Steve Clark 1443316 224881339 2008-07-10T20:44:16Z ImageRemovalBot 4851336 Removing deleted [[:Image:Terror-twins.jpg|image]] {{unref|[[WP:BLP|biographical article]]|date=April 2008}} {{otheruses4|the late Def Leppard guitarist|other persons named Steve Clark|Steve Clark (disambiguation)}} {{Infobox musical artist | Name = Steve Clark | Img = Steve-clark.jpg | Img_capt = | Background = non_vocal_instrumentalist | Birth_name = Stephen Maynard Clark | Born = {{birth date|1960|04|23|df=y}}<br>[[Hillsborough, South Yorkshire]], [[England]] | Died = {{death date and age|1991|1|8|1960|4|23|df=y}}<br>[[London]], [[England]] | Alias = ''White Lightning'', ''Steamin''', ''riffmaster'' | Genre = [[Heavy metal music|Heavy metal]]<br>[[Hard rock]] | Occupation = [[Guitarist]], [[Songwriter]] | Instrument = [[Guitar]], [[Backing vocalist|Vocals]] | Associated_acts = [[Def Leppard]] | Label = [[Island Records|Island]], [[Mercury Records|Mercury]] | Years_active = 1978 – 1991 | URL = http://www.steveclarkguitar.com <br> http://www.defleppard.com | Notable_instruments = [[Gibson Les Paul]]<br>[[Gibson Firebird]]<br>[[Gibson EDS-1275]] }} <!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Terror-twins.jpg|frame|right|[[Phil Collen]] and '''Steve Clark''', dubbed as "The Terror Twins".]] --><!-- [[Image:Clark-live.jpg|thumb|150px|Steve Clark playing live with [[Def Leppard]].]]--> '''Stephen Maynard Clark''' ([[April 23]], [[1960]] – [[January 8]], [[1991]]) was one of the co-lead guitarists for [[Great Britain|British]] [[hard rock]] band [[Def Leppard]] up until his death in [[1991 in music|1991]]. ==Biography== ===Childhood and adolescence=== Clark was born and raised in [[Hillsborough, South Yorkshire|Hillsborough]], the north-western suburb of [[Sheffield]], [[England]]. From an early age he showed interest in music -- his mother even took him to a concert to see [[The Shadows]] perform when he was six. At eleven, he asked his father for a guitar, and his father gave him one, on the condition that Steve would learn to play. His favourite guitarist was [[Led Zeppelin]]'s [[Jimmy Page]]; after hearing "How Many More Times," he fell in love with the sound and knew he wanted to continue with a musical career. He soon exchanged his acoustic guitar for an electric. After that, Steve started learning some [[Led Zeppelin]] songs note by note, improving his style and technique in one. More evidently because he loved Jimmy Page, Clark only used [[Gibson Guitar Corporation|Gibson]] guitars during his timeline with Def Leppard.. ===Career and technique=== Before joining [[Def Leppard]] in [[1978 in music|1978]], he played cover songs with his small band, ''Electric Chicken'', in Sheffield. Around that time, he met [[Pete Willis]] (Def Leppard's original guitarist/founder). Steve asked for a spot in the band and joined Def Leppard in January 1978. According to [[Joe Elliott]] in ''[[Behind the Music]]'', Clark auditioned for Def Leppard by playing all of [[Lynyrd Skynyrd]]'s "Freebird". While a guitarist for Def Leppard, he was one of the main contributors to the band's music and lyrics. More importantly, Clark threatened to leave the band if they didn't go out and play. Considering the impact he had on the band's skill level and songwriting, lead singer [[Joe Elliott]] scrambled to find a suitable gig. He and Pete Willis shared lead guitar duties, but many of the band's gems could be attributed to Clark's virtuosity. A notable song in mind that shows Steve Clark's iconic guitar riffs is the instrumental "Switch 625" off of High 'n' Dry. When Willis was asked to leave due to his drinking problem, former Girl guitarist [[Phil Collen]] auditioned for the band. Elliott gave Collen a copy of Photograph, a track off the band's Pyromania album, asking Collen to come up with a solo for the song. The next day Collen played the solo for the band and he was in. Clark and Collen were dubbed the [[Terror Twins]] in homage to Aerosmith's [[Toxic Twins]] ([[Steven Tyler]] and [[Joe Perry (musician)|Joe Perry]]). Over the years, Collen quit drinking and adopted a healthy lifestyle; however, Clark did not. The other members of [[Def Leppard]] looked upon Steve as a great guitarist and showman, his live performances being memorable in that respect. But his musical work with the group was increasingly