Today truly is the end of an era, as the last surviving member of Motörhead’s glory years, guitarist “Fast” Eddie Clarke, has died of pneumonia at the age of 67. The guitarist was in the band from the beginning, starting on 1977’s Motorhead, and appeared on five albums, including 1980’s Ace of Spades, Overkill and Bomber. Following the death of drummer Phil “Philthy Animal” Taylor in 2015 and iconic frontman Lemmy Kilmister in 2015, Clark was the last of the classic lineup to pass. Motörhead’s Facebook page shared the sad news, which included quotes from the two most recent members of the band, guitarist Phil Campbell and drummer Mikkey Dee:
We are devastated to pass on the news we only just heard ourselves earlier tonight…Edward Allan Clarke – or as we all know and love him Fast Eddie Clarke – passed away peacefully yesterday. Ted Carroll (who formed Chiswick Records) made the sad announcement via his FB page, having heard from Doug Smith that Fast Eddie passed peacefully in hospital where he was being treated for pneumonia…
Phil Campbell said, “JUST HEARD THE SAD NEWS THAT FAST EDDIE CLARK HAS PASSED AWAY. SUCH A SHOCK, HE WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR HIS ICONIC RIFFS AND WAS A TRUE ROCK N ROLLER. RIP EDDIE.”
Mikkey Dee said, ““OH MY FUCKING GOD, THIS IS TERRIBLE NEWS, THE LAST OF THE THREE AMIGOS. I SAW EDDIE NOT TOO LONG AGO AND HE WAS IN GREAT SHAPE. SO THIS IS A COMPLETE SHOCK. ME AND EDDIE ALWAYS HIT IT OFF GREAT. I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING HIM IN THE UK THIS SUMMER WHEN WE COME AROUND WITH THE SCORPS…NOW LEM AND PHILTHY CAN JAM WITH EDDIE AGAIN, AND IF YOU LISTEN CAREFULLY I’M SURE YOU’LL HEAR THEM, SO WATCH OUT!!! MY THOUGHTS GO OUT TO EDDIE’S FAMILY AND CLOSE ONES.”
Fast Eddie…keep roaring, rockin’ and rollin’ up there as goddamit man, your Motörfamily would expect nothing less!!!
RIP FAST EDDIE CLARKE 5th October 1950 – 10th January 2018
’80s metal fans will remember Fastway, the band Clarke started after he left Motorhead in 1982. He’d remained in Fastway on and off through the years since, with their most album, Eat Dog Eat, being released in 2011.
https://youtu.be/tefEmq9zzF0
