Blimp Time Hop: Def Leppard’s Steve Clark Would’ve Been 60 Today

WBLM remembers legendary Def Leppard guitarist and songwriter, Steve Clark on his birthday.  He was born on April 23, 1960 near Sheffield, England.

His uniquely chunky and circular riffs were a staple in the Def Leppard sound from the time he joined in 1978, until his untimely death in 1991.

Steve Clark always brought the harder, gritty, authentic rock and roll swagger to Def Leppard with his guitar slung way down low, every time.

I feel truly honored to have been able to see him live with Def Lep in Portland on the Hysteria tour.

That's 20 year old me in the middle in the photo with Steve right next to me on the left. This was backstage at the Civic Center in Portland on October 2, 1987.

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Steve Clark played the CCCC with Def Leppard 3 times from 1981 to 1987. The last time Blimpsters saw him onstage in Maine was on the second run of the Hysteria tour.  It was the summer of 1988 at the Seashore Performing Arts Center in Old Orchard Beach.

Here's a roaring tribute to Steve Clark that his mates in Def Leppard made a few years back on a previous birthday anniversary. Riffs like no other! Thank you Steve!

Watch Tesla's powerful performance of Song and Emotion on MTV in 1992. It was written for their dear friend Steve and it chokes us up every time.