Calls for Lemmy and Slash Statues in Stoke-on-Trent Rejected

Proposals from eager rock fans to immortalise Motorhead mainman Lemmy and ex-Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash in statue form in an English city have been shot down in flames by local council members.

Both of the iconic rockers have links to Stoke-on-Trent and this connection had prompted calls by fans for the erection of honorary statues -- but as thisisstaffordshire.co.uk reports, councillors have rejected the idea.

Councillor -- and music promoter -- Matt Wilcox believed that the idea was "selfish" and that a more general celebration of the city's famed alumni, which includes Take That's Robbie Williams, would be more appropriate.

He said, "I think this idea is a complete waste of time and effort, and the petition was the wrong way for this to be brought to us. It's actually quite selfish to focus on these two specific artists and I think there should be a more diverse monument to the range of that this city has produced. If it was a bit broader then it could be a fantastic contribution to Hanley's Cultural Quarter."

As previously reported by Spinner, a petition in support of the Lemmy and Slash statues had gained hundreds of signatures, and the idea had been referred to the council's economic development overview and scrutiny committee.

The broader celebration of the city's famous sons mooted by councillors -- which could involve handprints at the Mitchell Memorial Theatre -- is set to be investigated by the council's cultural development officer.