With Motörhead officially the "loudest band in the world", it's no surprise that Lemmy made a big noise when he addressed the Welsh Assembly last week. However, rock's most famously warted frontman has already, over the years, addressed social problems ("gambling's for fools"), contributed to the debate on euthanasia ("I don't want to live forever") and robustly challenged political correctness (Jailbait).

"Bomber!" shouts someone (it's a song, not a threat to national security). "Turn it up!" shouts someone else.

Motörhead still have bigger Marshall stacks than any other band, with microphones in front to make them even louder, which means that oldies like No Class and newies like Ramones sound like express trains hurtling off a cliff.

The uncharacteristically acoustic Whorehouse Blues (a sly comment on sleaze?) aside, they stick to a manifesto which Lemmy describes as "rock and fucking roll". Visually, the great man-beast's hair has suddenly acquired a dark Peter Mandelson tone. Perhaps an image spruce-up was required to address the tricky subject of birth control. "If you dance to this you will have trouble having children in later life," he says, offering one radical solution. Few politicians or musicians are this dry. Hilariously, Overkill goes on ... and on, and on. The drum solo is so interminable you suspect Lemmy and guitarist Phil Campbell have left drummer Mikkey Dee to it and gone off to the pub.

The duo return with fags in mouths declaring open opposition to smoking bans (not to mention the venue's own strict policy). Sensing a landslide among the sea of air guitars, Lemmy introduces Just Because You've Got the Power Doesn't Mean You've Got the Right. "This is for every fat bastard world leader and politician," he wheezes, probably permanently ruling out a new career in parliament.

· At Birmingham Academy tonight. Box office: 0870 771 2000. Then touring.