Inevitably a nose or two will be turned up at the inclusion of a rock guitarist in the ranks of 100 Welsh Heroes. But to the world of contemporary music, and specifically the sub-genre known to its many fans as ‘heavy metal’, Phil Campbell is the perfect hero – a virtuoso of the lead guitar.

To the cognoscenti, Motorhead are the band that never fail to deliver the definitive metal experience- one based on a throbbing mixture of loudness, defiance and aggression.

They are also among rock’s great survivors. Motorhead’s early recording career saw them change record labels and musical styles as frequently as guitar strings. But they soon developed their own unmistakeable personality.

At the heart of the band, its founder and the person who most embodies its spirit, is bassist and lead singer Lemmy Kilmister. Originally with Hawkwind, he first found fame on their hit single ‘Silver Machine’ in 1972.

It was Lemmy who approached Phil in 1984 and asked him to step into the shoes of long-standing band member ‘Fast’ Eddie Clarke. Treforest-born Phil, who had previously played with Cardiff’s Persian Risk, has been a constant factor in the line-up ever since.

The demonic sound he generates onstage belies his unobtrusive manner and lifestyle off it. No strutting rock god, he is by nature both quiet and modest. Neither two decades of heavy metal fame nor the devotion of Motorhead’s worldwide army of fans have turned his head. His greatest pleasure is to return home to the family in Pontypridd after yet another barnstorming tour.

As one Finnish fan says of Phil "He"s the loudest Welshman I"ve ever heard and a great guy, too. I"ve met him a couple of times and he"s always polite and modest, even if he"s in one of the world"s only true rock"n"roll bands. The perfect gentleman, who represents Wales in an exquisite way!"