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Steve Clark began his drumming career with various
garage bands in Los Angeles. His first major tour was in 1973 throughout the U.S., Canada, Korea and Japan, as a member of The Roberta Darren Show, in association with the USO. By 1974 he was backing Sam the Sham, The Coasters, Donnie Brooks ("Mission Bell"), and Bobby Day ("Rockin' Robin"). In 1976, Steve played drums on the Rhino Records, Dr. Demento classic, “Pencil Neck Geek,” by pro-wrestler Fred Blassie.
Although Steve and Colin were backing Ray Campi starting in 1974, the band wasn't officially Ray Campi and His Rockabilly Rebels until their first show in 1976 premiering at the World Famous Palomino Club. Jerry had joined just a few months earlier. This band played the Palomino often where they also backed many invited guests including Del Shannon and Bill Kirchen. While working with Ray Campi, Steve was also recording with Rockin' Ronny Weiser at Rollin' Rock Records laying down numerous drum and percussion tracks for Jackie Lee Cochran, Mac Curtis, and Johnny Legend. Ray Campi and His Rockabilly Rebels eventually recorded their first LP "Born To Rock" in 1977 and by 1979 had released their second LP “Wildcat Shakeout” on the Radar/Warner Brothers record label in the U.K. Steve, Jerry and Colin continued with Ray Campi until 1979.
After Ray Campi, the band reorganized as The Rebels and toured with The Clash, Tom Petty and
The Heartbreakers and X. The Rebels also provided backup for Chuck E. Weiss (as in "Chuck E’s in Love") on
various projects produced by Dr. John, Tom Waits
and Ricky Lee Jones. The Rebels backed Colin Winski on his solo debut album "Rock Therapy" and can also be heard in the soundtrack of the 1982 Joan Collins’ movie,
“Homework.”
 In 1994, Steve toured the U.S. West Coast and Japan with the rockabilly band, The RocKats. He played drums and percussion on their CD, “Downtown Saturday Night,” which was released in Japan, April 1994, on the Jimco/Sony label. The CD included two songs written by Jerry: "Guitar Boogie" and "Bippity Bop."
Steve was inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame in 2000: Rockabilly Hall of Fame. His complete discography can be found on
All Music and search for: Steve Clark [Drums].
Photo credits: Greg Gorman (top), Jeffery Scales (group shot), Unknown (bottom) |
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