MEMORABLE MONDAYS: Eric Clapton

 Most people in the world will agree that Eric Clapton is an amazing guitarist. One of the best of all time even. He was involved with so many releases, and so many bands. However, he is also a bit of a controversial figure. His romances and his addictions led to some awkward incidents in his lifetime. His politics have also been a point of contention for many. It should not take away from his very long and strong legacy.

Eric Patrick Clapton was born March 30th, 1945 in Ripley, Surrey, England to a 16 year old Patricia Molly Clapton. His father was 25 year old solider Edward Walter Fryer from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He was drafted before Clapton's birth, so he returned to Canada. Clapton grew up believing his grandmother Rose and her second husband Jack Clapp were his parents, and that his mother was his older sister. Years later, his mother married another Canadian soldier and moved to Germany, leaving Eric with his grandparents. 

For his 13th birthday, Clapton received an acoustic Hoyer guitar, made in Germany. The steel stringed instrument was difficult to play so he briefly lost interest. Two years later, he picked it up again and started playing consistently. He was influenced by blues music in his early age, and practiced blues chords by playing along to records. He preserved his practice sessions with a portable Grundig reel-to-reel tape recorder, listening to them over and over until he was satisfied. 

In 1961, he began studying at the Kingston College of Art, but was expelled at the end of the academic year because his focus remained on music rather than art. By the age of 16, his guitar playing was getting noticed. He began busking around Kingston, Richmond, and West End. He soon began performing as a duo with Dave Brock around Surrey. He joined his first band at 17, the Roosters, with other guitarist Tom McGuinness. He also performed a seven gig stint with Casey Jones & The Engineers. 

His first major band was the Yardbirds. He stayed with them until 1965. He was influenced at this time by Chicago blues and guitarists like Buddy Guy, Freddie King, and B.B. King. He forged a distinctive style and became one of the most discussed guitarists in the British scene. Rhythm guitarist Chris Dreja recalled whenever Clapton broke a string during a concert, he would stay on stage and replace it. The audience would wait it out by slow clapping. This got him the nickname "Slowhand". The Yardbirds eventually decided to go in a more pop direction with single For Your Love. This move annoyed Clapton and he decided to leave the band, recommeding Jimmy Page to replace him. Page declined out of loyalty to Clapton, and put Jeff Beck forward. 

After leaving the Yardbirds, Clapton joined John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers, only to quit a few months later. He did some work with Jimmy Page, which became known as the Immediate All-Stars. He played with a band called the Glands in Greece, and also did a number with the Juniors. He later in 1965 rejoined John Mayall. While with them, he gained a reputation as the best blues guitarist on the club circuit. By the time his work with John Mayall released, he had left the band again in 1966. Clapton's work inspired admirers, one which graffitied "Clapton is God" on a wall in Islington, North London in 1967. Clapton was very embarassed by this.

Clapton's breakthrough in the US would come from his next endeavor. Invited by drummer Ginger Baker, Cream was one of the earliest supergroups. As he worked with Cream, he became more than just a guitarist. He improved his songwriting and singing as well. He found himself rivalled by emerging artist Jimi Hendrix, and visited early club performances. This would go on to have a major effect on his work. Cream would go on to be a huge success, and were the first blues-rock band to emphasise musical virtuousity and lengthy jazz-style improvisations. Sadly, drug and alcohol abuse grew tensions in the band and led to them breaking up. 

Eric Clapton was deeply affected by the breaking up of Cream, but the Band's debut album inspired him in new ways. He became a close friend of George Harrison, doing a lot of uncredited guitar work on his albums. They would often stay together as guests. It was even suggested with the tensions of Let It Be, that if Harrison did not return, Clapton could fill in for him. 

His next endeavor, Blind Faith, was another bit of a supergroup. It had Ginger Baker once again, Steve Winwood of Traffic, and Ric Grech of Family. They released one album, which created great controversy due to the underage girl topless on the cover. Many issues were replaced by a photo of the band. The band dissolved in seven months.

