Earlier this month, the metal world lost the sole remaining member of Motorhead’s ‘classic’ late ’70s lineup, which also consisted of founding Vocalist/Bassist Lemmy Kilmister, and drummer Phil “Philthy Animal” Taylor, who both passed in 2015. Clarke joined his fallen brothers this past January 10 after complications from phenomena.
Clarke was born in Middlesex, England on October 5, 1950, and began playing guitar in his early teens. After experiencing limited success playing with several local acts, he joined the already-established Motorhead in 1976. He wrote and recorded with the band beginning with their self-titled 1977 debut album, up to 1982’s Iron Fist. Over the course of his six years in the band, he helped pen some of their most signature tracks, including “Motorhead,” “Overkill,” “Bomber,” and “Ace of Spades.”
After his departure from Motorhead, he formed Fastway in 1982. Perhaps best remembered for recording the soundtrack to the 1986 horror film Trick or Treat, Clarke kept Fastway going through various lineup changes into the early ’90s, resurrecting it on-and-off over the years and releasing their seventh (and most recent) album, Eat Dog Eat, in 2011.
Though he may be gone, the spirit of Eddie Clarke will continue to live on each and every time the guitar intro for “Ace of Spades” kicks off. Clarke managed to leave an imprint that many of us can only dream of in his sixty-seven years on this Earth, and his legacy will not be forgotten any time soon.
