'FAST' EDDIE CLARKE

Ladies & Gentleman.....the legendary.....'Fast' Eddie Clarke.

1. How are you, where are you?
I am in good health and spend my time between Spain, Cornwall and London.

2. What's currently happening in Eddie Clarke’s world?
My last gig was with a German band called Bastards who are a Motorhead cover band and I played with them for the tsunami victims in February. We did two shows and it was really good to be playing the old songs. I still do music at home and do the odd sessions for friends who need serious guitar.

3. What has been the best concert of one of your peers that you have ever attended?
My fondest memory is of Jimi Hendrix with the Experience playing at the Saville Theatre in London in 1967. I still have yet to see a gig with more excitement but I was a lot younger then. I have been to many gigs since my career took off but once you are in a band yourself it is not the same any more as you are thinking of all aspects of a show whereas before you are just there to get your mind blown! Hahahaha....

4. Do you remember the first place/time you ever stepped on stage, and what happened?
I have many memories of first gigs but the one that sticks in my mind was the first ever gig with Motorhead. We were supporting Stray at the Lyceum in London in August 1976.As became the norm in those days my amplifier blew up trying to keep up with Lemmy and I was very embarrassed but as it happened more and more I got used to it. But the first one took a little bit of getting over.

5. What was the first song you ever wrote/performed?
I guess it was "White Line Fever". It was the first song Motorhead wrote together followed by "Keep Us On The Road".

6. What performer are you in awe of, and why?
Not really in awe of any players apart from Hendrix who really was for me the heaviest and the best guitarist ever in his field. He was so good that I never tried to copy him.

7. What have been the high and low points of your career to date?
The high point was four nights sold-out Hammersmith on the "Ace of Spades" tour and also "No Sleep" going straight at No.1. The low points are too numerous to mention but I guess not being in a band is about as low as you can get because it is not much fun making music on your own.

8. What is your favourite city to have a show in and why?
Two memorable cities spring to mind are Newcastle where we were made to feel like the Beatles because the crowds would not even let us in the gig in their enthusiasm for the band and the police had to escort us in, and the crowds always went mad at the gigs and Belfast as Motorhead were one of the few bands to gig there because of the trouble. We used to get the best reception ever, and always over the top support and great partying afterwards.

9. If you could tell someone to do something what would it be?
Well, I like to let people decide their own fate as I have made many mistakes in my life I can hardly tell other people how to run their lives but I do believe people should be their own judge of themselves. Do unto others as you would do to yourself.

10. What colour is the sky in your world?
What a strange question! I suppose it is the same as everyone else's. Sometimes grey, sometimes blue as in sunny. That's the best I can do on that one.

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