Happy birthday, Steve Clark

Steve Clark, co-lead guitarist and main songwriter of Def Leppard

Happy birthday, Steve Clark...
Born Stephen Maynard Clark on April 23 1960 in Hillsborough, Sheffield, England, Steve Clark was a musician and songwriter mostly known as the co-lead guitarist and main songwriter of Def Leppard.
He got his first guitar when he was 11. His father bought it for him on the condition that he would learn to play.
When he was a teenager, he played in a cover band, Electric Chicken.
Not long after, he met Pete Willis. Steve later asked him if he could join his band Def Leppard. During his audition for the band, he played all of Freebird of Lynyrd Skynyrd without accompaniment.
Steve joined Def Leppard in January 1978 (lineup: Joe Elliott (lead vocals), Pete Willis (guitar, backing vocals), Steve Clark (guitar, backing vocals), Rick Savage (bass, backing vocals), Tony Kenning (drums)).
In 1979, the band released its debut EP, The Def Leppard E.P..
One year after, they released their first album, On Through The Night (lineup: Joe Elliott (lead vocals), Pete Willis (guitar, backing vocals), Steve Clark (guitar, backing vocals), Rick Savage (bass, backing vocals), Rick Allen (drums, backing vocals)).
In 1982, Pete Willis was fired of the band and replaced by Phil Collen. Steve quickly became close friend with him. In recognition of their talents and friendship, they were nicknamed the "Terror Twins".
A key part of the band's chemistry was how Phil Collen and Steve completed each other. According to Joe Elliott, Phil Collen was a "total utter technician" and Steve was the "creative one".
Unlike Phil Collen who, in order to have a healthier lifestyle, quit drinking alcohol during the 80s, Steve didn't succeed fighting his alcohol addiction.
In 1987, Def Leppard released Hysteria, the last album featuring Steve. Yet, prior to his death, he had already written songs and recorded demos of songs for the album Adrenalize, which was released in 1992.
On January 8 1991, after a 6 months long absence from the band, Steve was found dead on his couch. The autopsy revealed his blood contained three times the British legal driving limit of alcohol level, Valium, and morphine, and that he died from an overdose of codeine. No evidence of suicidal intent were found.
In August 1991, Tesla released the album Psychotic Supper, which features a tribute song to Steve: Song & Emotion (To Our Friend, Steve 'Steamin' Clark).
Rock in peace, Steve Clark!

Steve Clark, Def Leppard

Steve Clark, Def Leppard

[french version :
Joyeux anniversaire, Steve Clark ...
Né Stephen Maynard Clark le 23 avril 1960 à Hillsborough, Sheffield, Angleterre, Steve Clark est un musicien et auteur-compositeur mieux connu en tant que co-lead guitariste et principal auteur-compositeur de Def Leppard.
Il reçoit sa première guitare à l'âge de 11 ans. Son père lui a acheté à condition qu'il apprenne à en jouer.
Adolescent, il joue dans un groupe de reprises appelé Electric Chicken.
Peu après, il rencontre Pete Willis. Plus tard il lui demande s'il peut jouer dans son groupe, Def Leppard. Lors de son audition pour le groupe, il joue l'intégralité de Freebird de Lynyrd Skynyrd sans accompagnement.
Steve rejoint Def Leppard en janvier 1978 (lineup : Joe Elliott (chant), Pete Willis (guitare, choeur), Steve Clark (guitare, choeur), Rick Savage (basse, choeur), Tony Kenning (batterie)).
En 1979, le groupe sort son premier EP, The Def Leppard E.P..
Un an après, ils sortent leur premier album, On Through The Night (lineup : Joe Elliott (chant), Pete Willis (guitare, choeur), Steve Clark (guitare, choeur), Rick Savage (basse, choeur), Rick Allen (batterie, choeur)).
En 1982, Pete Willis est viré du groupe et remplacé par Phil Collen. Steve et lui deviennent rapidement amis. Ils sont surnommés les "Terror Twins" en reconnaissance de leurs talents et de leur amitié.
Une part clé de l'alchimie de Def Leppard est comment Phil Collen et Steve se complètent l'un l'autre. Selon Joe Elliott, Phil Collen esr un "technicien complet" et Steve est le "créatif".
Contrairement à Phil Collen qui, afin de vivre plus sainement, à arrêter de boire durant les années 80, Steve n'a jamais réussi à vaincre son addiction à l'alcool.
En 1987, Def Leppard sort Hysteria, le dernier album où joue Steve. Cependant, avant sa mort, Steve avait déjà écrit des chansons et enregistré des démos de chansons pour l'album Adrenalize qui sort en 1992.
Le 8 janvier 1991, après avoir été absent du groupe pendant 6 mois, Steve est trouvé mort sur son canapé. L'autopsie révèle que son sang contenait trois fois la limite légale d'alcool pour conduire en Angleterre, du Valium, et de la morphine, ainsi que sa mort fut causée par une overdose de codéine. Aucune preuve de tentative de suicide n'est trouvée.
En août 1991, Tesla sort l'album Psychotic Supper qui comporte une chanson en hommage à Steve : Song & Emotion (To Our Friend, Steve 'Steamin' Clark).
Repose en paix, Steve Clark !]

Steve Clark, Def Leppard

Steve Clark, Def Leppard

Steve Clark, Def Leppard

Steve Clark, Def Leppard

Steve Clark, Def Leppard

Steve Clark, Def Leppard

Steve Clark, Def Leppard

Steve Clark, Def Leppard

Rick Allen, Steve Clark, Joe Elliott, Phil Collen and Rick Savage (Def Leppard)

Rick Allen, Steve Clark, Joe Elliott, Phil Collen and Rick Savage (Def Leppard)

found and shared for you by your blog classic rock stars birthdays
sources: Def Leppard offical website | Def Leppard on facebook | Def Leppard on twitter | galleryhip.com | metalhammer.teamrock.com | steveclarkguitar.com | hardrockmusic80s.blogspot.com | clangandclatter.com | gopixpic.com | steveclark.20m.com | stevemascord.files.wordpress.com | conlasbotaspuestas.tumblr.com | weissguygallery.com | wikipedia