I hadn’t even finished the first cup of the morning coffee when I started hearing the buzz about the passing of former Motorhead/Fastway guitarist “Fast” Eddie Clarke. He was 67 years of age and was apparently in the hospital being treated for pneumonia. Thanks to “Fast” Eddie, the world of Heavy Rock and Metal were never the same as so many of the Motorhead songs became timeless classics.

Born Edward Allen Clarke, he was a very active musician even before he would hook up with Lemmy and Phil in around 1976 and begin making history.  Together, these three formed a lineup that is still revered to this very day as its most classic.  “Fast” Eddie was not only a part of the bands very first album but so many other seminal classics like “Bomber”, “Overkill”, “Iron Fist”, “Ace Of Spades” and of course the live album that everyone I knew owned at one time or another in “No Sleep Til Hammersmith”.  After leaving Motorhead based on creative differences (as it always happens), “Fast” Eddie would form Fastway with former UFO Bassist Pete Way (get it?  Fast and Way?  Wonderful).  I used to catch both bands videos on a channel called U68 and their “Power Hour”.  Look it up, its rather popular and important to a lot of certain age Rock and Metal fans.  Sadly, despite my deep appreciation for the Rock and Metal here, I never ever saw Eddie in Motorhead or even Fastway.  Motorhead toured often but I don’t really know how often the latter band was in the states or if I was even seeing shows yet based on my vintage.  It’s a sad loss and like so many of our other memorial toasts, my words just briefly touch upon his talents as interested folks can learn more by clicking through to his official Wikipedia entry since all the things you need to know have been already written down.

Being an active local musician way back in the day I can admit to knowing many guitarists who aimed at learning the sonic riffs of “Fast” Eddie Clarke.  Some succeeded while others really didn’t.  While there are so many amazing songs that he was a part of, if you have a copy of the “No Remorse” compilation release this will give you a fine example of what made “Fast Eddie Clarke so special to us.  We’ve lost so many musicians over the last couple of years and so many of them still resonate a few years later.  We wish his family, friends, fellow musicians and the worldwide fans that he made over the years the deepest of condolences. Rest In Peace Eddie and thank you for all the great riffs. If you should hear a rumble in the skies tonight, it’s because the classic lineup of Motorhead is back in the rehearsal space.  Fans are encouraged to leave their fondest memory of “Fast” Eddie Clarke down in the comments below.

Official Artist Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Clarke