Died On This Date (April 20, 1991) Steve Marriott / Small Faces, Humble Pie

themusicsover April 20, 2010 2 Comments

Steve Marriott
January 30, 1947 – April 20, 1991

Steve Marriott is best known for his aggressive guitar playing in the Small Faces and later, Humble Pie. Growing up, his parents encouraged him to act in live theater, and at the age of 13 he auditioned for and was cast in the role of the Artful Dodger in the London cast of Oliver.  Following his successful run, his parents enrolled him in a prestigious acting school which led to numerous parts in British films, TV and radio. But Marriott’s first love was always music, and in 1965, he was fronting the Small Faces with Kenney Jones, Ronnie Lane and Jimmy Winston (replaced by Ian McLagan). The Small Faces quickly became a hit in the UK, even being noted as a major influence in the formation of Led Zeppelin. By the late ’60s, when the band should have been basking in the success of a number one album, they were growing more and more unhappy with each other. Marriott was suggesting the band bring on a new singer by the name of Peter Frampton, but the others balked at the idea. Marriott soon left the band and joined up with Frampton in Humble Pie. As the ’70s dawned, they were touring the US to a growing legion of fans, and with the release of Performance: Rockin’ The Fillmore they were bona fied rock stars. By now, Marriott was suffering from substance abuse and reportedly showing signs of schizophrenia. The heavy drug use within the band no doubt contributed to its demise in 1975.   In the late ‘7os, Marriott started making noise about his belief that former manager, Dee Anthony was secretly pocketing large amounts of Humble Pie money in order to promote Frampton’s Frampton Comes Alive.  It has been alleged that Marriott and his wife were called to New York’s Little Italy to discuss the matter.  John Gotti and other members of the Gambino family were said to have been in the meeting.  He was apparently told once and for all that he would be getting no money.  Throughout the late ’70s and ’80s, Marriott continued to forge on despite financial and personal struggles, playing in no fewer than five bands. But nothing seemed to click. In the early morning of April 20, 1991, after a night of apparent indulging, Steve Marriott was found dead of smoke inhalation from a fire in his home that was presumed to have started by a lit cigarette in his bed.

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