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Eddie Clarke

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"Fast" Eddie Clarke
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"Fast" Eddie Clarke

Edward Clarke, better known as "Fast" Eddie Clarke, is a guitarist who was a member of the British heavy metal bands Fastway and Motörhead.

Contents

Career

Early Days

Born in 1950 in England, Clarke began playing guitar around his hometown of Twickenham in southwest London. By the time he was 15, Eddie had been through many local bands, one of whom went under the name of The Bitter End. He continued playing local gigs until 1973, when he turned professional by joining Curtis Knight’s band, Zeus, as lead guitarist. In 1974, the band recorded an album called "The Second Coming" at Olympic Studios, writing the music to Knight’s lyrics on the track titled The Confession.

Clarke also recorded the album Sea Of Time with Zeus and with guitarist friend Allan Callan, keyboard player Nicky Hogarth, and drummer Chris Perry, attended a recorded jam session at Command Studios in Piccadilly. As a result of the tracks from this session, the quartet secured a deal with Anchor Records, and called the band Blue Goose. With a contract secured, Clarke, Hogarth and Perry left Zeus to focus on their own project with Allan Callan. Knight was so angry with their behaviour, he put the word around that if he ever met up with them again, he would beat them up for leaving him in the lurch.

An argument soon erupted between Clarke and Carran, because Carran did not have any amps, Clarke had allowed him to share his during rehearsals, but Clarke then found he could not hear his solos because Callan was drowning him out. The argument ended with Clarke being sacked. Still short of amps, the band asked him to re-join a few days later, Clarke refused, feeling that they were doing Anchor Records an injustice because they had been paid an advance to record an album, but had done nothing productive towards making it. Blue Goose released their eponymous album through Anchor Records in 1974, crediting an instrumental track titled "Over The Top" to Clarke-Hogarth-Perry, although it is nothing like the Motörhead track of the same name.

Clarke soon formed another band with Be Bop Deluxe bassist, Charlie Tumalhi, vocalist Ann McCluskie and Jim Thompson on drums. Called "Continuous Performance", this line up lasted until early 1975, when their demo tracks failed to secure them a record deal and then band split up. Still out to secure a record deal, Clarke then formed a group with Nicky Hogarth from Blue Goose, bass player Tony Cussons and drummer Terry Slater. Their efforts to get a deal were also unsuccessful and Clarke gave up the music business.

Motörhead

Clarke worked on re-fitting a houseboat, where he met drummer Phil Taylor. Taylor had recently joined Motörhead and introduced Clarke to Lemmy Kilmister; it was not long before he was playing with them. Motörhead became more popular and produced more and more UK chart successes. The threesome (Kilmister, Clarke, Taylor) are considered the classic Motörhead line-up and have the Overkill, Ace of Spades, Bomber, No Sleep 'til Hammersmith and Iron Fist albums plus a string of hit singles to their credit.

Clarke left Motörhead in 1982 whilst on an American tour. Becoming unhappy at the results of the Iron Fist album, the recording sessions with the Plasmatics, were the final straw. For the B-side of the Stand By Your Man EP the bands take turns in covering each other's songs, Clarke felt that this compromised the band's principles and resigned, to be replaced by Thin Lizzy man, Brian Robertson. Clarke’s last gig with Motörhead took place at the New York Palladium on May 14, 1982.

Fastway

Hearing that UFO bassist, Pete Way, was keen to leave the band, the two met and decided their new band's name would be an amalgamation of their own two names, resulting in Fastway. They advertised in the music press for a drummer and a vocalist. Meanwhile, a rehearsal was organised for which The Clash drummer, Topper Headon, filled in on drums. Headon was doing this as a favour so that Clarke and Way could rehearse. The adverts began showing positive results, cassettes from potential band members arrived; one of these was from a young, Dublin-based singer by the name of Dave King. Clarke was impressed with his voice and financed a trip to London for Dave and, after an audition together, he became the Fastway vocalist. Ex-Humble Pie drummer Jerry Shirley became the drummer.

The band sent out demo tapes and were approached by CBS for a recording deal. Way announced that his departure to play bass for Ozzy Osbourne’s Blizzard Of Ozz, just as they were about to sign the deal, however, CBS had faith that Fastway was a good bet and decided to sign them despite this setback.

Touring had been strenuous for the band and, upon returning to Britain, they decided to split. Clarke stayed in London and soon received a call from King about giving Fastway another go. Clarke agreed and moved to Ireland. With another album for CBS in view, they rehearsed with three of King's friends, guitarist and keyboard player Shane Carroll, drummer Alan Connor and Paul Reid on bass. The Record Label was happy with the sound and had them record at London’s Abbey Road Studios, releasing Waiting For The Roar in 1986.

Clarke toured America with Fastway, supporting AC/DC, followed by a lengthy European tour, which produced 1992's Say What You Will - Live album. Fastway were also engaged to provide music for the Trick Or Treat film soundtrack, for which they composed the title track and performed Heft and If You Could See from their albums.

Latter Days

After the band split up for the final time, Clarke moved back to London and met up with Lea Hart, a solo artist in the Far East. Clarke's record deals had now expired, so the pair took a demo tape to Douglas Smith (Clarke’s former Motörhead manager) at GWR Records, who willingly signed a deal. Still using the name Fastway, they recorded the On Target album, which featured Don and Paul Airey on keyboards, Neil Murray on bass, Bram Tchaikovsky of The Motors and Christine Byford on backing vocals.

Clarke's group now consisted of Riff Raff on drums, keyboards and bass, plus assorted friends helping out; Biff Byford and Nigel Glockler of Saxon, Don Airey, and Kim McAuliffe and Kris Bonacci of Girlschool. Following the production of two albums, Clarke and Hart split up.

The excesses he'd indulged in with Motörhead had taken their toll and led to him being admitted to hospital, spending time afterwards in recuperation. Having recovered, Clarke released a solo album, It Ain’t Over Till It’s Over, which blends Motörhead and Fastway styles. Lemmy also helped out on the album by writing and singing the track "Laugh At The Devil."

The Future

Clarke may be be currently working on a solo album. The is due to recent rumours that have been circulating in hard rock/heavy metal Circles.

Discography

Albums

Singles

Clarke's discography with Motörhead is covered here

External Links

Motörhead
Members
Lemmy Kilmister - Phil Campbell - Mikkey Dee
Former members: Larry Wallis - Fast Eddie Clarke - Brian Robertson - Wurzel
Lucas Fox - Philthy Animal Taylor - Pete Gill
Discography
Albums: On Parole - Motörhead - Overkill - Bomber - Ace of Spades - No Sleep 'til Hammersmith - Iron Fist - Another Perfect Day - No Remorse - Orgasmatron - Rock 'n' Roll - No Sleep at All - 1916 - March ör Die - Bastards - Sacrifice - Overnight Sensation - Snake Bite Love - Everything Louder Than Everyone Else - We Are Motörhead - The Best Of - Hammered - Live at Brixton Academy - Inferno - BBC Live & In-Session - Kiss of Death
EPs - Singles - DVDs

 

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