Steve Stevens (born Steven Bruce Schneider; May 5, 1959) is an American guitarist. He is best known as
Billy Idol
William Michael Albert Broad (born 30 November 1955), known professionally as Billy Idol, is a British-American singer, songwriter, and musician. He first achieved fame in the 1970s emerging from the London punk rock scene as the lead singer o ...
's guitarist and songwriting collaborator,
and for his lead guitar work on the theme to ''
Top Gun'' – "
Top Gun Anthem
"''Top Gun'' Anthem" is an instrumental rock composition and the theme of the ''Top Gun'' media franchise, including the original 1986 film ''Top Gun'' and its 2022 sequel ''Maverick''. Harold Faltermeyer wrote the music with Steve Stevens playi ...
" – for which he won a
Grammy
The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pre ...
in 1987:
Best Pop Instrumental Performance
The Grammy Award
The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by m ...
.
Stevens has played for
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Dubbed the "King of Pop", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. Over a ...
,
Ric Ocasek
Richard Theodore Otcasek (March 23, 1944 – September 15, 2019), known as Ric Ocasek, was an American singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer. He was the primary co-lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, songwriter, and frontman for the rock ...
,
Robert Palmer, and many others.
Stevens was in
Vince Neil
Vincent Neil Wharton (born February 8, 1961), best known by the stage name Vince Neil, is an American musician. He is the lead vocalist and occasional rhythm guitarist of heavy metal band Mötley Crüe, which he fronted from their 1981 forma ...
's band from 1992 to 1994, touring and recording on his album ''
Exposed
Expose, exposé, or exposed may refer to:
News sources
* Exposé (journalism), a form of investigative journalism
* '' The Exposé'', a British conspiracist website
Film and TV Film
* ''Exposé'' (film), a 1976 thriller film
* ''Exposed'' (1932 ...
''. Stevens was a founding member of the supergroup
Bozzio Levin Stevens
Bozzio Levin Stevens is an American Supergroup (music), supergroup power trio formed by drummer Terry Bozzio (Frank Zappa, U.K. (band), U.K., Missing Persons (band), Missing Persons, Steve Vai, Jeff Beck), bassist and Chapman Stick player Tony Lev ...
, which released ''
Black Light Syndrome'' in 1997 and ''
Situation Dangerous
''Situation Dangerous'' is the second studio album by the supergroup Bozzio Levin Stevens, featuring drummer Terry Bozzio, bassist Tony Levin and guitarist Steve Stevens. It was released on August 8, 2000 by Magna Carta Records.
Track listing
...
'' in 2000. He brought Spanish flamenco guitar stylings to the song "
Pistolero" (1999) for the trance group
Juno Reactor
Juno Reactor is a multi-national musical and performing group, primarily based in Brighton, UK. Known for their cinematic fusion of electronic, global influences, and orchestral symphonic approach, collaborating with composer Don Davis and compo ...
. During 2012–2016, Stevens appeared with
Kings of Chaos. His "Steve Stevens" group headlined the closing performance at the Musikmesse in
Frankfurt
Frankfurt, officially Frankfurt am Main (; Hessian: , "Frank ford on the Main"), is the most populous city in the German state of Hesse. Its 791,000 inhabitants as of 2022 make it the fifth-most populous city in Germany. Located on its na ...
, Germany, in April 2016. He is also a television personality on the E! show ''
Married to Rock'', alongside his wife,
Josie Stevens
Josie Stevens is a model, stylist, reality TV personality, host and fashion designer married to rock guitarist Steve Stevens. She starred in the 2010 reality TV show '' Married to Rock'' alongside her husband and others.
Chicago-born Josie has ...
.
Career
His solo album releases include ''
Atomic Playboys
''Atomic Playboys'' is the first studio album by guitarist Steve Stevens, released in 1989 through Warner Bros. Records;Book, John"Atomic Playboys - Steve Stevens' Atomic Playboys" ''AllMusic''. All Media Network. Retrieved 2013-08-22. a remaste ...
'' (1989),
''
Flamenco a Go-Go
''Flamenco A Go-Go'' is the second album released by guitarist and songwriter Steve Stevens, best known for playing for Billy Idol for several years. It was recorded in his home studio, and is mostly an instrumental album with a few vocal sections ...
'' (1999), and ''
Memory Crash
''Memory Crash'' is the third studio album by guitarist and songwriter Steve Stevens, released on January 29, 2008, through Magna Carta Records.
Background
Memory Crash comes some eight years after Stevens' previous solo album, ''Flamenco A Go-G ...
