ERIC CLAPTON – Standing at the crossroads
Early years
Born: 30.03.1945, Ripley (Surrey, England).
Childhood: Eric grows up with his grandparents as an illegitimate child.
He receives his first guitar (Hoyer®) as a gift for his 13th birthday.
Education: Kingston School of Art
Musical role models: Robert Johnson, Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Freddy King, Big Bill Broonzy and others
Eric Clapton, as you can clearly see from his role models, is influenced by the blues. Although he achieved commercial success mainly with rock and pop songs, the blues is ubiquitous in his guitar playing. In particular, bendings in combination with his special finger vibrato, repeating patterns and melodiously constructed solos are his trademarks.
Bands
The Roosters: 1963The Yardbirds: 1963- 1965
John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers: 1965-1966
Cream: 1966 – 1968
Blind Faith: 1969
Delaney, Bonnie and Friends (1970)
Derek and The Dominos: 1970 – 1971
Solo career
From 1970 Eric Clapton released albums under his name.
Guest musicians include: Beatles, George Harrison, John Lennon, Buddy Guy, Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Roger Waters, Phil Collins, Sting, Steve Winwood and many others.
Guitars / Amplifiers / Technology
His main guitars have been Fender® Stratocaster guitars since 1970.
Before this time he mainly played electric guitars by Gibson® (Les Paul, ES-335, SG).
Clapton’s acoustic guitars are mostly from Martin®. “Mr. Slowhand” has played many different models of amplifiers throughout his long career.
Especially from manufacturers such as Marshall®, Music Man® and Fender®. The “Bluesbreaker” combo amp from Marshall®.B is famous. On stage, he can usually be seen in recent years with Fender® amps (Twin, etc.).
Awards (selection)
Grammy Awards: 18 awards
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: So far the only musician to have been inducted into the “Hall of Fame of Rock” three times – as a member of the Yardbirds and Cream as well as as a solo artist.
Discography (selection)
Albums: John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton – 1966
Disraeli Gears (Cream) – 1967
Wheels Of Fire (Cream) – 1968
Blind Faith (1969)
Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs (Derek and The Dominos) – 1970
EC under its own name:
Eric Clapton – 1970
461 Ocean Boulevard – 1974
Slowhand – 1977
Just One Night (live) – 1980
Money And Cigarettes -1983
Crossroads (4-CD-Box) – 1988
Journeyman – 1989
24 Nights (live) – 1991
Unplugged (live) – 1992
From the Cradle (1994)
Pilgrim – 1998
Riding With The King (with B.B. King) – 2000
Me and Mr. Johnson – 2004
The Road to Escondido (with J.J. Cale) – 2006
Clapton – 2010
Single hits:
For Your Love (The Yardbirds) – 1965
I Feel Free (Cream) – 1966
Sunshine Of Your Love (Cream) – 1968
Badge (Cream) – 1969
Layla (Derek and The Dominos) – 1970
After Midnight (EC) – 1970
I Shot The Sheriff (EC) – 1974
Lay Down Sally (EC) – 1977
Wonderful Tonight (EC) – 1977
I’ve Got A Rock ‘n’ Roll Heart (EC) – 1983
Forever Man (EC) – 1985
Bad Love (EC) – 1989
Layla “unplugged” (EC) – 1992
Tears In Heaven “unplugged” (EC) – 1992
Change The World (EC) – 1996
My Father’s Eyes (EC) – 1998
DVD / Video:
One More Car, One More Rider (EC) – 2001
Crossroads Guitar Festival 2007 (EC and various artists) – 2007
Live from Madison Square Garden (EC & Steve Winwood) – 2008
Crossroads Guitar Festival 2010 (EC and various artists) – 2010
Autobiography
Clapton’s own memoirs are published in 2007
and become a great international success.