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Biography & Autobiography.
Music.
Nonfiction.
HTML:With striking intimacy and candor, Eric Clapton tells the story of his eventful and inspiring life. More than a rock star, Eric Clapton is an icon, a living embodiment of the history of rock music. Well known for his reserve in a profession marked by self-promotion, flamboyance, and spin, he now chronicles, for the first time, his remarkable personal and professional journeys. Born illegitimate in 1945 and raised by his grandparents, Eric never knew his father and, until the age of nine, believed his actual mother to be his sister. In his early teens his solace was the guitar. With the formation of Cream, the world's first supergroup, he became a worldwide superstar. During the decades that followed, he would go on to play as a guest with Jimi Hendrix and Bob Dylan, as well as the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and longtime friend George Harrison. He would overcome despair, self-imposed seclusion, drug addiction, and alcoholism. He would become a father. But just as his life was coming together, he was struck by a terrible blow: His beloved four-year-old son, Conor, died in a freak accident. At an earlier time Eric might have coped with this tragedy by fleeing into a world of addiction. But now a much stronger man, he took refuge in music. CLAPTON is the powerful story of a survivor, a man who has achieved the pinnacle of success despite extraordinary demons. It is one of the most compelling memoirs of our time.… (more)
I found this honest—sometimes confusing and frustrating—self-analysis fascinating. Eric Clapton, who is a self-taught blues guitarist that never learned to read music, played with all the greats from Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker, and Little Walter (and many others). Unfortunately, Eric was under the spell of heroin and alcohol for most of his early years, but unlike many of his friends, he finally managed to get sober and survive. Most of the book is unflattering and honest. It also represents Eric Clapton’s dedication to his craft—playing the blues. This autobiography is a must-read for anyone interested in the music scene, especially blues. ( )
I would listen to my father's copy of Slowhand over and over growing up. I still love listening to it today. Recently I read an article about Eric Clapton's surprising to me anti-vax stance, even though he's reportedly had the vaccine, and his history of racist rants. This all came as a bit of a shock ... Clapton is a racist anti-vaxxer? Remembering I had his autobiography on the shelf upstairs I pulled it down and dove in.
The writing, well, let's just say you can feel the different parts of the book which were written in the same period. And of course he barely touched on his 1976 racist rant. Coupled with his current defense of Enoch Powell and his anti-vax stance ... today Clapton is God might read Clapton is a bigoted anti-vaxxer ... ( )
Portrait of a purist, restless and easily disenchanted throughout the sixties, always moving on--from the Yardbirds, the Bluesbreakers, Cream, Blind Faith, etc.--searching for fulfillment beyond money and fame in the heart of the music, which he feels is religious experience. A who's who of the music business. Frank about his substance-abuse problems. ( )
This book is dedicated to my Grandmother Rose Amelia Clapp, and to my beloved wife Melia, and my children Ruth, Julie, Ella and Sophie.
First words
Early in my childhood, when I was about six or seven, I began to get the feeling that there was something different about me.
Quotations
(p44) It was at the Marquee that I first came across John Mayall, ... playing in a trio with bassist Jack Bruce and drummer Ginger Baker. (not dated in book, but follows on from previous paragraph with date 25 July 1963 for his first band, The Roosters, final gig at the Marquee)
(p50) (1964) On my guitar, I used light-gauge strings, with a very thin first string, which made it easier to bend the notes, and it was not uncommon, during the most frenetic bits of playing, for me to break at least one string. During the pause while I was changing my strings, the frenzied audience would often break into a slow handclap, inspiring Giorgio (Gomelsky - proprietor of the Crawdaddy Club and The Yardbirds' manager) to dream up the nickname of 'Slowhand' Clapton.
(p71) Returning to England in late October 1965, I found that my place in the Bluesbreakers had been filled by a brilliant guitarist called Peter Green, ... He was not happy to see me, as it meant rather a sudden end to what had obviously been a good gig for him. One change that didn't particularly surprise me was to find that (John) McVie had finally been given the boot, and had been replaced by Jack Bruce. He stayed for only a few weeks before moving on to join Manfred Mann ... but doing those few gigs, we had a chance to take stock of one another.
