Rock royalty turn out to farewell Motorhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister

A memorial service for Motorhead frontman Lemmy, was a star studded affair.

Rock's biggest names lined up to pay tribute to Motorhead frontman Lemmy at a star-studded Hollywood funeral.

Dave Grohl, Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash and Metallica members Lars Ulrich and Robert Trujillo, took turns to share their memorable experiences with the hellraiser, who died last month just days after he turned 70.

The memorial service, held at the Forest Lawn Memorial Cemetery in Los Angeles, was broadcast live on YouTube and watched by over 280,000 Motorhead fans around the world.

Former Nirvana drummer Grohl sobbed as he told how he wanted to give his friend a photo of Little Richard, signed by the rock 'n' roll pioneer, to him on his birthday but missed the chance.

"He was my hero, he's the one true rock 'n' roller," he said.

The British rocker, who was best known as the only continuous member of Motorhead and its lead singer and bass guitarist, had suffered failing health since August last year and was diagnosed with an extremely aggressive form of cancer on Boxing Day, just 48 hours before he died.

His son, Paul Inder, 48, led the eulogies and described his father's determination to keep performing despite his worsening condition and how he sought solace in his spirituality in his final days.

"He wasn't a religious man and praying for a miracle was something he would have viewed as a delusional act, but he was profoundly spiritual," he said.

Slash told the gathered mourners he felt "honoured" to have been good friends with the musician who had "more integrity in one finger than a whole roomful of rock 'n' rollers".

Ian Fraser "Lemmy" Kilmister was born in Burslem, Staffordshire in 1945 and joined Hawkwind in 1971, although he was fired four years later after a drugs arrest.

He went on to form Motorhead in 1975 and remained active as their frontman until his death.

His son said he had been "devastated" by the death of former bandmate Phil Taylor in November last year.

-AP