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Arts & Entertainment

Rainbow Bar & Grill To Host All-Day Memorial For Late Motörhead Frontman

RIP_Lemmy.jpg
Lemmy performs with Motörhead at Glastonbury in 2015. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images)

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The Sunset Strip's Rainbow Bar and Grill was a favorite spot of late Motörhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister, so it's only appropriate that they'll be hosting an all-day memorial this weekend.

Join us Saturday, January 9th as we say goodbye to a dear friend and loved one. We will open our doors at 2pm.

Posted by RAINBOW BAR AND GRILL on Saturday, January 2, 2016

On Saturday, the eatery will be opening their doors early at 2 p.m. and will hold memorial services for Lemmy until 2 a.m. "Come celebrate the life of Lemmy Kilmister," read their announcement. "Legends never die." A private service will take place from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Rainbow, and during that time the Roxy and Whisky will handle the overflow.

The rocker was frequently spotted at the Rainbow, and was usually seen at one of its arcade games. After his news of his death broke, the bar said in a tribute, "It's hard to believe that we will never again see your smiling face at the end of the bar. You've been a wonderful friend to us all. You will forever live on in our hearts. And hold court at the Rainbow Bar And Grill."

Lemmy now has a seat eternally reserved for him at the Rainbow:

According to Rolling Stone, Rainbow owner Mikael Maglieri had one of Lemmy's favorite games at the Rainbow brought to his home for him to enjoy in his last days. Lemmy had been diagnosed with cancer just two days after his 70th birthday, on December 24. He was told by doctors he as little as two months to live. "He took it better than all of us," said Motörhead manager Todd Singerman. "His only comment was, 'Oh, only two months, huh?'"

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In the days since his death on December 28, the Rainbow has become to site for makeshift memorials laid by fans.

There is also now a Change.org petition to have a statue erected at the Rainbow in honor of the late frontman.

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