Former Motörhead Drummer Mikkey Dee Reveals Near-Death Experience With Sepsis

Almost nine years to the day since Motörhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister passed away, the group’s longtime drummer Mikkey Dee has revealed he too almost passed away over the holiday season.

The drummer took to social media overnight to reveal he is on the road to recovery following a near-death brush with sepsis in Deceber.

“This holiday season, I have been hospitalized with a very serious blood infection (Sepsis),” Dee wrote on Facebook. “I was admitted for three weeks but now I am home fighting this bastard bacteria.

“Thankfully, I have received fantastic care at the Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg, my hometown. So thanks a million to all the Doctors and Nurses that have been giving me the most excellent care. After several operations, I am now back home and the numbers are all going in the right direction. Still lots of recovery and rehab in front of me.”

In an interview with Swedish outlet Aftonbladet (via Blabbermouth), Dee explained that he had initially sprained his foot, but following self-treatment, he began to deteriorate in the lead-up to Christmas.

"The ankle swelled up like hell, then it took on a weird shape and appearance and looked like an overcooked ham,” he explained. “I became very ill so I had to go by ambulance to Sahlgrenska and there they found that I had sky-high values, so I became priority one there.

"It was surgery right away, the first of three,” he continued. “They cut away what was dead and infected and badly infested. It was not a good journey I was on… Another day and I'd be playing drums with Lemmy in heaven. I can say that."

Launching his career with Danish heavy metal outfit King Diamond in the ‘80s, Dee rose to wider fame in the ‘90s as the drummer for Motörhead, replacing Phil ‘Philthy Animal’ Taylor from the group’s classic lineup.

Dee would ultimately appear on 13 studio albums, perform with the band until their 2015 dissolution following the death of Lemmy on December 28th of that year. In 2016, Dee would join German rockers the Scorpions as their drummer, a role he holds to this day.

Ironically, Dee took to Facebook early in November to refute false claims of his death, stating he is “very much alive and kicking, although angry as a MF”.

In his most recent update, Dee notes he’s looking forward to what 2025 has in store for him, once he’s able to get back behind the kit properly.

“Now I’m working a 100% to be back on the drum stool for the Residency that starts off in Las Vegas on February 27,” he concluded. “We have a tremendous 2025 to look forward to, celebrating 60 years of Scorpions and many exciting giggs around the world.

“So, the Stinger is out and I can’t wait to see you all out there on the road and rock the hell out of you! I wish everybody a fantastic 2025 with good health and lots of Rock n’ Roll!”