Eric Patrick Clapton CBE Eric Patrick Clapton
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Eric Clapton is the only artist inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame three times—as a member of The Yardbirds 1992, Cream 1993, and as a solo performer 2000. He wrote the Grammy-winning song Tears in Heaven for his son Conor, who died in 1991. His career includes formative stints with The Yardbirds and John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, the supergroup Cream, Blind Faith, and a successful solo career highlighted by the 1992 album Unplugged.
Names, aliases, and relatives of Eric Clapton — birth name, kin, and personal ties.
Eric Clapton by the numbers — life, work, and family.
Eric Clapton — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.
When Eric Clapton was two years old, his mother felt unable to care for him, so he went to live with his grandparents in Ripley, Surrey. He did not learn that his biological father was a Canadian pilot until he was 53. At age 14, he took up the guitar, heavily influenced by blues artists such as B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Muddy Waters, and John Lee Hooker. He attended The Hollyfield School and later studied at Kingston University before being expelled from art college in 1963.
In 1963, after leaving art college, Clapton joined Paul Samwell-Smith in The Yardbirds. He stayed for about 18 months before joining John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, where he earned the nickname God for his guitar prowess.
In 1966, Clapton formed Cream with bassist Jack Bruce and drummer Ginger Baker. The band’s debut single Wrapping Paper charted at UK #34, but their second single I Feel Free reached UK #11. Their album Disraeli Gears 1967 became a worldwide hit, spawning the single Sunshine of Your Love. Cream disbanded in 1968 after a farewell tour. Clapton then formed Blind Faith with Steve Winwood, playing to over 200,000 fans in Hyde Park in 1969. After Blind Faith dissolved, he launched his solo career in 1970 with an album featuring Delaney & Bonnie. His 1992 live album Unplugged won six Grammy Awards in one night, including Record of the Year for Tears in Heaven.
Clapton fell in love with Pattie Boyd while she was married to George Harrison, writing Layla and Wonderful Tonight about her. They married in 1979 and divorced in 1989. He married Melia McEnery on January 1, 2002, in a surprise ceremony at a church in Surrey. He has children: Conor born 1986, died 1991, Ruth born 1986 with Yvonne Kelly, Julie Rose born 2001, and Ella Mae born 2003. The death of his son Conor inspired the song Tears in Heaven. He struggled with alcohol and heroin addiction but overcame it through electro-acupuncture and sobriety.
Eric Clapton is the only musician inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame three times: with The Yardbirds 1992, Cream 1993, and as a solo artist 2000. He is a Commander of the Order of the British Empire and a Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres. His guitar work influenced countless artists, including Phil Collins, who said playing drums for Clapton was the highlight of his career. In 1998, he founded the Crossroads Centre in Antigua for addiction treatment. He is remembered as a master of blues rock and the author of enduring classics like Layla and Tears in Heaven.
The complete filmography of Eric Clapton — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.
Every award, honor, and recognition received by Eric Clapton — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.
A wall of memorable lines from Eric Clapton — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.
Given the Choice Between Accomplishing Something and Just Lying Around, I’d Rather Lie Around. No Contest.
I Am, and Always Will Be, a Blues Guitarist.
When All the Original Blues Guys Are Gone, You Start to Realize That Someone Has to Tend to the Tradition. I Recognize That I Have Some Responsibility to Keep the Music Alive, and It’s a Pretty Honorable Position to Be In.
I Would Challenge Anybody to Come up with a Better Design for a Guitar. the Stratocaster Is as Good as It Gets.
The Blues Are What I’ve Turned To, What Has Given Me Inspiration and Relief in All the Trials of My Life.
My Dedication to My Music Has Driven Everyone Away. I’ve Had Girlfriends, but I Always End up on My Own. I Don’t Particularly Like It, but I Don’t See a Way ‘Round It.
I’d Love to Knock an Audience Cold with One Note, but What Do You Do for the Rest of the Evening?
We Didn’t Really Have a Band with Cream. We Rarely Played as an Ensemble; We Were Three Virtuosos, All of Us Soloing All the Time.
Little-known facts about Eric Clapton — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.
Conor Clapton, Eric’s four-year-old son, died on March 10, 1991 after falling from a window, inspiring the Grammy-winning song Tears in Heaven.
Clapton wrote Layla and Wonderful Tonight for Pattie Boyd, who left George Harrison to marry Clapton in 1979. Harrison and Clapton jokingly called each other husbands-in-law.
He is the only artist inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame three times: with The Yardbirds 1992, Cream 1993, and as a solo performer 2000.
