep 'til Hammersmith]]'' (1981), ''[[Nö Sleep at All]]'' (1988), ''[[Everything Louder than Everyone Else]]'' (1999), ''[[Live at Brixton Academy (Motörhead album)|Live at Brixton Academy]]'' (2003), ''[[Better Motörhead than Dead: Live at Hammersmith]]'' (2007), ''[[The Wörld Is Ours - Vol. 1: Everywhere Further Than Everyplace Else]]'' (2011), ''[[The Wörld Is Ours - Vol. 2: Anyplace Crazy as Anywhere Else]]'' (2012), and ''[[Clean Your Clock]]'' (2016). It was the first song that [[Phil Campbell (musician)|Phil Campbell]] and [[Würzel]] played with the band – on the "[[Bambi (Young Ones episode)|Bambi]]" episode of ''[[The Young Ones (TV series)|The Young Ones]]''. The lineup is particularly rare until 1987: Lemmy, Campbell, Würzel and Taylor. Taylor had already left the band by the time the filming started, but kept to his promise of making the performance.<ref name="ICGM" /> In September 1993, WGAF Records re-released the original 1980s track on CD-single, cassette single, 12" vinyl picture sleeve and picture disc versions, the song was coupled with "[[Louie Louie#Motörhead version|Louie Louie]]", "Dirty Love", and "Ace of Spades (The CCN Remix)", and although the band were not too pleased with the CCN Remix version, this single peaked at No. 23 in the UK chart.<ref name="ICGM" /> ===Single track listing=== # "Ace of Spades" ([[Lemmy]], [[Eddie Clarke (musician)|Eddie Clarke]], [[Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor|Phil Taylor]]) # "Dogs" (Lemmy, [[Würzel]], [[Phil Campbell (musician)|Phil Campbell]], Taylor) # "Traitor" (Lemmy, Würzel, Campbell, Taylor) ==Cover versions== {{cleanup|section|reason=covers may not meet [[WP:SONGCOVER]]|date=October 2018}} * [[New Zealand]] alternative rock band [[Shihad]] paid tribute to Lemmy's death by covering the song at the Rhythm and Alps festival in 2015. *British metal band [[Bullet for My Valentine]] covered the song for a special edition of their album ''[[Venom (Bullet For My Valentine album)|Venom]]''. *Ten American band [[Widespread Panic]] covered the song, most recently at a 2017 Halloween run of shows in Las Vegas, Nevada. * "Ace of Spades" was covered by [[Kobra and the Lotus]],<ref>{{YouTube |id=toAJXPBjxM0 |title="Ace of Spades" - Kobra and the Lotus, 6 July 2013}}</ref> featuring guest guitarist [[Rik Emmett]]. Producer Greg Godovitz ([[Goddo]]) recommended it to be included in their first album ''[[Out of the Pit]]'' because he heard [[Kobra Paige]] do a live version and Motörhead was a big influence for the band. * American [[Bluegrass music|Bluegrass]] band [[Hayseed Dixie]] covered the song on their 2004 album ''[[Let There Be Rockgrass]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.discogs.com/Hayseed-Dixie-Let-There-Be-Rockgrass/release/983420|title = Hayseed Dixie - Let There Be Rockgrass|publisher = Discogs|accessdate = 9 May 2019}}</ref> * [[Spirits Burning]] & [[Bridget Wishart]] covered "Ace of Spades" on the 2008 Motorhead tribute album ''Sheep in Wolves Clothing'', which was put together by Motorhead biographer Alan Burridge.<ref>https://www.allmusic.com/album/sheep-in-wolves-clothing-mw0001678925</ref> *American metal band [[Body Count (band)|Body Count]] covered the song as a tribute to Lemmy on their album ''[[Carnivore (Body Count album)|Carnivore]]''. == In media == * In 1993, the song was used in an advert for [[Pot Noodle]] starring [[Phil Hartman]]. The advert was later banned as it caused people with epilepsy to have seizures.<ref>youtu.be/b5T62ZxWajc</ref> * The song was used for the intro and soundtrack of the video game ''[[Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3]]''. * A 2008 re-recording of Ace of Spades is playable in the [[music]] [[rhythm games]] ''[[Rock Band 2]]'', ''[[Rock Band Unplugged]]'' and ''[[Guitar Hero: Metallica]]''.{{citation needed|date=February 2018}} * It was featured in the 22 May 2018 episode of [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] [[soap opera]] ''[[Emmerdale]]'', when [[Jacob Gallagher]], [[Gabby Thomas]] and [[Leanna Cavanagh]] steal [[Ross Barton]]'s car to get to school. * The 2008 re-recorded version was featured in the intro cutscene for the ''[[Call of Duty: Black Ops III|Call of Duty: Black Ops III Zombies]]'' map, Gorod Krovi, and can be played in-game via a hidden easter egg. * It was used in the 2007 film ''[[Shoot 'Em Up (film)|Shoot 'Em Up]]''. * It was used in the "Bambi" episode of ''The Young Ones'' comedy programme in the UK and features Phil Taylor on drums with the new 1984 line up. * It was used as the closing song played at the end of ''[[Dick & Dom in da Bungalow]]'' after a game of "Creamy Muck Muck", when there would be a "Muck Muck" fight taking place. * It was used in the film ''[[Grosse Pointe Blank]]'' during the Ultimart shooting scene. * It was used in the film ''[[Smokin' Aces]]'' during the Tremor brothers introduction scene. * In 2010 the band recorded an acoustic version of the song, called the "slow version", for an advert for Kronenbourg 1664. <ref>https://vraimentcool.wordpress.com/2010/10/28/ace-of-spades-slow-version-by-lemmy/#:~:text=Ace%20of%20Spades%20%28Slow%20Version%29%20by%20Lemmy%20Posted,french%20bar%20for%20the%20new%20Kronenbourg%201664%20commercial.</ref> ==See also== *[[Ace of spades]] *[[Dead man's hand]] ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== * [https://archive.org/details/Motorhead_Ace_Of_Spades__ Official Video Clip of "Ace of Spades" from 1980] - available under the open "[[Internet Archive]] " at "[[archive.org]]" using format of ([[JW Player]]) ([[Flashplayer]]) * [http://www.bbc.co.uk/totp/artists/m/motorhead/clips/ace_of_spades.shtml Video clip of 6 November 1980 Top of the Pops broadcast of the song] ([[RealPlayer]] required). {{Motörhead}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Ace of Spades (Song)}} [[Category:Motörhead songs]] [[Category:1980 singles]] [[Category:1988 singles]] [[Category:Songs written by Eddie Clarke (musician)]] [[Category:Songs written by Lemmy]] [[Category:Songs written by Phil Taylor (musician)]] [[Category:Song recordings produced by Vic Maile]] [[Category:1980 songs]] [[Category:Live singles]]'