Steve Clarke (drummer)
| Steve Clarke | |
|---|---|
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Steven Gerald Clarke |
| Born |
November 20, 1959 London, England |
| Genres | Jazz-rock, heavy metal, post-bop |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter, bandleader, instructor |
| Instruments | Drums |
| Years active | 1977–present |
| Associated acts | Fastway, Network, Atomgod, Quasar, Tank, Leader Of Down |
Steve Clarke was born in London, England on 20 November 1959. He started playing drums aged four under tuition from his uncle, Jeff Whetstone and father Eric Clarke. Subsequently, Steve joined the Boys' Brigade where he developed his rudimentary and marching techniques.
Aged 21, Steve worked as a tech for drummer Billy Cobham, he then made his first album in 1981 with guitarist Steve Topping under the name Volume 33, which was recorded live at the Hamborough Tavern in Southall.
From 1979-1980 Clarke had a brief stint in the progressive rock band Quasar with the unknown John Clark, who left to join Bruford at the request of Allan Holdsworth to record the album 'Gradually Going Tornado'. John Clark (AKA "the unknown John Clark") was a guitar student of Allan Holdsworth whom he recommended as his replacement. Clark is now a long-term guitar player with Cliff Richards' band.
Also in the 80's, Steve worked closely with Jeff Pain a.k.a. 'Dicken' from UK band Mr Big, recording a number of songs which would not see the light of day for a few years to come. Steve also recorded drums on the album 'Rainbow Bridge'.
In 1986 Steve formed the group 'Network' with guitarist Tim Crowther keyboard player Pete Jacobsen bassists Paul Rogers and Laurence Cottle and trumpet player Ted Emmett, augmented by the likes of Steve Topping, David Cross from King Crimson and Hugh Hopper of Soft Machine. The band would go on to make four albums and a best of compilation entitled "View From The Bar".
The album Corroded Path, recorded in 1989 was described by Bradley Smith in the Billboard Guide To Progressive Music as follows.
"Corroded Path is a minor treasure of UK fusion, directly picking up where groups like Brand X and Bruford left off. Eight tracks follow the friendlier and melodic paths of fusion, with a swinging smoothness that isn't earth shattering but is easy to like. The accent here is on concise, jazzy arrangements, with Crowther's restrained guitar soloing recalling some of the best of Allan Holdsworth and Al Dimeola. Imagine Bill Bruford's Earthworks band electrified and you get the sound of Network. Emmett's Miles Davis-like solos are superb, particularly when he is more up-front as on "Obsessive Behaviour". Occasionally the funky bass lines and piano breaks resemble Return to Forever, and Clarke's big drum sound vividly recalls Bill Bruford and the Phil Collins-era Brand X. The sound quality is good throughout, with production values ideal for an analog recording like this. Like Chad Wickerman's The View in the United States, Network's Corroded Path successfully continues the most attractive band dynamics of the jazz-rock fusion form."
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Wikipedia