23 Facts About Steve Clark

Steve Clark was a guitarist and songwriter for the hard rock band Def Leppard until his death in 1991.

In 2007, Steve Clark was ranked No 11 on Classic Rock Magazine's "100 Wildest Guitar Heroes".

In 2019, Steve Clark was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Def Leppard.

Steve Clark studied classical guitar for a year before he first heard the music of Jimmy Page and Led Zeppelin at a friend's house.

When Steve Clark left school, his first employer was the engineering firm GEC Traction, where he worked as a lathe operator.

Steve Clark was three years into a four-year apprenticeship with the firm at the time Def Leppard was signed to a record deal with Phonogram Records.

Willis spotted Steve Clark reading a guitar book and asked if he played.

Steve Clark then invited Clark to come and audition for his band, as they were looking to add a second guitarist.

Steve Clark never showed up, but when Willis and singer Joe Elliott bumped into Steve Clark again at a Judas Priest gig, Willis re-issued his invitation.

Steve Clark finally came down to their rehearsal room and joined Def Leppard in January 1978.

Steve Clark primarily played Gibson Guitars during his career and signed an endorsement with Gibson in 1987.

Steve Clark was occasionally seen playing other guitars, including a Fender Stratocaster for the song and video "Love Bites".

Steve Clark's only other contribution was an occasional approval of what the rest of the band was working on, referring to it as "cool".

However, the deluxe rerelease of Adrenalize features a demo of the song "Tonight", which Steve Clark performed in, having been recorded in 1988, intended to be a B-side for Hysteria.

Steve Clark was engaged to an American model, Lorelei Shellist, the two having been together seven years.

Shellist revealed in her autobiography, Runway Runaway, that Steve Clark's alcoholism played a major role in their breakup.

Steve Clark agreed to enter a rehabilitation centre, but left without completing the programme and resumed drinking.

Steve Clark became engaged to a recovering heroin addict named Janie Dean shortly before his death.

At the time of his death, Steve Clark was on a leave of absence from Def Leppard.

Weeks prior to his death, Steve Clark was found unconscious inside a bar in Minneapolis and was rushed to Hazelden Addiction Treatment Center.

Steve Clark checked into a rehab facility in Arizona with the promise that his spot in Def Leppard would be held for him until he was healthy.

Daniel Van Alphen, Steve Clark's drinking companion the night before, testified that they went to a local pub and returned to Steve Clark's home at midnight to watch a video.

Steve Clark was buried at Wisewood Cemetery in Loxley, Sheffield, near to where the Steve Clark family still reside.