“Fast” Eddie Clark was the final living member of the original lineup
Former Motorhead guitarist “Fast” Eddie Clarke has died at the age of 67. Chickwick Records founder Ted Carroll made the announcement on Facebook early this morning Pacific time.
“Just got the sad news from Doug Smith that ‘Fast’ Eddie Clark 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,” Carroll writes.
Motorhead states on Facebook, “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…”
Current Motorhead drummer Mikkey Dee says, “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 [Scorpions]. 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 was the final living member of the original lineup. Motorhead founder, frontman, bassist and singer Lemmy Kilmister died in 2015 at the age of 70 shortly after finding out he had an aggressive form of cancer. A month prior, Taylor passed away from liver failure.
Clarke joined Motorhead in 1976, shortly after Taylor introduced him to Kilmister. Clarke recorded four studio albums with the trio before leaving in the midst of a tour in 1982 because he was reportedly unhappy with the way their album, Iron Fist, turned out.