Clive Parker (born 1960) also known as Clive Parker-Sharp, is an English drummer, active in the punk, post-punk and new wave genres. He was a member of the bands The Members, Spizzenergi/Athletico Spizz 80, Big Country, and Scary Thieves. He went on to play with John Moore (Jesus and Mary Chain.) in The Expressway.
Parker had his own bands The Planets, Lopez & the Waveriders, Kingfishers Catch Fire, Holy Trinity, Barra (Sony-ATV/English Garden Records), and electronic guitar duo Marshall Star. He went on to production and management, forming his own small record label (Furry Records UK)
In 1992, Parker had a minor dance hit with UK soul singer, Kasie Sharp, co-writing as part of the pop dance production team One Horse Man, who were also released by Arcade Records in Europe.
Personal background
Parker was born in Windlesham, Surrey. He lives in East Sussex. He is now also a writer & published author, and plays guitar and keyboards.
Professional background
From the age of nine, Parker played in local show bands and working men's club's (Frimley Green;Camberley). He also joined punk rock groups in Camberley, the Home Counties, and West London circuits, often as an opening act to groups like The Members, Eddie and the Hot Rods, and others who performed at The Moonlight Club in Hampstead, and Nashville Rooms in West Kensington.
In 1980, as Athletico Spizz 80, Parker played on the album, Do a Runner, which spent five weeks on the UK Albums Chart, peaking at number 27.
In 1980, the group appeared at the Futurama Festival, along with Gary Glitter and The Psychedelic Furs.
Tours
In 1980, after signing with A&M Records, the band toured the United States with 999. During the tour, and with Solar, Spizz and Lu Edmonds from The Damned as the line up, they played the Palladium in New York City as support band to Siouxsie and the Banshees.
Spizz
Parker toured with Spizz, extensively in Europe and the United States, in support of The Clash, The Only Ones, and the Human League. Support bands for Spizz tours included Tenpole Tudor, Altered Images, Department S, and The Mo-dettes. The band played a week of sold-out shows at London's Marquee Club, with a matinee for younger fans.
Big Country
Parker toured with Big Country, playing at the Dunfermline Glen Pavilion (first ever BC gig), and dates with Alice Cooper Armed Forces tour.
Scary Thieves
Parker toured the UK with Scary Thieves and Nik Kershaw.
John Moore
Parker toured the UK with John Moore and Pop Will Eat Itself, Crazyhead, and Living Colour. Dates in the United States, in addition to solo appearances, included performances with My Bloody Valentine.
Kingfishers Catch Fire
Kingfishers Catch Fire played support to Deacon Blue, and toured the UK college circuit after a favourable showing in Melody Maker, by writer Helen Fitzgerald.
Literary
The Box – an historical biographical novel was released by Strand Publishing in 2012. ConeBoy – A semi-autobiographical novel released October 2018 by Box Productions The Jogger – a surreal crime thriller about Stockholm Syndrome released by Box Productions in January 2021. African Deeds – a pictorial history of the Brem-Wilson family, that accompanies the Black Cultural Archives collection. Restoration and editing by Clive Parker-Sharp, released by Box Productions. Sex Drugs & Music-Hall 2013–2014; Parker toured his show, "Sex Drugs & Music-Hall", the adaptation of his book The Box, which took a skewed view of UK cultural populist history; Bingo, and Music-Hall, using spoken-word, drama, and music, with Parker playing guitar, keyboards, and wood-blocks. This was played in unusual venues, such as Museums, Libraries, Almshouses, and some Theatres. ConeBoy 2020 on: Parker tours his ConeBoy show; musical, dramatic and spoken-word adaptations of the ConeBoy novel.
British Library
Do A Runner – The Athletico Spizz 80 album is now housed in the British Library, as a reference tool.
The Box is housed in The British Library as a reference tool British Library .
Films
Urgh! A Music War. Two songs from Athletico Spizz 80. Unbidden 2016 – Director; Quentin Lee. Marshall Star contribute music to this release. My Name Is Lenny. 2017 – Director; Ron Scalpello. The British Sports drama movie features the Athletico Spizz 80 track "Red & Black" (writer "Spizz"), along with a Marshall Star song "The Narcissist" (Parker).