Wide eyes staring out above sunken cheeks, Motörhead frontman Lemmy looks a shadow of his hell-raising younger self in these two photographs taken just days before his death.

In one image, posted on Twitter by Sebastian Bach, frontman of heavy metal band Skid Row, Lemmy is seen propped against a bar in what appears to be a black military uniform.

A second picture, apparently taken that same night, shows the 70-year-old rocker with two young female fans. The women flash their smiles at the camera while Lemmy looks dutifully into the lens.

On Boxing Day, just 10 days after these images were shared online, Lemmy was told he had an aggressive form of cancer, though it is still not known what kind.

Forty-eight hours later the heavy metal icon died while sitting in front of his favourite poker video game at his Los Angeles home, surrounded by family.

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Frail: Lemmy on December 16 in a photo posted by Sebastian Bach, frontman of heavy metal band Skid Row. The picture was captioned with Ace of Spades lyrics, 'you win some, you lose some, it's all the same to me'

Fans: Lemmy posed for a photo with two young women on December 16, just 12 days before his death

Rebel: A photograph of Lemmy was printed on a cake to celebrate his 70th birthday, on Christmas Eve

Hell-raiser: Motörhead frontman Ian 'Lemmy' Kilmister at Stringfellows, London, in 2010

Shock: Motörhead's official Facebook page confirmed the death of the veteran rocker at his Los Angeles home

His death was announced in a statement on the Motörhead Facebook page, which remembered a 'mighty, noble friend' and called on fans to play his music loud and 'have a drink or few'.

The news has sent shockwaves through the music industry, with Ozzy Osborne, Billy Idol and Brian May among those paying tribute to their friend.

Committing himself to music after watching the Beatles perform at Liverpool's Cavern Club when he was a teenager, Lemmy's life has become the stuff of industry legend.

He worked as a roadie for Jimi Hendrix and played bass in space rock band Hawkwind - before being kicked out for his drug use - before founding Motörhead in 1975.

Cementing his rock-and-roll credentials, he boasted about sleeping with more than 1,000 women and claimed he drank a bottle of Jack Daniels every day for years.

He also became known for his controversial collection of Third Reich memorabilia.

Ozzy Osbourne tweeted: 'Lost one of my best friends, Lemmy, today. He will be sadly missed. He was a warrior and a legend. I will see you on the other side.'

Grammy award-winning band Motörhead, who released 23 studio albums over a 40-year period, announced Kilmister's death on their official Facebook page.

Rock legends Gene Simmons, Ozzy Osbourne and Billy Idol posted tributes to Lemmy Kilmister on Twitter

Sad post: Ozzy's wife Sharon also posted a moving message about her friend of 38 years

The post read: 'There is no easy way to say this…our mighty, noble friend Lemmy passed away today after a short battle with an extremely aggressive cancer.

'He had learnt of the disease on December 26th, and was at home, sitting in front of his favorite video game from The Rainbow which had recently made it’s way down the street, with his family.

'We cannot begin to express our shock and sadness, there aren’t words.

'HE WAS ONE OF A KIND': ALICE COOPER'S TRIBUTE TO LEMMY 'When we say "one of a kind" in rock'n roll, Lemmy was the epitome of that -- one of the most beloved characters in rock'n roll. 'I can't think of anyone who didn't adore Lemmy; you can't say "heavy metal" without mentioning Lemmy. 'If you're a 13 year old kid learning to play bass, you want to play like Lemmy. He was one of a kind. 'And I will personally miss seeing him out on the road. We did many shows together and we looked forward to it every time we were touring with Motorhead. 'Rock'n roll heaven just got heavier.' Advertisement

'We will say more in the coming days, but for now, please…play Motörhead loud, play Hawkwind loud, play Lemmy’s music LOUD. Have a drink or few.'

His death comes just over a month after the passing of his bandmate Phil ‘Philthy Animal’ Taylor.

Tributes have poured in for Kilmister from well-known artists and figures within the rock and metal community following his death on Monday.

Sharon Osbourne tweeted: 'My dear friend, Lemmy, passed away today. I've known him for 38 years. He will be so missed but he will never be forgotten.'

While musician Billy Idol posted: 'Lemmy RIP.... @mymotorhead my condolences to his family..'

Queen guitarist Brian May said: 'Sitting here, Re-Tweeting, distracted, and wondering what I can possibly say about our utterly unique friend Lemmy's passing. Ouch.'

Black Sabbath founding member Geezer Butler said: 'Very sad to hear of Lemmy's passing. We've lost a true, true legend. RIP.'

