'Fast Eddie' Clarke, last surviving member of Motörhead, dies aged 67

Telegraph Reporters
Updated
Eddie Clarke performing in 1977 - Redferns
Eddie Clarke performing in 1977 - Redferns

Musician Eddie Allen Clarke, known as "Fast Eddie", has died after suffering from pneumonia. He was 67.

Clarke was the last surviving member of Motörhead's classic line-up, after Phil Taylor, known as "Philthy Animal Taylor", died in November 2015, six weeks before frontman Lemmy (born Ian Fraser Kilmister) passed away aged 70.

The news was broken on the Motörhead Facebook page, which posted a statement confirming that Clarke had died on Wednesday. It read: "Ted Carroll (who formed Chiswick Records) made the sad announcement via his [Facebook] page, having heard from Doug Smith that Fast Eddie passed peacefully in hospital where he was being treated for pneumonia..."

Phil Campbell, the last guitarist in Motörhead, paid tribute: "Just heard the sad news that Fast Eddie Clarke has passed away. Such a shock, he will be remembered for his iconic riffs and was a true rock'n'roller. RIP Eddie."

With Lemmy (left) and Phil Taylor (middle) in 1981
With Lemmy (left) and Phil Taylor (middle) in 1981

Mikkey Dee, the group's drummer, said: "Oh my f------- god, this is terrible news. The last of the three amigos. I saw Eddie not to 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. Now Lem and Philthy can jam with Eddie again, and if you listen carefully I'm sure you'll hear them, so watch out!" 

Clarke was the band's main guitarist, and his riffs feature on most of Motörhead's best-selling singles and albums. He joined the group in 1976 and played with the band throughout their hey-day, leaving in 1982 after he disagreed with Motörhead collaborating with the Plasmatics, and felt disappointment with the results of their Iron Fist album. 

Clarke continued to pursue music, forming a second band, Fastway, with UFO bassist Pete Way. He continued to make music until his later years, both as a soloist and with other musicians. In 2014, he reunited with Lemmy to play Ace of Spades, one of Motörhead's best-known songs, in Birmingham.