Steve Marriott
Stephen Peter Marriott (30 January 1947 – 20 April 1991), known professionally as Steve Marriott, was an English musician, guitarist, singer and songwriter. He co-founded and played in the rock bands Small Faces and Humble Pie, in a career spanning over 20 years. Marriott was inducted posthumously into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012 as a member of Small Faces.
Steve Marriott
Stephen Peter Marriott
20 April 1991 (aged 44)
Arkesden, Essex, England
- Musician
- songwriter
- Vocals
- guitar
1959–1991
In Britain, Marriott became a popular, often-photographed mod style icon.[1] Marriott was influenced by musicians such as: Miles Davis, Buddy Holly, Booker T & the MG's, Ray Charles, Otis Redding, Muddy Waters and Bobby Bland.
In his later life, Marriott distanced himself from the mainstream music industry and turned away from major record labels, remaining in relative obscurity. He returned to his musical roots, playing in local pubs and clubs around London and Essex.[2]
Marriott died on 20 April 1991 when a fire, which was thought to have been caused by a cigarette, swept through his 16th-century home in Arkesden, Essex.[3] He was 44 and posthumously received an Ivor Novello Award in 1996 for his "Outstanding Contribution to British Music", and was listed in Mojo as one of the top 100 greatest singers of all time.[4][5]
Former Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne named Marriott the fourth-greatest singer ever[6] and Clem Burke of Blondie ranked him the sixteenth.[7] Paul Stanley of Kiss called Marriott "unbelievable" and a hero of his, while Steve Perry of Journey named him one of his favourite singers.[8]
Relationships and family[edit]
Marriott had liaisons with many women and had four children with four of them, including one of his three wives.
His first wife was model Jenny Rylance (1968–1973). He met American air hostess Pam Stephens in 1975 and their son Toby Marriott was born in 1976. They married after Toby was born.[78] The song "Toe Rag" written 1977 and recorded for the Majik Mijits album in 1981, was about the infant Toby who, aged approximately two years old, guested on the original demo as featured on 2005 compilation Rainy Days. Marriott's third wife was Toni Poulton. They were married from July 1989 until Marriott's death in 1991.
Marriott had three daughters. The first, Lesley, was born to fellow teen Sally Foulger before Marriott became famous. She was originally known as Sarah Lisa Foulger (born 9 June 1966). She was adopted but later found out who her father was and has been accepted by her siblings. The second was Tonya, with Canadian Terri Elias in 1984. His third daughter Mollie Mae, known as singer Mollie Marriott, was born in 1985 when Marriott was with his childhood friend Manon Piercey.[79]
Legacy[edit]
To mark the 10th anniversary of Marriott's death a tribute concert was held at the London Astoria on 20 April 2001. All the songs performed at this concert were from the Small Faces or Humble Pie catalogue. Pre-1980 Humble Pie alumni Peter Frampton, Clem Clempson, Greg Ridley and Jerry Shirley gave a one-off performance.[87] Other guest appearances included two original members of the Small Faces, Kenney Jones and Ian McLagan, Paul Weller, Noel Gallagher and Bobby Tench from Marriott's 1980's Humble Pie line-up and John's Children. Other musicians such as Alan White, Gem Archer, Midge Ure, Zak Starkey, Rabbit Bundrick, Steve Ellis and Tony Rivers appeared in band line-ups during the two and half-hour concert, released on DVD as the Stevie Marriott Astoria Memorial concert.[88] The proceeds of the concert were donated to The Small Faces Charitable Trust[89] set up by Kenney Jones in memory of Steve Marriott and Ronnie Lane.[90]
In September 2007 Marriott, along with the other members of the Small Faces and manager Don Arden, were honoured with a plaque unveiled in Carnaby Street, on the site of Don Arden's offices, the spiritual home of the band in the 1960s.[91][92]
Posthumously, his songs have been featured in the Grand Theft Auto video game franchise, with "Get Down to It" in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, "Cocaine" in Grand Theft Auto IV, "30 Days in the Hole" and "Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake" in Grand Theft Auto V and Grand Theft Auto Online; the latter was featured in the Grand Theft Auto V's first trailer in 2011.[93]