Steve Stevens
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Steve Stevens (born Steve Schneider, 5 May, 1959 in Brooklyn, New York) is best known for his often excellent lead guitar playing for other artists (most notably Billy Idol) and somewhat lesser known for his solo effort "Atomic Playboys" album, which featured an MTV hit single video of the same name.
Stevens' hit-making collaboration with Billy Idol started when Idol moved to the USA, shortly after his band Generation X disbanded. Stevens co-wrote and played on the albums Don't Stop ep, Billy Idol (1982), Rebel Yell (1984), Whiplash Smile (1986) and the remix collection Vital Idol (1985). Musical differences during the Whiplash Smile recordings led to the pair parting ways.
Stevens' second solo effort "Flamenco A Go Go" was recorded entirely by himself in his home studio and stemmed from the inspiration he received after attending a concert by Flamenco virtuoso Paco de Lucía.
Stevens (along with Harold Faltermeyer) won a Grammy in 1987 for his performance on the Top Gun soundtrack and has worked with a host of other artists such as Vince Neil, Michael Jackson, Michael Monroe, Thompson Twins, Joni Mitchell, Peter Criss, Steve Lukather, Ric Ocasek, Ben Watkins of Juno Reactor, Greg Bissonette, Pink, Robert Palmer, Jizzy Pearl, Terry Bozzio and Tony Levin (releasing two albums under the name Bozzio, Levin, Stevens), Japanese rock singer Kyosuke Himuro.
After an extended hiatus, Stevens and Idol reunited in 1999 for a series of tours across the USA and Australia. This era included a recording captured for the VH1 show Storytellers, which was subsequently released on CD and DVD. Stevens also appeared in the Billy Idol episode of VH1's Behind The Music.
Such was the success of this renewed collaboration, in 2005, along with producer Keith Forsey, the duo released Billy Idol's Devil's Playground album. This was the first album to feature the hit-making trio since 1986's Whiplash Smile.
External links
- Official Billy Idol website (http://www.billyidol.com)
- Official Steve Stevens website (http://www.stevestevens.net)
- Free Steve Stevens lessons (endorsed by Steve) (http://www.skinnydevil.com/Stevens.html)
- Interview with Steve (http://music.tinfoil.net/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=492)
- Steve on "Devil's Playground" (http://music.tinfoil.net/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1183)