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Steve Stevens
From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist
Steve Stevens, born Steven Bruce Schneider, is an American guitarist from New York. He was born in 1959 and grew up in Queens. He began playing guitar at seven, inspired by the folk singer Phil Ochs, got his first serious guitar with nylon strings at eight and an electric one only at thirteen. At the high school for music and the performing arts he became interested in classical guitar, with Steve Howe and Robert Fripp as examples. Flamenco also attracted him early on.
Music and breakthrough
He is best known as the guitarist and writing partner of Billy Idol. When Idol came to New York after Generation X in 1981, his manager brought them together. With the producer Keith Forsey they formed the trio that defined Billy Idol in the 1980s. Together they made Billy Idol in 1982, Rebel Yell in 1983 and Whiplash Smile in 1986, all three multi-platinum. In 1988 they split up, and in 2001 they got back together. Devil's Playground in 2005 and Dream Into It in 2025 were among those that followed. In 2026 they were inducted together into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Influence
With Harold Faltermeyer, Stevens made the Top Gun Anthem for the film Top Gun, for which he received a Grammy in 1987 for best pop instrumental performance. He also played for Michael Jackson, Ric Ocasek and Vince Neil, was a co-founder of Bozzio Levin Stevens and played flamenco guitar on Pistolero by Juno Reactor. His own albums include Atomic Playboys, Flamenco A Go-Go and Memory Crash.
Listening
Discography
Studio albums
- 1999Flamenco.A.Go.Go
- 2008Memory Crash
In School of Rock
The chapters, maps and magazine stories of School of Rock are currently available in Dutch only.
- The Dream Factory: Film Reel 5NL Reader