Original Motorhead Guitarist 'Fast' Eddie Clarke Dead At 67

The last surviving of Motorhead's classic lineup, guitarist "Fast" Eddie Clarke, has passed away at the age of 67 after a battle with pneumonia. He played guitar on Motorhead's first five studio albums, including the classic Ace Of Spades album. 

The classic lineup, consisting of frontman and bassist Lemmy Kilmister, drummer Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor, and "Fast" Eddie Clarke. Phil Taylor passed away in November 2015 and Kilmister passed away the next month in December 2015. 

"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," Motorhead said in a statement posted on their Facebook page

Clarke was born in 1950 in Twickenham, London and joined Motorhead in 1976 after meeting Phil Taylor while working on a houseboat. He would appear on their 1977 self-titled debut, 1979's Overkill and Bomber, 1980's Ace of Spades and 1981's No Sleep 'til Hammersmith

He then split from the group in 1982 and was replaced by Thin Lizzy guitarist Brian Robertson. Clarke would go on to form Fastway with UFO bassist Pete Way and would go on to tour with AC/DC. 

Clarke reunited with Motorhead in 2000 when he made a guest appearance at their 25th anniversary concert at Brixton Academy, London. 

Read Motorhead's full statement with remarks from guitarist Phil Campbell and drummer Mikkey Dee, who performed in Motorhead's most recent lineup. 

Rest in peace, Eddie. 

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 F***ING 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

Photo Credit: Getty


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