Motörhead Guitarist ‘Fast’ Eddie Clarke Dies

Share This:

“Fast” Eddie Clarke (Photo via Motörhead Facebook page)

The last surviving member of Motörhead’s classic lineup, “Fast” Eddie Clarke, died yesterday (Jan. 10). The guitarist, born in London on October 5, 1950, died from pneumonia in a hospital. He was 67. Along with singer-bassist Lemmy Kilmister and drummer Phil “Philthy Animal” Taylor, the trio recorded the band’s earliest albums, Motörhead (1977), Overkill (1979), Bomber (1979), No Sleep ‘Til Hammersmith (1981) and more.

After leaving Motörhead in 1982, Clarke went on to form Fastway.

The news of Clarke’s passing was first reported by Ted Carroll, the co-founder of the British label Chiswick Records, in a Facebook post today (Jan. 11).

Carroll wrote: “Just got the sad news from Doug Smith that ‘Fast’ Eddie Clark (sic) the great guitarist who played on all of MOTORHEAD’S biggest hits passed away peacefully last night. He died in hospital where he was being treated for pneumonia. R. I P.”

At around 6:30 a.m. ET, Motorhead wrote a lengthy post about Clarke on their Facebook page:

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…

1981’s No Sleep ‘Til Hammersmith became the group’s first #1 album in the UK

The band’s longtime guitarist Phil Campbell wrote: “Just hear the sad news that Fast Eddie Clark (sic) 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, the band’s longtime drummer (and current drummer for the Scorpions) wrote: “Oh my fucking 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 U.K 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

Watch a reunion performance, including Clarke and Taylor

Kilmister died at 70 on December 28, 2015, just two days after being diagnosed with cancer. Taylor had died less than two months earlier, on Nov. 11, due to liver cancer, at just 61.