Eddie Clark

Fastway

Fast Eddie Clarke was there when MOTORHEAD began releasing hits into the air. After his departure he helped founding the Hard Rock band, FASTWAY. After twenty years without a word, the band is back with a new album under the name of "Dog Eat Dog". Kostya Aronberg had a nice conversation with Fast Eddie about his past, the new album and his thoughts about music.

By Kostya Aronberg

• May 6, 2012

Hello Eddie Clarke and welcome to Metal Temple! How are you?

All good here another day older and deeper in debt.

Let's begin with the origins. How did you decide to become Guitar player? What was the music that inspired you in those days?

It all began with the YARDBIRDS with Eric Clapton. The YARDBIRDS had a residency at the "Crawdaddy" in Richmond. It was also the starting point for the ROLLING STONES. Fortunately living close by meant I could go along every week and that is when I got bitten by the guitar bug. From that time on, I never looked back. I formed a garage band and we played the whole 5 live YARDBIRDS album. Then came the BLUESBREAKERS with Eric and the guitar thing just kept getting stronger and then of course there was the CREAM and then JIMI HENDRIX it really was a guitar fest in those days and I wanted to be part of it.

In 1977 you joined the MOTORHEAD band and with you the guys recorded their best albums (in my opinion): "Motorhead", "Overkill", "Ace of Spades", "Bomber", "No Sleep 'til Hammersmith" and "Iron Fist". Could you please tell us more about these days?

It was actually May 1976 when I first played with MOTORHEAD… The early days were difficult as we had no financial backing or management. The original MOTORHEAD had their album canned by United Artists and things were not looking too good. But back in those days they were lean times for everyone so we just gritted our teeth and refused to give up. Eventually this attitude paid off and we had a chance to record for Chiswick Records which gave us a foothold. Then it all went quiet again but eventually offered a small deal with Bronze Records which was an independent label and we took the chance with both hands and released "Overkill" and later that year we released "Bomber" we really were on fire. For that reason they are probably my 2 favourite albums. Not to take away from "Ace of Spades" which was probably a Masterpiece for us it's just that the early days always seem so much fun a bit like the Chase is Better Than the Catch. We followed that with a tour of the US with Ozzy's BLIZZARD OF OZ and "No Sleep 'til Hammersmith" was released in our absence which meant when it went to No 1 we missed out on all the free drinks… When we returned from that years touring the record company and management were screaming for a new album and on reflection I think we should have had a bit more time to regroup. We did "Iron Fist" and it was the most difficult album to date and we had lost some of our enthusiasm which led to me being forced to leave the band.

It must be a great expanse for you to work with such amazing guys .

They were great days and I always felt we were like brothers but that all blew up in my face over the Wendy O Williams debacle. I felt betrayed but that was a long time ago and I get along just fine with Phil and Lemmy.

Over all these years you had traveled a lot across the whole world, but do you remember something from the tours that makes you Laugh/cry/or just say "what the fuck?"

These are always difficult questions. They

threw us in jail in Finland and that was a very strange time for us because we didn't know if we were going to get out or not. After 3days the management did some sort of deal with the police and we were escorted to the frontier and put on a plane where the pilot threatened to have us arrested and the police met us from the plane. Then we had to get a train and the guard on the train said he was going to have us arrested, I was glad to get home that night.

In 1983 you and Pete Way formed FASTWAY. How did you and Pete come to idea to form this band?

I was no longer in MOTORHEAD and was in shock and Pete had just left UFO and was reeling from the new situation so someone suggested we get together so we met up in the pub and as we both liked a drink we got along great. We decided to have a jam and while setting up rehearsals we ran into Topper from THE CLASH and we decided it would be great to jam together, which we did for a couple of weeks sadly Topper was unable to continue. While searching for a new drummer we came across Jerry Shirley who has got to be one of the all time great drummers. Then we put ads in the music papers whilst doing interviews and amongst the hundreds of tapes we found Dave King. Finding a name was a nightmare when you have both been in iconic bands with great names everything sounds naff so we opted for the Fast Eddie and Pete Way Idea. FASTWAY.

Pete Way had announced his departure from the band to play bass for Ozzy Osbourne's BLIZZARD OF OZZ just before you started the recording of your first album. Did it affect on the band's music in some ways?

Petedidn't announce it he just didn't show up for rehearsals I did not see or hear from him for 7 years. It did affect the band well me at least. We had started this thing together and it was shaping up really well when he disappeared deep down I was really upset and although we carried on the band was never the same the vibe was damaged and I still don't know why Ozzy took Pete from FASTWAY, they fired him after 3 shows.

In 1992 the band toured across the world with many great musicians, like AC/DC. What can you tell us about these guys and how was the feeling touring with them?

We were fortunate in touring with some great bands and real gentleman. AC / DC was real special for me as they were and are still my favourite Rock band… They gave us everything we wanted lights and as much volume as we needed this was a truly great tour… Not all the bands were this helpful but AC / DC are the best in the world. They lived up to it.

Now in 2012, after twenty years, the band released its new album "Eat Dog Eat". If you could describe this album in few sentences how would you do it?

I wanted to make an album that embodied all the things I love in Rock music so with EDE I stuck to my old ways and created an album that is just what Fast Eddie should sound like. Great Riffs, great vocals time is in short supply now so I really wanted to revisit the love of my life which is Classic Rock Music.

Are you satisfied with the result?

I am very satisfied I think we managed to create a classic Rock album that does not sound that dated and is performed with real conviction.

If you could get a chance to come back in the past and change something in your musical carrier, what would you change?

I have been very fortunate and had a great career and have been part of some great albums. Sure there are things that could have worked out better but I have had my fair share of good fortune so I think overall I am happy.

John Schaffer of ICED EARTH has recently said "The music industry has changed and everything is different". I'd like to know your opinion about it.

I guess it was inevitable it was going to change I am not sure it's for the best but of course I liked it the way it was, as it was my time then.

Thanks so much for the interview! Any last words that you want to say to our readers and your fans?

I had a ball making this record and I hope you can hear this when you listen to it. I made it for all the right reasons and if you like it half as much as I do I will have succeeded. Thanks for all the great years. Live Long and Prosper !!!

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