 
What I really want to say today you see scrolling above these words: that Steve Clark made the world a better place just by being in it.Steve has given me so much, just as he has countless other fans around the world. If you were to ask me what I love about him most I could give you a huge list, but I couldn't pick out one thing over anything else - Steve was the complete package, he had it all, and he had it in abundance. A greater musician and guitarist, in my opinion, has never walked this planet, and neither would you ever find anyone more gentle, kind and down to earth.
I am used to seeing guitarists without as much talent in their whole body as Steve had in his little finger, and yet the chances are they're on an ego trip, and think they're God's Gift to music. One of the things that drew me to Steve was how down to earth he was - all that talent and yet no ego to go with it. I don't think that he had any idea how great a guitarist he was, but then that was Steve for you - humble to the last.
I was never fortunate enough to see Steve in all his majesty on stage, as I just missed out, so I am grateful for the In The Round In Your Face video that was shot, just as any other fan is. There was always something special about Steve, that you just couldn't help but be captivated by him, his presence, his gift of music. What Steve's music means to me is summed up in one sentence that is on the main page of Steve Clark In Loving Memory... that Steve expressed his soul through his hands.
For a while everything was wonderful... glued to the the TV watching my precious ITRIYF and Historia videos; I vowed to learn guitar, urged on by Steve's sheer genius; I nearly split my sides laughing at Animal Instinct reading about some of the things Steve used to get up to with Phil and Phay; I played my Def Leppard vinyl so much I really don't know how many copies I got through and as many other die hard fans did, I joined the fan club to keep up as much as I possibly could. I couldn't wait until the next album would be released and I was eagerly awaiting the tour to go with it more than anything else I had ever wanted... but of course it never happened.
January 8th 1991 broke my heart. The world lost it's most talented guitarist, and I lost someone I looked up to with awe. In time I would learn that that wasn't all I lost that day.
What you see before you now is a product of what I lost that day, and that is possibly the only person I will probably ever truly understand, save for close family. The last three years I have dedicated this site to Steve and to help those who share our common problems of depression and anxiety. I'll be honest, there are times when I've wondered why I bother with trying to raise awareness, but then I'll get someone tell me that they are so grateful for the information I put on here and that it has helped them get back on track or try something new to alleviate their symptoms.
I am used to having to prepare things sometimes 8 months in advance to make sure that Steve doesn't go without a tribute on his anniversary here at my website (most of what you read here today was actually being written in April 2005). Unfortuntely for me the story doesn't quite end here this time. My illness has now progressed further than Steve's ever got chance to because I have now been diagnosed with something else to contend with which makes the days of being "just" depressed and stressed seem like a walk in the park (I wasn't even sure I would be around to place this on my site today)... but you know what? Even during all of this, Steve still keeps me hanging in there with his music and his sweet smile and some beautiful memories... that and naturally the love from my family and those helping me, is all that is keeping me going.
I really wish that Steve could have known how much of an impact he has had on so many people's lives. If he knew, maybe he would still be here today.
Steve, you were so special and you never knew how much. Thank you for being you, for your gift that you shared with the world, for creating the most awe-inspiring riffs and solos and for giving those of us who share one of more of the problems you had, the courage to carry on.
You are truly an inspiration and I can't come close to expressing just how much you mean to me.
A wallpaper is available in either a small version or a larger one. These will fit most visitors screens. If I am well enough to do so and there is sufficient demand for it, I will produce a larger version if these are too small for some people.
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