Michael Clarke (born June 3, 1946 – December 19, 1993), was an American musician, best known as the drummer for the 1960s rock group The Byrds from 1964 to 1967. He died in 1993, at age 47, from liver failure, a direct result of more than three decades of heavy alcohol consumption.
Clarke’s health declined from a lifetime of hard drinking. After a number of hospital stays, he died of liver failure at the age of 47 at his Treasure Island, Florida home.
During his final days, Clarke had expressed a wish to appear on television in the hope of alerting children to the dangers of alcoholism. Following his wishes, Clarke’s girlfriend Susan Paul started a foundation in Clarke’s name, called the Campaign for Alcohol-free Kids.
Michael Clarke Death
In 1994, a year after his death, Clarke’s paintings were published in Dick Gautier and Jim McMullan’s book, Musicians As Artists.