Eddie Clarke dead: Motorhead guitarist dies aged 67 after pneumonia battle

Drummer Mikkey Dee said the news left him in "complete shock"
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Emma Powell11 January 2018
The Weekender

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Motörhead guitarist “Fast” Eddie Clarke has died, aged 67, after a battle with pneumonia.

The news was confirmed on the band's official Facbeook page following his death on Wednesday.

A statement reads: “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...

“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.”

Guitarist Phil Campbell, who played guitar with the band from 1984, said he has been left in “shock” by the death of the “true rock and roller”.

Devastating: Fast Eddie Clarke performing on stage
Rex

Mikkey Dee, who played drums for the rock band until they disbanded in 2015, also paid tribute, posting: “OH MY F****** 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 UK 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."

Clarke, full name Edward Allan Clarke, was born in Twickenham on October, 5 1950.

He was the last remaining member of what is known as the "classic" Motörhead line-up.

He joined the group in 1976 alongside drummer Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor and frontman Ian Fraser "Lemmy" Kilmister who both died in 2015.

The trio went on to have success with albums including Overkill, Bomber, Ace of Spades, and No Sleep 'til Hammersmith before Clarke left in 1982.

Clarke went on to form Fastway with bassist Pete Way of UFO fame. The band released their self-titled debut album in 1983, and went on to release a further six studio albums, one of which was their 2011 comeback, Dog Eat Dog.

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