With hopes of countering the star cult faction that began to form around him, Clapton composed a band of Delany and Bonnie's former rhythm section, Bobby Whitlock, Carl Radle, and Jim Gordon. Duane Allman also joined to play with them for the album. Clapton was tired of the long boring guitar solos and wanted to focus back in on the song. This group became "Derek and the Dominos". The album was heavily inspired by the fact Clapton became infatuated with George Harrison's wife, and she rejected him. Tragedy also hit the shortlived group. Clapton was devastated of the new of Hendrix's death. Layla also received lukewarm reviews, and they were using a great deal of drugs and alcohol throughout the touring. During recording of the second album, egos got hot and Clapton dissolved the band. Later, Allman died in a motorcycle accident which devastated Clapton again. Jim Gordon had undiagnosed schizophrenia, and murdered his mother during a psychotic episode. He lived in a mental instituition the rest of his life. 

Clapton's success would be hindered by his troubling heroin addiction. He withdrew from touring except for Concert for Bangladesh, where he fainted and had to be revived to go on. In 1974, Clapton began living with Boyd although they would not marry until later. He was no longer using heroin, but had began heavily drinking. His album 461 Ocean Boulevard held his first solo number one, a cover of I Shot the Sheriff. 

Clapton's addiction would take hold again, but this time alcohol. He contacted his manager admitting he was an alcoholic, and 1982 checked into a treatment center. He named his next album "Money and Cigarettes" as he felt it would be all he had left after his first rehab stint. Clapton would have to return in 1987, where he finally reached sobriety. 

Clapton's releases continued despite his continued struggles, with Behind the Sun which had two songs produced by Phil Collins, and August. August was a blend of Clapton's sound and the soul-pop sound of Phil Collins, and cemented the stage for a true return. In 1989, Clapton released Journeyman, his first release truly sober. Critics enjoyed it, even Clapton said it is one of his personal favorites. He was able to work with friend George Harrison, along with Phil Collins, Daryl Hall, Chaka Khan, Mick Jones, David Sanborn, and Robert Cray. 

At this point Clapton became a frequent flier for charity performances, including ones with the Bee Gees, Roger Waters, and the Nordoff-Robin Charity shows. However, tragedy struck again in Clapton's life. Stevie Ray Vaughan and three members of their road crew travelling together were killed in a helicopter crash between concerts. Then in early 1991, Clapton's four year old son, Conor, died falling from the 53rd floor window of his mother's friend's New York City apartment. This death inspired the song Tears in Heaven, which became one of his biggest songs. Instead of turning to a relapse, he found healing and solace in music. 

In 1998, Clapton released his first new material since Journymen in Pilgrim. Clapton considers it another personal favorite, and the album is very autobiographical toward the many struggles in his life. Critics gave it mixed feedback, some liking it, others finding it very monotonous. His next release, Reptile, faired much better. Critics enjoyed it, and it was a top seller overseas. During a time of many charity concerts and 9/11, Clapton also sought more info about the father who was never in his life. He found Fryer had died in 1985. He was a musician and lifelong drifter who was married several times with several children, and never knew he was the father of Clapton. 

His next releases were more focused on collaborations and covers. He released two albums of Robert Johnson covers and an album with J.J. Cale. Clapton's next release of actual new material, Back Home, was met with lukewarm reception. He was going to perform at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony in 2009 with Van Morrison, but had to cancel due to a gallstone surgery. 

He opened the 2010s with critically revered Clapton. A blues album with a jazz influence, it appeared to be another return to form for the artist after spending several years doing tours and charity event efforts. In 2015, Clapton announced he would stop touring due to the troubles of travel. In 2016, he revealed he had been diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy in 2013, which would likely cause him to lose his guitar playing abilities at some point. Despite this, Clapton has continued to play and still makes time for concert events. 

Clapton is planning to drop another release, titled Meanwhile, hopefully in fall of 2024. We will await to see where Clapton's troubled yet legendary career goes.