Ex-Motorhead guitarist 'Fast' Eddie Clarke, who played with the heavy metal group between 1976 to 1982, also paid tribute to his friend, saying 'he was like a brother to me'.

'I am devastated. We did so much together, the three of us. The world seems a really empty place right now. I am having trouble finding the words ... He will live on in our hearts. R.I.P Lemmy!'

Kiss star Gene Simmons said: 'Lemmy: Rest In Peace. Shake the heavens, my friend.'

Nikki Sixx, of US band Motley Crue, added: 'I'll miss you buddy and our conversations. You were always a pillar of dignity. RIP Lemmy.'

Sad tribute: Actress Juliette Lewis paid her respects to her 'hard living' yet 'soft spoken' friend

Inspiration: Metallic posted a shared statement about their 'primary' source of inspiration as a band

Shocked: Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea was in a state of complete shock at the news

'Rest In Peace': Tributes also came flooding in from the likes of Slipknot star Corey Taylor

Rock band Judas Priest tweeted: 'Words about Lemmy can never be enough so we will simply say farewell Lord Lemmy thank you for the music, the shows.'

Aerosmith drummer Joey Kramer added: 'RIP #Lemmy heaven is Rockin tonight.'

Heavy metal band Metallica posted: 'Lemmy, you are one of the primary reasons this band exists. We're forever grateful for all of your inspiration. RIP'.

'I WAS A ROADIE FOR JIMI HENDRIX ... SO I'M HARD TO F***ING IMPRESS': LEMMY IN HIS OWN WORDS Motorhead frontman Lemmy will be remembered not only for his great music, but also for his many memorable quotes. 'They would come on stage [The Beatles] and you were just awestruck. They had that presence, which is very rare. Hendrix had it, Ozzy Osbourne has it to an extent. You've either got it or you haven't' - From an interview with The Independent. 'I like being the centre of attention as much as anybody so I didn't mind. I was in it for the girls, to tell the truth. I think if more musicians told the truth, that would be the reason why most of them are in it. When you're young and you're desperate to get laid, you work out that being a bricklayer isn't that attractive.' From an interview with The Independent. 'There's only two kinds of music I can't stand: rap and opera. Opera because it's too overblown and rap because I just don't hear it. I just don't get it' From an interview with Rolling Stone online 'I was a roadie for Jimi Hendrix for seven months, so I'm pretty hard to f*****g impress, man. You'd have to beat Jimi Hendrix to impress me and I don't see anybody doing that' When asked by Rolling Stone if he listened to younger bands during a 2012 interview 'I don't know any happily married couples, not even my parents. There was a magazine in England who said I screwed 2,000 women and I didn't, I said 1,000. When you think about it, it isn't that unreasonable. I'm not even married, and I've been doing this since I was 16. And I'm now 66, so that's like 50 years. I could've done more if I've tried, I guess' From an interview with Spin in October 2012 Advertisement

Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea wrote: 'Lemmy got let in on the big secret. One of the greatest rockers of all time. Amazingly unique incredible bass player. My hero. Wow.'

'My friend died today. We'll all miss you. Your name was Lemmy, and you played Rock n Roll. Rest in Peace, my man. #RIPLemmy', shared Slipknot's Corey Taylor.

Mötley Crüe vocalist Vince Neil shared, 'Wow just heard, Lemmy was a friend and legend. #Rip'.

Guns N’ Roses bassist Duff McKagan added: 'Rest In Peace Lemmy. A hell of a man who suffered no fools. U shall be missed brother, and, THANK u 4 the years of unwavering kick ass R&R.'

But his unique brand of heavy metal resonated with fans outside the genre.

Rapper Ice T said: 'Just got the sad news about the loss of Lemmy from MOTORHEAD..... RIP 'Raise Hell Homie ...

'I got to hang with Lemmy.. Did a song and this video for a movie. LEGEND.'

Beverley Knight, who is starring as Grizabella in Cats the musical, said: 'That wonderful gravelly voice now silenced.'

And author Neil Gaiman added: 'RIP Lemmy, a man I saw playing the fruit machines in late night dives, and once thanked for getting me in to one.'

Figures from the world of wrestling, with which the band had a close affinity, posted messages of sorrow.

WWE star Triple H said: 'RIPLemmy One life, lived your way, from the beginning, till the end See you down the road my friend ... Thank you for the gift of your sound.'

Ex-WWE wrestler 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin, added: 'Damn just heard Lemmy passed away. Swig of beer to one bad ass original rocker. Motorhead one of the all time influential bands.'

