When it comes to heavy metal, risk is more than just a byproduct of the lifestyle, it’s a core philosophy. Much like a high-stakes poker game, metal music thrives on taking chances, breaking rules, and embracing the unknown. It’s a world where fortune favors the bold, and few anthems capture this sentiment better than Motörhead’s Ace of Spades. With its snarling energy and gambling-inspired lyrics, the song stands as a timeless ode to defiance. The chorus hits like a dare: “You know I’m born to lose, and gambling’s for fools, but that’s the way I like it, baby, I don’t wanna live forever.” Released in 1980, Ace of Spades remains Motörhead’s signature song, and not just for its musical aggression. It also topped PokerStars’ poll for the greatest gambling song of all time, beating out the likes of Lady Gaga’s Poker Face and AC/DC’s The Jack.
Aside from lyrical references, many metal artists have taken their love for poker off the stage and onto the felt. Some have even ventured into professional poker tournaments, proving that their skills extend far beyond shredding solos and melting faces. From Anthrax’s Scott Ian to Motörhead’s Lemmy Kilmister, here’s a look at metal icons who have rocked the felt table.
Scott Ian (Anthrax)
Credit: @scottianthrax on Instagram
Scott Ian, rhythm guitarist and founding member of thrash legends Anthrax, is known for his precise riffs, unrelenting stage presence, and love of all things loud. However, when the amps are off, Ian’s passion turns to poker, a game he’s approached with the same focus and intensity that made Anthrax pioneers of the Big Four.
Ian’s poker journey began casually, but it quickly evolved. By 2008, he had become a team pro for the now-defunct online platform UltimateBet. A year later, he proved his chops at the 2009 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event, arriving just hours after finishing an Anthrax concert in Germany. Despite the jet lag, Ian made it to Day 4, placing among the final 650 players in a field of nearly 7,000.
Ian’s participation at the WSOP led him to cross paths with the likes of poker legend and Americas Cardroom ambassador Chris Moneymaker. Moneymaker won the 2003 WSOP after qualifying through an $86 online satellite and now hosts global poker tournaments for Americas Cardroom. Their connection ultimately culminated in the 2021 Rock the Pot poker charity tournament, which they co-hosted, blending metal fandom with poker passion for a good cause.
Sully Erna (Godsmack)
Credit: @sullyerna on Instagram
Best known as the lead singer and rhythm guitarist of Godsmack, Sully Erna has carved out a career blending post-grunge angst with metal grit. Off stage, Erna is equally intense at the poker table. When Godsmack went on hiatus, he dove deep into the world of high-stakes poker, treating it not just as a pastime but as a temporary career.
In 2006, Erna joined the VH1 Classic Rock ‘n’ Roll Poker Tournament at the Flamingo Las Vegas. That same year, he entered the WSOP Main Event, placing 713th and walking away with $17,730. But Erna wasn’t done yet. He returned in 2007, improved his game, and finished 237th—this time earning $45,422. His biggest success came at the Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic, where he took second place and scored a career-high cash prize of $307,325.
Reflecting on his poker experience in a 2013 ESPN interview, Erna admitted, “I was finding that I was very impatient and playing crappy hands. I was losing patience every time I was playing. I had to take a break.” His candor shows that even seasoned performers have to stay disciplined to succeed in the poker world.
Slash (Guns N’ Roses)
Credit: @slasharmyaustralia on Instagram
Saul Hudson, better known as Slash, is the top-hatted guitar icon behind Guns N’ Roses’ most searing solos. Known for his work on hits like Sweet Child o’ Mine and Welcome to the Jungle, Slash has cemented his place in rock history. In recent years, he’s reunited with frontman Axl Rose, reigniting the GNR flame after decades of estrangement.
In between tours and sessions, Slash has found time for his other passion: poker. In 2009, he joined Scott Ian’s Home Game on UltimateBet—a celebrity sit-and-go event where musicians and actors played for $100 bounties and a chance to win a $10,000 seat at the WSOP. His participation wasn’t just a one-off. In 2011, the LA Times revealed that the centerpiece of Slash’s home was a custom black poker table in his game room. He even confessed to The Telegraph that he often played poker with his then-neighbor, pop star Robbie Williams. Slash may be more private about his poker credentials than some of his peers, but his lifestyle and dedication to the game reveal a serious appreciation for the art of the bluff.
Lemmy Kilmister (Motörhead)
Credit: @slash on Instagram
No metal-poker list would be complete without the original gambling outlaw himself: Lemmy Kilmister. The late Motörhead frontman lived as fiercely as he played, and his devotion to poker was legendary. As previously mentioned, Ace of Spades was more than just a song—it was a life philosophy. Lemmy’s affinity for gambling and risk permeated his lyrics, his image, and his offstage persona.
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Ace of Spades, a special box set was released featuring a poker-themed package complete with dice and a fold-out gambling table. It was a fitting tribute to Lemmy, who often played video poker at The Rainbow on Hollywood’s Sunset Strip. After his death in 2015, a statue was erected at his favorite watering hole with a sign reading: “Lemmy: Born to Lose, Live to Win.” According to Vice, the bar’s owner even delivered the machine to Lemmy’s apartment in his final days—a poignant reminder that for Lemmy, poker was a way of life.
All in, all the time
From massive festival stages to green felt tables, these metal legends have proven that risk-taking isn’t limited to riffs and pyrotechnics. Whether it’s bluffing with a bad hand or writing a career-defining album, the metal ethos thrives in uncertainty. For these artists, poker isn’t just a game—it’s another arena where the stakes are high and the thrills are real.
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