Ace Of Spades And Iron Fist (1980–1982)

During August and September 1980, the band were at Jackson's Studios in Rickmansworth, recording with producer Vic Maile. The "Ace of Spades" single was released on 27 October 1980 as a preview of the Ace of Spades album, which followed on 8 November. The single reached #15 and the album reached #4 on the UK charts. Bronze celebrated its gold record status by pressing a limited edition of the album in gold vinyl. Motörhead made two appearances on Top of the Pops in October that year with "Ace of Spades", and between 22 October and 29 November the band were on their 'Ace Up Your Sleeve' UK tour with support from Girlschool and Vardis, and also made an appearance as guests on the ITV children's show Tiswas on 8 November. The 'Arizona desert-style' pictures used on the album "Ace of Spades", considered to be the definitive Motörhead anthem, "put a choke on the English music charts and proved to all that a band could succeed without sacrificing its blunt power and speed". The album has been described as "one of the best metal albums by any band, ever".

To coincicide with the Ace of Spades release, Big Beat, who had inherited the Chiswick catalogue, put together four unused tracks from the Escape Studios sessions in 1977 and released them as Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers, which reached #43 on the UK Singles Chart in November.

The band had more chart hits in 1981 with the releases St. Valentine's Day Massacre EP, their collaboration with Girlschool which reached #5 on the UK Singles Chart in February; the live version of "Motorhead", which reached #6 on the UK Singles Chart in July; and the album it was taken from, No Sleep 'til Hammersmith, which reached #1 on the UK Albums Chart in June. During March 1981, the band had been touring Europe, and in the final week of the month they conducted the 'Short Sharp, Pain In The Neck' UK tour from which the recordings for No Sleep 'til Hammersmith were made.

From April through to July, the band toured North America for the first time as guests of Blizzard of Ozz, an early incarnation of Ozzy Osbourne's band, but were still able to make an appearance on Top of the Pops on 9 July to promote the live "Motorhead" single. In October the band recorded tracks at BBC's Maida Vale 4 studio for the David Jensen show broadcast on 6 October. The band commenced a European tour on 20 November, supported by Tank, followed by Clarke producing Tank's debut album Filth Hounds of Hades at Ramport Studios in December and January.

Between 26 and 28 January 1982, the band started recording their self-produced new album at Ramport Studios, before moving onto Morgan Studios to continue the sessions throughout February. On 3 April the single "Iron Fist" was released, reaching #29 on the UK Singles Chart, followed by the parent album Iron Fist, released on 17 April and peaking at #6 on the UK Albums Chart. They were the last releases to feature the Lemmy, Clarke, Taylor line-up, though the line-up continued to perform in the Iron Fist UK tour between 17 March and 12 April, and the band's first headling North America tour from 12 May until Clarke's last gig at the New York Palladium on 14 May.