And Bubba Ray Dudley, also a WWE star, tweeted: 'Who would win in a fight GOD or #Lemmy? Very sad. RIP brother. Glad to have met you and drink Jack n Cokes with you!!'

The news of Kilmister's death in Los Angeles was originally broken by respected rock DJ Eddie Trunk via a series of posts on his Twitter account.

His post read: 'Sorry to report that I have confirmed Lemmy @mymotorhead has passed away just now at the age of 70. RIP to a true original icon of rock.'

He followed it with: 'Sadly this news is 100% confirmed and just happened. Let's celebrate a true rock warrior and icon who gave us timeless music! #RIPLemmy'.

Reaction: Tributes to Kilmister have poured in from well-known artists and figures within the rock and metal community following his death on Monday. Here he is pictured playing in Helsinki earlier this month

True greats: Motörhead's last line-up, with guitarist Phil Campbell, Lemmy Kilmister and drummer Mikkey Dee

Kilmister, who was born in Stoke-on-Trent on Christmas Eve 1945, founded Motorhead in 1975. The group later became one of the defining metal bands of the 1980s.

He wrote in his autobiography, White Line Fever, that he had been fired from his previous band Hawkwind for 'doing the wrong drugs'.

His exit followed his arrest at the Canadian border for possessing cocaine and spent five days in prison, causing the band to cancel some of a US tour.

Famous for his hard-rocking lifestyle, Kilmister said he drank a bottle of Jack Daniels every day for many years, and also claimed to have slept with more than 1,000 women.

He said he had never married because the love of his life, a woman named Susan Bennett, had died of a heroin overdose aged 19. He dedicated his autobiography to Ms Bennett.

But he had struggled to quit his vices in his later years, according to the band's manager Todd Singerman.

Music icon: Motörhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister, pictured performing at Glastonbury this summer

Legends: Motörhead band members (from left to right) Brian Robertson, Lemmy and Phil Taylor in the 1980s

The news was originally broken by respected rock DJ Eddie Trunk via a series of posts on his Twitter account

Kilmister was also known for his extensive - and controversial - collection of Third Reich memorabilia.

He even had an Iron Cross encrusted on his bass, leading to accusations that he had Nazi sympathies.

But he maintained he 'only collected the stuff. [he] didn't collect the ideas.'

In one interview, he said: 'By collecting Nazi memorabilia, it doesn’t mean I’m a fascist, or a skinhead. I just liked the clobber.

'I’ve always liked a good uniform, and throughout history, it’s always been the bad guys who dressed the best: Napoleon, the Confederates, the Nazis.'

Ace in the pack: Kilmister, who was born in Stoke-on-Trent on Christmas Eve 1945, founded Motorhead in 1975 after being fired from previous band Hawkwind

The musician, who suffered from diabetes, had been plagued with health problems in recent times and the band were forced to postpone a string of shows earlier this year.

In an interview with Decibel magazine last year, Singerman revealed: 'He’s been up and down — he’s got a really bad diabetic problem and it changes on a daily basis.

'A lot of it is fighting the bad habits, the things he’s not supposed to do any more. He’s stopped smoking, but he probably sneaks Jack and Coke here and there — he’d be lying if he said he’d stopped.'

Hours before appearing at the Monsters of Rock Festival in Brazil in April, Kilmister was reportedly taken ill with gastric distress and dehydration.

And in 2013, the band were forced to postpone shows in Italy and Austria after the rock veteran suffered a haematoma.

In the same year he was fitted with a defibrillator to correct heart problems.

In a recent interview with German magazine Lust For Life, Kilmister said he had been 'close to death' during his last surgery.

'It was the only moment I was stalked by the devil called doubt. I wondered if I’d make it. I’m not afraid of death – I often sing about it.

'So I wasn’t shaking in my bed, but I did have the feeling I wasn’t done yet. I still wanted to do shows and make records. That feeling pulled me through all this.'

Motörhead were set to tour the UK in January in support of their 23rd album 'Bad Magic', which was released in August of this year.

In June, the band graced Glastonbury festival for the first time in their 40-year history, playing a triumphant afternoon set on the Pyramid Stage.

Motörhead are perhaps best known for their single Ace Of Spades, while the fanged face that appears on their album artwork has become one of rock's most recognisable figures.

It took several years for the band to break into the popular charts, which came when they achieved critical acclaim with the 1980 Ace Of Spades album, which reached number four in the UK chart.

MailOnline has contacted a representative for Kilmister and is awaiting comment.