Stephen Maynard Clark (23 April 1960 – 8 January 1991) was an English musician, best known as one of multiple songwriters and co-lead guitarist for the British hard rock band Def Leppard up until his death in 1991 due to a combination of alcohol and multiple prescription drugs. In 2007 Clark was ranked #11 on Classic Rock Magazine's "100 Wildest Guitar Heroes".
Before joining Def Leppard in 1978, Clark played cover songs with his small band, Electric Chicken, in Sheffield. Around that time, he met Pete Willis
(Def Leppard's original guitarist/founder). According to Joe Elliott in Behind the Music, Clark auditioned for Def Leppard by playing all of Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Freebird" without accompaniment.
Clark and Collen quickly bonded, becoming close friends and leading
to the trademark dual-guitar sound of Def Leppard. He and Clark became
known as the "Terror Twins," in recognition of their talents and
friendship.
Part of their success as a duo was attributed by Collen (on BBC's Classic Albums show) to their ability to swap between rhythm and lead guitar, often both playing lead or both doing rhythm within the same song. Lead singer Joe Elliott told the same programme that Clark was not a technician, he was a guitarist who wore his instrument a few notches too low, and his style was a key part of the band's chemistry. Elliott called Clark the creative one, and Collen a 'total utter technician.'
Def Leppard enjoyed their most successful years commercially during the Steve Clark era
Before joining Def Leppard in 1978, Clark played cover songs with his small band, Electric Chicken, in Sheffield. Around that time, he met Pete Willis
(Def Leppard's original guitarist/founder). According to Joe Elliott in Behind the Music, Clark auditioned for Def Leppard by playing all of Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Freebird" without accompaniment.Clark and Collen quickly bonded, becoming close friends and leading
to the trademark dual-guitar sound of Def Leppard. He and Clark became
known as the "Terror Twins," in recognition of their talents and
friendship.Part of their success as a duo was attributed by Collen (on BBC's Classic Albums show) to their ability to swap between rhythm and lead guitar, often both playing lead or both doing rhythm within the same song. Lead singer Joe Elliott told the same programme that Clark was not a technician, he was a guitarist who wore his instrument a few notches too low, and his style was a key part of the band's chemistry. Elliott called Clark the creative one, and Collen a 'total utter technician.'
Def Leppard enjoyed their most successful years commercially during the Steve Clark era
On this day also Jacob Taio Cruz was born 1985, known professionally as Taio Cruz. He is a British singer-songwriter, record producer, occasional rapper, and entrepreneur.
ReplyDeleteHis famous soundtreks are "Break Your Heart" and "Dynamite", "Dirty Picture" and "Without You".