The late 1980s were a busy time for Steve Stevens. While recording Whiplash Smile with Billy Idol in ’85, Stevens was also tapped to perform on “Top Gun Anthem,” written by Whiplash Smile keyboardist Harold Faltermeyer for the hit 1986 Top Gun film starring Tom Cruise.
“It was all part of the same family,” the guitarist says of the two projects.
His electric guitar stylings on the track earned him a Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental Performance. It also launched a new chapter in his career after he and Idol parted ways for nearly two decades. In the years that followed, he worked with the Cars’ Ric Ocasek, Mötley Crüe’s Vince Neil, Michael Jackson, Robert Palmer, Sebastian Bach, Steve Lukather, Thompson Twins, and numerous others.
“I’d get a lot of calls to work with people,” he says.
He recalls one particularly memorable day when he auditioned for David Lee Roth’s band, only to return home and find a message from Mick Jagger.
“It was the quintessential Mick Jagger,” Stevens says, affecting an accent. “‘Hello, Steve, it’s Mick Jagger, calling from the Caribbean. I’d love to talk to you about this solo tour I’m going on.’
“I was already booked, so I couldn’t do it. But I kept that tape.”
As Stevens explains, he had met Jagger once before, during the making of Whiplash Smile at Right Track Studios in New York City. The singer was recording his solo album Primitive Cool in another studio at the facility and stopped by to speak with Stevens about Staccato, a new guitar company founded by his brother Chris. Staccato guitars were unique for being made of magnesium alloy and boasted of having the backing of Mick and Rolling Stones bassist, Bill Wyman.
Jagger, unfortunately, chose a hectic day to visit.
“During Whiplash Smile, we were auditioning bass players to come in and play on a track,” Stevens recalls. “And Mick Jagger came in carrying this guitar case.
“Mick says, ‘Oh, my brother makes guitars. Maybe you guys would like to look at it.’
“And right on cue, our producer Keith Forsey walks into the room and, without hesitation, goes, ‘Right, bass amp’s in there. Plug in — we’ll be right with you.’
“And Mick goes, ‘No … I’m Mick Jagger.’”
He laughs at the memory of rock’s most famous frontman going unrecognized.
“That was really great.”
Stevens is currently working on music for what he hopes will be a new solo album. He and Idol are also discussing a follow-up to Dream Into It. Idol is presently promoting his documentary Billy Idol Should Be Dead, which was released February 27.
