We recently caught up with Motorhead guitarist Philip Campbell to talk about his influences, the new album, and the band’s efforts.

Vintage Guitar: You’ve been a guitarist for Motorhead longer than anyone else.
Philip Campbell: Eighteen and a half years… I’ve been with Lemmy longer than any of ’em. It’s like a family!

Lemmy’s from North Wales, and Kim Simmonds is also Welsh.
He’s a great guitar player. Paul Chapman, from Lone Star, is also a Welshman.

Tell us about some of your pre-Motorhead bands and influences.
I started playing guitar when I was 10 years old, and at 13 I was playing semiprofessionally in a cabaret band all over South Wales. In ’79 I formed a band called Persian Risk, and after five years I left to join Motorhead.

What made me want to play guitar in the first place was Hendrix in the West, the live album; I loved the sound of it. In the early days, there was Black Sabbath, Jimmy Page, Michael Schenker in UFO, and Todd Rundgren – one of my sons is called Todd Rundgren Campbell. There were so many amazing players around. Jan Akkerman in a Dutch band called Focus was an incredible player.

Earlier guitars?
Just cheap copies. I bought my first Les Paul in ’73, but it was stolen. Then I had a natural (finish) Gibson Flying V. I wish I’d kept all of the guitars I’ve had over the years!

Now, I’m using a Lag Explorer-style, from a French company. I’ve also used PRS, Brian Moore Custom guitars, a Parker Fly. I just use what