'' (2008).
Discography
Studio albums
* ''The Guitar World According to Steve Stevens'' (1986 cassette from the music magazine ''
Guitar World
''Guitar World'' is a monthly music magazine for guitarists – and fans of guitar-based music and trends – that has been published since July 1980. ''Guitar World'', the best-selling guitar magazine in the United States, contains original art ...
'')
* ''
Atomic Playboys
''Atomic Playboys'' is the first studio album by guitarist Steve Stevens, released in 1989 through Warner Bros. Records;Book, John"Atomic Playboys - Steve Stevens' Atomic Playboys" ''AllMusic''. All Media Network. Retrieved 2013-08-22. a remaste ...
'' (1989)
* ''Akai Guitar Sample Collection'' (1994)
* ''
Flamenco a Go-Go
''Flamenco A Go-Go'' is the second album released by guitarist and songwriter Steve Stevens, best known for playing for Billy Idol for several years. It was recorded in his home studio, and is mostly an instrumental album with a few vocal sections ...
'' (1999)
* ''
Memory Crash
''Memory Crash'' is the third studio album by guitarist and songwriter Steve Stevens, released on January 29, 2008, through Magna Carta Records.
Background
Memory Crash comes some eight years after Stevens' previous solo album, ''Flamenco A Go-G ...
'' (2008)
with Billy Idol
* ''
Billy Idol
William Michael Albert Broad (born 30 November 1955), known professionally as Billy Idol, is a British-American singer, songwriter, and musician. He first achieved fame in the 1970s emerging from the London punk rock scene as the lead singer o ...
'' (1982)
* ''
Rebel Yell
The rebel yell was a battle cry used by Confederate soldiers during the American Civil War. Confederate soldiers used the yell when charging to intimidate the enemy and boost their own morale, although the yell had many other uses. No audio ...
'' (1983)
* ''
Whiplash Smile
''Whiplash Smile'' is the third studio album by English rock singer Billy Idol, released on 20 October 1986 by Chrysalis Records. After his successful album ''Rebel Yell'' (1983), Idol continued his collaboration with producer Keith Forsey and ...
'' (1986)
* ''
Devil's Playground'' (2005)
* ''
Kings & Queens of the Underground'' (2014)
* ''
The Roadside
''The Roadside'' is an EP by English singer Billy Idol, his first release on George Harrison's Dark Horse Records. The EP is Idol's first release of new material since 2014's album '' Kings & Queens of the Underground''. It was produced by Butc ...
'' (2021)
* ''The Cage'' (2022)
with Ric Ocasek
* ''
This Side of Paradise
''This Side of Paradise'' is the debut novel by American writer F. Scott Fitzgerald, published in 1920. It examines the lives and morality of carefree American youth at the dawn of the Jazz Age. Its protagonist, Amory Blaine, is an attractive ...
'' (1986)
with Jerusalem Slim
* ''Jerusalem Slim'' (1992)
with Vince Neil
* ''
Exposed
Expose, exposé, or exposed may refer to:
News sources
* Exposé (journalism), a form of investigative journalism
* '' The Exposé'', a British conspiracist website
Film and TV Film
* ''Exposé'' (film), a 1976 thriller film
* ''Exposed'' (1932 ...
'' (1993)
with Bozzio Levin Stevens
* ''
Black Light Syndrome'' (1997)
* ''
Situation Dangerous
''Situation Dangerous'' is the second studio album by the supergroup Bozzio Levin Stevens, featuring drummer Terry Bozzio, bassist Tony Levin and guitarist Steve Stevens. It was released on August 8, 2000 by Magna Carta Records.
Track listing
...
'' (2000)
with Kyosuke Himuro
* ''
I·De·A'' (1997)
* ''The One Night Stands'' Live (1998)
* ''Mellow'' (2000)
* ''Beat Haze Odyssey'' (2000)
* ''Follow the Wind'' (2003)
with Deadland Ritual
* "
Down in Flames" (2018)
* "Broken and Bruised" (2019)
Guest appearances
Soundtrack appearances
References
External links
Ram 1997 (text)From Rockaway to L.A. 2014 (text)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stevens, Steve
American heavy metal guitarists
1959 births
Living people
Musicians from Brooklyn
Vince Neil Band members
Grammy Award winners
Lead guitarists
American male songwriters
20th-century American Jews
Guitarists from New York (state)
20th-century American guitarists
Neurotic Outsiders members
Bozzio Levin Stevens members
American male guitarists
Jewish rock musicians
Magna Carta Records artists
20th-century American male musicians
21st-century American Jews