interrupted by his severe alcoholism. Lead singer [[Joe Elliott]] said while other band members would be out playing soccer, visiting family, or watching a movie, the only thing Steve was interested in was drinking and/or playing guitar. In fact, one night in Minneapolis, Steve was found unconscious with a blood/alcohol level of .59. [[John Bonham]] of the band Led Zeppelin died with a blood alcohol level of .41 Since the late [[1980]]'s, Clark's addiction to alcohol was seriously damaging his musical career. He often showed up intoxicated, causing problems in the recording sessions for Hysteria. His role with the band was limited everywhere but onstage, in which case he was always ready, able and sober. During the Hysteria 1988 World Tour, Steve played different intro riffs for three famous Def Leppard songs "[[Gods of War (song)|Gods of War]]" and then with [[Phil Collen]] on "[[Bringin' on the Heartbreak]]" and "[[Hysteria (Def Leppard song)|Hysteria]]" The 1992 song [[White Lightning (song)|White Lightning]] on the album [[Adrenalize]] was written about Steve Clark, because the members nicknamed him "White Lightning" for his preference to use white clothes on stage often. He is best remembered for the powerful riffs that drove Def Leppard's first four albums in the 1980s, for which he was also nicknamed as "The Riffmaster". His distinctive style can be heard in particular on "Wasted" (from ''[[On Through the Night]]''), "[[Bringin' on the Heartbreak]]" (from ''[[High 'N' Dry]]''), "Die Hard the Hunter" (from ''[[Pyromania (album)|Pyromania]]'') and "[[Gods of War (song)|Gods of War]]" (from [[Hysteria (album)|Hysteria]]). He contributed to half of the songs on the band's 1992 album "[[Adrenalize]]" just prior his death. ==Death== In [[1991 in music|1991]], Clark was found dead on his couch by Janie Dean -- his girlfriend at the time. The autopsy revealed he died from a mixture of anti-depressants, painkillers (used for a rib injury), and alcohol. There was no evidence of suicidal intent. Daniel Van Alphen, Clark's drinking companion the night before, testified that the two went to the local pub and returned to the guitarist's home at midnight to watch a video. Van Alphen said Clark drank a triple vodka, a quadruple vodka and a double brandy within 30 minutes. When Clark passed out on the couch, Van Alphen said he left. Dr. Iain West, the pathologist who performed the autopsy, testified that Clark's blood alcohol level was three times the British legal limit and an antidepressant drug and a painkiller were both found at levels exceeding normal therapeutic doses. He said valium was detected at normal levels. His girlfriend sold his famous Gibsons as collector's items. At the time of his death, he was on a six-month leave of absence from [[Def Leppard]]. The band had allegedly grown despondent over their repeated, failed efforts to help Clark and decided time off was the only solution. Steve's remains are buried at Wisewood Cemetery in Hillsbrough, Sheffield, near his family's house. [[Tesla (band)|Tesla]], who opened for Def Leppard on the ''Hysteria'' tour, recorded a tribute to Steve Clark on their ''Psychotic Supper'' album, called "Song & Emotion (To Our Friend, Steve 'Steamin' Clark)". ==Gear== Clark used: *[[Gibson Les Paul]] *[[Gibson Firebird]] *[[Gibson EDS-1275]] guitars in concert *[[Hamer|Hamer Standard]] *[[Fender Stratocaster]] ==See also== * [[Def Leppard]] * [[List of guitarists]] ==Notes== <references/> ==External links== * [http://www.deflepparduk.com/steveclark.html Steve Clark] @ Def Leppard UK * [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5EnIQwv-2E Tesla - Song & Emotion Live] @ YouTube.com <!-- Succession table --> {{start box}} {{succession box| title=[[Def Leppard]] Lead Guitarist| before=''Original''| after=[[Vivian Campbell]]| years=[[1978]]-[[1991]]}} {{end box}} {{Def Leppard}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Clark, Steve}} [[Category:1961 births]] [[Category:1991 deaths]] [[Category:Alcohol-related deaths]] [[Category:English heavy metal guitarists]] [[Category:Def Leppard members]] [[Category:Drug-related deaths]] [[Category:People from Sheffield]] [[cs:Steve Clark]] [[de:Steve Clark]] [[es:Steve Clark]] [[fr:Steve Clark]] [[it:Steve Clark (chitarrista)]] [[pl:Steve Clark]] [[fi:Steve Clark]] [[sv:Steve Clark]]