Guitar master of Motörhead and rejuvenator of Fastway, Fast Eddie had all the right influences to show him the way. Here they are, picked by the man himself.

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Fast Eddie Clarke — guitar master of Motörhead (all you have to do is listen to “Ace of Spades”) and rejuvenator of Fastway (all you have to do is listen to the most recent album, Eat Dog Eat). In honor of Fast Eddie’s birthday this week — October 5, 1950 — here are the 10 main albums that have had an influence on his life:

1. Yardbirds – Five Live Yardbirds. This was the first album that drew my attention to lead guitar and also Eric Clapton. I borrowed it off a friend’s older brother. I played most of this album in my first band.

2. John Mayall – Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton. By the time this came out I was well on my way with my guitar playing. I was lucky to see John Mayall live many times. This is how I wanted to play guitar and how I wanted it to sound. I played most of this album in my second band.

3. Jimi Hendrix – Are You Experienced. I was blown away by this. The guitar playing was out of this world. I was still in the Eric Clapton camp but you could not help but be influenced by this great album. I was lucky enough to have seen Jimi live three times in small venues. It really was something.

4. Cream – Fresh Cream. I had followed Eric to the ends of the earth with John Mayall and the first Cream album didn’t disappoint. I was at their first gig at the Windsor Jazz and Rock festival and saw them many times.

5. Jeff Beck – Truth. This had a great line up and some great moments on it. I think it is his best rock album. The later solo stuff, Blow by Blow, etc., was a different animal and you had to be into guitar only, which I was not. I like vocals so the solos have their place.

6. Led Zeppelin II. When I heard this for the first time I had just been told I had lost my gig. The solo in “Whole Lotta Love” haunts me to this day.

7. Deep Purple – In Rock. The guitar solos on this album, I think, are amazing. Every one of the tracks has its own signature guitar solo. The variation and themes of the solos helped me always try and make each solo unique.

8. Humble Pie – Rockin’the Filmore. When I heard this for the first time I thought to myself: this is the best album ever and whatever anyone may say or think Peter Frampton is a very fine guitar player.

9. Santana – Caravanserai. Now this really surprised me. I loved it from day one and still play it regularly today. I loved the first two albums but the third was a disappointment. So this was very welcome.

10. Joe Walsh – So What.  I loved the way Joe Walsh found so much space. I was a big fan of the Yer Album by the James Gang but So What really struck a chord with me. Shortly after this I joined Motörhead and the landscape completely changed.

 

To read a recent Powerline interview with Fast Eddie, please click here.