"Bastards" is the eleventh studio album by British rock band Motörhead, released on October 11, 1993, via ZYX Music. This album marks the first full studio appearance of drummer Mikkey Dee, who had previously played as a guest on the band's prior album.
The album is significant as it features the short-lived lineup of Lemmy, Würzel, Zööm, and Mikkey Dee. It was the first of four Motörhead albums produced by Howard Benson and notably does not contain a title track. After the band's attempt to capitalize on the success of their previous album, 1916, with 1992's March ör Die, they returned to their roots with a louder and faster sound. The lyrical themes explored range from social criticism in "On Your Feet or on Your Knees," to war in "Death or Glory" and "I Am the Sword," as well as child abuse in "Don't Let Daddy Kiss Me," and the chaotic nature of life in "Burner." Lemmy has mentioned that he initially offered "Don't Let Daddy Kiss Me" to Joan Jett and Lita Ford, believing it would suit a female vocalist.
Despite being cited by the band as one of their best works, Bastards had limited release outside Germany until its 2001 reissue by Steamhammer. In the documentary The Guts and the Glory, guitarist Phil Campbell expresses pride in the album's hard work and production quality, while Lemmy, in his autobiography White Line Fever, reflects positively on the album but expresses disappointment over its lack of promotion by ZYX.
The song "Born to Raise Hell" was later re-recorded with Ice-T and Ugly Kid Joe's Whitfield Crane and featured in the film Airheads. The album cover, created by Joe Petagno, was initially designed for a different title, Devils. Petagno's frustration with the cover of March ör Die inspired a more compelling design for Bastards, which Lemmy ultimately chose for the album.
