Tributes for Steve

Here are just a few of the tributes people paid to Steve on the news of his tragic passing on Tuesday 8th of January 1991

Joe Elliott, Vocalist of Def Leppard: "Steve joined me and Sav, to form Def Leppard in January 1978. He was a really quiet, shy, humble, nice, gentle sort of bloke. On stage he was the business, he was very visual, and very energetic - a great person to be alongside. Steve was a very creative person - he was the master of riffs; he wrote some of the best things we've ever done. We'll definitely miss his creative input. We were due to continue recording our new LP today, but obviously that isn't going to happen. It was a pleasure to know him for thirteen years and I'll miss him like a brother."

Steve M Clark Steve Harris of Iron Maiden: "All of the boys are devastated. Knowing him some 10 years we have always had the greatest respect for him and his creative musical talents. It obviously came as a real shock to me when I heard about Steve especially as we had been close to Leppard for many years because they broke through at the same time as we did. Although we didn't see each other all the time, with both bands having been on the road through the years, it was always a pleasure to bump into him. He was like all the people in Leppard, down to earth and very friendly. Steve will be sorely missed by all of Iron Maiden."

Ian Gillan (Deep Purple, Gillan etc): "I am totally devastated. I knew all the band well and Steve was a fabulous guy. It's an incredibly sad loss not only for his family but for the world of rock music too."

Steve Mark Slaughter, vocalist of Slaughter: "Steve Clark was a very big inspiration to our band because Def Leppard were a big contributing factor to the Slaughter sound, It is a very great loss and we wish the guys in Def Leppard all the best. I'm sure that Steve is now with John Bonham and all the other greats."

Steve with his Firebird Bruce Dickinson, guitarist of Little Angels: "It was a real shock. We identified with Def Leppard quite a lot, not so much in a musical way, but because like them, we all met at school and they came from Sheffield, which isn't far from us. We always looked up to them. I last went to see them at Leeds and I couldn't take my eyes off Steve all night because he looked so great on stage. I switched to Gibson Les Paul guitars after seeing him. It's such a shame that Steve has died. I hope he had a good time on the way. The band have had a lot of bad stuff happen to them. It just goes to show you should enjoy life as you go along and make the best you can of it."

An early pic of Steve Status Quo. Rick Parfitt (guitar): "We met dozens of times and became good mates. He enjoyed life and was a brilliant guitarist."
Francis Rossi (vocals and guitar): "I can't believe it. He was a great guy and we'll miss him. The rock business has lost a superb musician"

Phonogram's (Def Leppard's record company in the UK) press officer: "All the staff of Phonogram were shocked and deeply saddened by the news of Steve Clark's death. everyone who worked with him found a charming person and a consumate professional."

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More quotes from Def Leppard about Steve can be found in the Quotes section.