R.I.P. Steve Lee.

Gotthard - singer Steve Lee – dies in fatal accident in America

Las Vegas – The world has lost one of its greatest rock singers: GOTTHARD front-man Steve Lee was killed accidentally during a motorcycle trip in the USA on Interstate 15 between Mesquite and Las Vegas and died at the scene.

The GOTTHARD singer had flown to the U.S. with some biker friends just this weekend to fulfil a long-cherished dream for which he’d never had the time, due to his heavy touring schedule for many years. It was to be two weeks through the states on a Harley Davidson. The 21 Swiss bikers started their journey on Sunday on a total of 12 motorcycles. On Tuesday 5 October, about 50 miles from Las Vegas, the group had stopped at the roadside to put on their rain gear as it had started to rain. On the slippery road, the trailer of a passing truck began to skid. The driver attempted evasive action but his trailer clipped five of the motorcycles parked at the roadside; one of them hit Steve Lee. Rescue services attempted resuscitation but efforts were stopped after 20 minutes. At 16:13 local time, Steve Lee was pronounced dead.
Among the passengers were GOTTHARD bassist Marc Lynn and Lee's girlfriend Brigitte Voss Balzarini. All other fellow riders were unharmed. Steve Lee was 48 years old.
With Steve Lee, we not only lose one of the world's best rock voices but also an extraordinary personality. Despite his enormous success, the Ticino singer had retained a very subtle eye for detail and often impressed the people around him with his sensitive observation. Due to his personality, he had a serious outlook, without losing his sense of humour and lust for life. Steve Lee met his environment with respect but always had, in his gentle way, a very simple, personal touch. He understood like no one else how to enjoy without going too far – to him, alcohol and parties were things he met with level-headedness. The singer sold several million albums throughout his career with GOTTHARD, several of them reaching platinum, double or triple platinum status.

And yet all this bears no relation to the human greatness of Steve Lee on a daily basis

R.I.P. dude.

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Swiss hard rock icons GOTTHARD will release “Heaven – Best Of Ballads Part 2” on November 26, 2010!

“Heaven – Best Of Ballads Part II“ represents the most successful era of a band that has been together in the same line-up since the late 80s and which would only be split by death when singer Steve Lee tragically died on October 5, 2010 while on a motorcycle trip near Las Vegas. It stands for eight years of band history in which GOTTHARD had their big international break-through and were awarded diamond status for more than one million copies sold in their home country. No other band is such a symbol for Swiss music history as GOTTHARD.

“Nobody’s really in the mood for a driving rock song at the moment.” states bass player Marc Lynn. “This ballad compilation might also help our fans to cope with their sadness and grief.”

“We lost not only one of the best rock voices of the world, we also lost a really exceptional person, friend, brother and musician.” states drummer Hena Habegger. “Despite his tremendous success, Steve Lee always had his feet on the ground and never lost his sensitivity for the environment.”

The compilation will only be issued as a simple but very elegant all black digibook version and will include 2 previously unreleased acoustic versions of the songs “Have A Little Faith” and “Falling” as well as a brand new track called “What I Am”.

“Heaven – Best Of Ballads Part II”
01 Heaven
02 What am I *
03 Where is love when it's gone
04 Need to believe
05 One life one soul
06 The call
07 Don't let me down
08 Nothing left at all
09 Unconditional faith
10 Have a little faith **
11 Tears to cry
12 Everything I want
13 I've seen an angel cry
14 Tomorrow's just begun
15 Falling ***
16 And then goodbye
17 Merry Christmas
* previously unreleased
** special piano version / previously unreleased
*** special acoustic version / previously unreleased
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