Phil Collins has stated that playing drums for Clapton was the highlight of his entire career.
Before becoming a musician, Clapton designed stained glass windows.
He was cured of heroin addiction through electro-acupuncture; Boy George later received the same therapy.
Clapton considers his sobriety the most important priority in his life.
He enjoys watching Mixed Martial Arts.
Jimi Hendrix once jammed with Clapton shortly after Cream formed in 1966; Hendrix was a fan of Clapton.
Clapton married Melia McEnery on January 1, 2002, in a surprise ceremony following the christening of their daughter Julie Rose.
His daughter Ruth was born in 1986 with Yvonne Kelly; the fact became public in 1993.
Stephen Stills asked Clapton to join Crosby, Stills & Nash, but Clapton was forming Blind Faith with Steve Winwood.
He was considered to replace Brian Jones in The Rolling Stones.
On February 24, 1993, Clapton became the first British artist to win six Grammys in one night, including Record of the Year for Tears in Heaven.
His son Conor was born August 21, 1986 to Lory Del Santo while Clapton was still married to Pattie Boyd.
During the performance of Further On Up the Road at The Last Waltz 1978, his guitar strap broke and Robbie Robertson improvised a solo.
He recorded an instrumental guitar theme for the James Bond film Licence to Kill 1989 with Vic Flick, but it was never released.
At Live Aid 1985 in Philadelphia, his backing drummer was Phil Collins, who had also performed at the London concert hours earlier.
Clapton was close friends with Duane Allman, who played guitar on Layla.
He reunited with Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce for a Cream reunion concert in May 2005.
In 1996, he was romantically linked to singer Sheryl Crow.
He played two farewell concerts: one for Cream in 1968 and one for The Band in 1976—both ironically influenced by The Band’s music.
After Ginger Baker’s death in October 2019, Clapton became the last surviving member of Cream.
His nickname Slow Hand originated from a concert where he broke a string and the audience gave a slow hand clap while he replaced it.
Once during a Cream concert, he suddenly stopped playing, but neither Ginger Baker nor Jack Bruce noticed.
He was a member of The Yardbirds, John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers, Cream, Blind Faith, Delaney & Bonnie & Friends, and Derek & The Dominos.
Before Cream formed in 1966, he was virtually unknown in the United States; he left The Yardbirds before For Your Love hit the US Top Ten.
In a 1995 Daily Mail article, Clapton stated he was leaving his drink and drugs lifestyle behind and has remained true to that promise.
Clapton, along with Cream members Baker and Bruce, suspected their manager Robert Stigwood of stealing earnings.
During the worst period of his alcohol addiction, Clapton had seizures and was told he needed to stop drinking or die.
He played the guitar solo on The Beatles’ While My Guitar Gently Weeps, the first time an outside musician performed on a Beatles song.
He played guitar on Phil Collins’ hits If Leaving Me is Easy and I Wish It Would Rain Down, appearing in the latter’s music video.
In 1988, he became the first artist to have a Fender Stratocaster signature model.
His hits with Cream include Wrapping Paper, I Feel Free, Strange Brew, Sunshine of Your Love, White Room, and Badge.
Clapton had an unsuccessful meeting with his biological mother when he was nine years old and never contacted her again.
A recovering addict, he opened the Crossroads Centre Antigua in 1998 for drug and alcohol treatment.
In June 2002, he performed at the Royal Jubilee Rock Concert with Brian Wilson, Paul McCartney, and Phil Collins.
His guitars of choice include a Fender Stratocaster and a Gibson Les Paul Standard.
His current backup band includes guitarist Andy Fairweather Low and bassist Nathan East.
He has owned a string of Ferraris.
He played lead guitar on Aretha Franklin’s Good to Me as I Am to You.
In the 1980s, fans criticized Clapton for becoming too pop-oriented; his 1992 album Unplugged restored his critical respect.
In 1969, he played with John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s Plastic Ono Band at the Toronto Pop Festival.
He collaborated with both Allman Brothers: Duane Allman helped record Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs 1970, and in 1991 he wrote the score for Rush featuring Gregg Allman.
Clapton has performed at Madison Square Garden 45 times, more than any other US venue.
His song Presence of the Lord with Blind Faith is about finding his estate in Surrey.
His favorite recorded performance of The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down is by The Band at The Last Waltz.
His daughter Julie Rose was born June 13, 2001, and Ella Mae was born January 14, 2003.
He originally played Gibson guitars but switched to Fender Stratocasters in 1970.
Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Eric Clapton.
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