A new biography on the late Motorhead guitarist ‘Fast’ Eddie Clarke is on its way

April 24, 2024 ROCK

A new biography on the late Motörhead guitarist Eddie Clarke, titled Make My Day: The Rock ‘n’ Roll Story Of Fast Eddie Clarke, is set to release on September 6 via BMG. The book will be part of a box set that includes a four-CD career retrospective.

Written by veteran rock journalist Kris Needs with Clarke’s widow Mariko Fujiwara, the biography explores “Fast Eddie’s” life and career. Clarke, a key member of Motörhead from 1976 to 1982, played alongside frontman Lemmy and drummer Phil “Philthy Animal” Taylor. During his tenure, the band released several iconic albums, including Motörhead, Overkill, Ace of Spades, Bomber, No Sleep ’til Hammersmith, and Iron Fist.

The book delves into various aspects of Clarke’s life, including his musical epiphany seeing the Yardbirds at Eel Pie Island, playing with various bands, recording two albums with former Jimi Hendrix associate Curtis Knight, forming Fastway, and releasing two solo albums. It also features insights from his closest friends, touching on his early life in Twickenham, his rise to fame with Motörhead, personal struggles, marriage, and even his affection for his Maltese-Shihtzu cross, Cookie.

Journalist Needs, who spent five years with Motörhead as one of their earliest press champions, brings Clarke’s story to life through interviews with the guitarist’s close friends and bandmates, as well as associated bands such as Girlschool and Saxon.

The accompanying CD set spans Fast Eddie’s 40-year recording career. The tracklisting is as follows:

CD ONE: The Early Years

  1. Intro – Fast Eddie Clarke
  2. Cloud – Curtis Knight Zeus
  3. The Confession – Curtis Knight Zeus
  4. People Places And Things – Curtis Knight Zeus
  5. Takin’ It Easy – Continuous Performance
  6. In The Morning – Continuous Performance
  7. White Lightning – The Muggers
  8. (Just A) Nightmare – The Muggers
  9. Summertime Blues – The Muggers

CD TWO: Motörhead

  1. Ace Of Spades
  2. Step Down (Eddie vocals)
  3. Lawman (Bomber demo)
  4. Alligator (Bomber demo)
  5. Dead Men Tell No Tales (Bomber demo)
  6. Emergency (Eddie vocals)
  7. Motörhead (Live)
  8. Stone Dead Forever (Eddie vocals)
  9. Iron Fist
  10. Bomber
  11. The Chase Is Better Than The Catch
  12. The Hammer
  13. Overkill

CD THREE: Fastway

  1. All I Need Is Your Love (Pete Way Demo)
  2. Say What You Will
  3. Feel Me, Touch Me (Pete Way Demo)
  4. Easy Livin’ (Live, Loudpark 07)
  5. Trick Or Treat
  6. Heft
  7. All Fired Up
  8. Change Of Heart
  9. Deliver Me (Remix)
  10. Fade Out (Remix)
  11. Leave The Light On (Remix)
  12. Lovin’ Fool (Remix)
  13. Sick As A Dog (Remix)

CD FOUR: The Solo Years

  1. Snakebite (New Version)
  2. Laugh At The Devil (New Version)
  3. All Over Bar The Shouting
  4. No Satisfaction
  5. Make My Day (feat. Bill Sharpe)
  6. Heavy Load (feat. Bill Sharpe)
  7. Walking Too Slow (feat. Bill Sharpe)
  8. Ethereal Blue (feat. Bill Sharpe)
  9. Mountains To The Sea (feat. Bill Sharpe)
  10. My New Life (feat. Bill Sharpe)
  11. Over And Out
  12. 21st Century (Alternative Mix) – Black Electric