(p76 - 81) Though I was happy with the Bluesbreakers, I was also beginning to get restless, nurturing somewhere inside me thoughts of being a frontman, ... So when Ginger Baker, the drummer from the Graham Bond Organisation, came to see me and talked about forming a new band, I knew exactly what I wanted to do. The Bluesbreakers were playing a gig in Oxford when Ginger first came to see me. I'd seen him down at the Marquee, ... but didn't know much about him. ... I was very flattered that he was interested in me. ... That night, after the gig, (March 1966 - date unconfirmed) he offered me a lift back to London. ... He told me he was thinking of forming a band, and asked if I'd be interested in joining. I said I'd think about it, but that I'd only be really interested if Jack Bruce was involved. He almost crashed the car. ... He agreed to go away and have a think about it. ... the very first time that the three of us got together, in March 1966, in the front room of Ginger's house in Neasden, they (Ginger and Jack) started arguing right away. ... But when we started to play together, it all just turned to magic. ... we all looked at each other and grinned. ... Over the next few months we continued to rehearse secretly, ... Then (in 11 June 1966 issue) Ginger let the cat out of the bag by giving an interview to Chris Welch of Melody Maker ... Our next step was to think of a name for the band, and I came up with Cream, for the very simple reason that in all our minds we were the cream of the crop, the elite in our respective domains. ... our first proper gig, at my old stamping ground, the Twisted Wheel in Manchester, was on 29 July, the night before the (1966 World Cup) final.
(p97) (Sept/Oct 1967 - New York) ... Ahmet said to me, 'I want you to go in there and play on this song,' ... I felt so nervous, because I couldn't read music, ... Aretha (Franklin) came in and sang a song ... and I played lead guitar.
(p101) (about May 1968)... we were stuck, and I wanted out (of Cream). (and p106) On 26 November, 1968, Cream played their final two shows at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
(p215) (after more than 10 years of drugs and alcohol) ... Roger ... booked me into Hazelden, which was then said to be the best treatment centre for alcoholics in the world. ... in January 1982 (and p218) Once it was considered that I could stand on my own two feet, I was given tasks to do, the simplest being to make my own bed, which I'd never done before, ...
(p246) (Autumn / Winter 1985) I was like a candle in the wind, being blown all over the place, with no concern for other people's feelings or for the consequences of my actions. (and p253) Conor was born on 21 August, 1986, at St. Mary's, Paddington. As soon as I heard that Lori had gone into labour, I rushed to the hospital, ...
(p256) I called Roger and told him to book me into Hazelden again, and on 21 November, 1987, I went back into treatment. ... This time I had no reservations about why I was there, I had tried to control my drinking and failed, ... Also my life had become very complicated and completely unmanageable during my relapse. I now had two children, ... a broken marriage, assorted bewildered girlfriends and a career, which although it was still ticking over, had lost its direction. I was a mess. (and p257 still in Hazelden) Then one day, as my visit drew to an end, a panic hit me, and I realised in fact that nothing had changed in me, ... almost of their own accord, my legs gave way and I fell to my knees. In the privacy of my room I begged for help. ... Within a few days ... From that day until this, I have never failed to pray in the morning, on my knees, asking for help, and at night, to express gratitude for my life and most of all, for my sobriety.
(p266) (20 March 1991) At about 11.00 a.m. the phone rang, and it was Lori. She was hysterical, screaming that Conor was dead.
(p359) As I write this, I am sixty-two years old, twenty years sober and busier than I have ever been. ... I am virtually deaf, but refuse to wear a hearing-aid because I like the way things sound naturally, even if I can hardly hear them. I am lazy, refusing to do any exercise, and as a result, am completely unfit. I am a complete curmudgeon and proud of it. I know who I am these days, ... It is (early) 2007, ...
Last words
It has always found me, and with God's blessing and permission, it always will.
Biography & Autobiography.
Music.
Nonfiction.
HTML:With striking intimacy and candor, Eric Clapton tells the story of his eventful and inspiring life. More than a rock star, Eric Clapton is an icon, a living embodiment of the history of rock music. Well known for his reserve in a profession marked by self-promotion, flamboyance, and spin, he now chronicles, for the first time, his remarkable personal and professional journeys. Born illegitimate in 1945 and raised by his grandparents, Eric never knew his father and, until the age of nine, believed his actual mother to be his sister. In his early teens his solace was the guitar. With the formation of Cream, the world's first supergroup, he became a worldwide superstar. During the decades that followed, he would go on to play as a guest with Jimi Hendrix and Bob Dylan, as well as the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and longtime friend George Harrison. He would overcome despair, self-imposed seclusion, drug addiction, and alcoholism. He would become a father. But just as his life was coming together, he was struck by a terrible blow: His beloved four-year-old son, Conor, died in a freak accident. At an earlier time Eric might have coped with this tragedy by fleeing into a world of addiction. But now a much stronger man, he took refuge in music. CLAPTON is the powerful story of a survivor, a man who has achieved the pinnacle of success despite extraordinary demons. It is one of the most compelling memoirs of our time.
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Wikipedia in English (30)
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