Today I learned that Steve Lee of Gotthard was killed in a motorcycle accident. This is a very sad day in my world as Steve is and has been one of my favorite vocalists since I discovered the band he was a member of, Gotthard back in 2001. It's only been nine years since I first heard the band but in that time they have become one of my all-time favorite bands.
I can remember the first time I heard a sample of their music on MelodicRock.com I was blown away and fell in love immediately. The band did a cover version of a song I hold in high regard "Take It Easy" by Andy Taylor and that was all it took to make me a fan. Not only was their cover brilliant the album had many great songs. Homerun was a perfect name for the album because it was just that a homerun. Upon learning they had a fairly substantial back catalog I had to find it all and boy was it worth the hunt. Their debut album in 1992 was better than most of the famous hard rock and glam bands of the time but never jumped the Atlantic Ocean and made it to North America.
Steve Lee's voice can sing a hard rock tune to absolute perfection and then deliver a hea
rtfelt and meaningful ballad like very few in the genre. His vocal ability is on a level with singers like David Coverdale or Noddy Holder who can rip it up on a live stage as well or better than in the studio. Very few vocalists could be so distinctive yet so versatile when they delivered a song. If you've not had the pleasure to hear Lee's raspy wail then do your ears a favor and crank up "Have A Little Faith" from 2003's Human Zoo. His brilliant vocal takes all that was great about studio recorded Robert Plant and Janis Joplin to create a sound that always sounds perfect. Also on the album Dial Hard is the best cover of a Beatles song which honestly it eclipses the original. Now that coming from me, a faithful believer that the Beatles are the greatest rock n' roll band off all-time is truly an honor.The band have left a legacy with their catalog of music that rivals some of the greatest and most popular bands around the world. Acts like U2, ACDC, Judas Priest, Whitesnake & Kiss may have world wide fame and success but Gotthard and the voice of Steve Lee are easily as deserving and have just as high quality music and in some cases much better songs than some of those acts. To
day with a very heavy heart and a tear in my eye I bid farewell to a man I've never met but have grown to love and respect. Steve Lee will forever have a place in my heart and always a song in my playlists.Love, Soul, Matter R.I.P Mr. Steve Lee you will be missed forever.
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