History Music / EricClapton

* TheCoverChangesTheGender: Some King and Queen-swapping goes on in "Change the World", originally sung by Wynonna.

It was in 1966 that Clapton formed his first supergroup: Powerhouse. With the likes of Jack Bruce and Music/SteveWinwood, their discography consists of just three officially released songs on an artist compilation called ''What's Shakin'''. This was immediately followed by Music/{{Cream}}, with Bruce and Ginger Baker. Cream brought Clapton his first success in America with the songs "Sunshine Of Your Love", "White Room" and "Crossroads." They were also legendary for [[EpicRocking their long jams]] and high musical capability. Back when they existed, they were the top-selling live act, beating out Hendrix.

Clapton then formed Blind Faith with Baker, Steve Winwood, and Ric Grech. A short-lived but critically acclaimed band, they released one album before breaking up, and Clapton joined Delaney And Bonnie And Friends for a short time. Finally, Clapton teamed up with Duane Allman for his next ensemble, Music/DerekAndTheDominos. There he had his next big hit, "Layla". After the band's disintegration, Clapton finally went solo. Two of the main hits on his own, "I Shot The Sheriff" and "Cocaine," were both covers.

Massive success, as it often does, took its toll. Clapton fell into substance abuse in the '70s, abusing heroin in particular. He managed to free himself from that particular issue after going into rehab but relapsed into alcohol several times. After this dark episode, he managed to remain in public consciousness with ''461 Ocean Boulevard'', a laid down, reggae-inspired album including "I Shot The Sheriff" which quickly sold like crazy. His alcohol problems continued at the time to haunt him, and his still-often-brought-up racist rant in Birmingham, 1976 was one of many events that eventually caused him to go into rehab again.

It was thanks to the support of other massive '80s artists -- notably Music/PhilCollins but also Music/TinaTurner -- that he managed to climb back up the slope. Beginning with ''Behind The Sun'' and ''August'', he managed to recapture part of his early meteoric stardom. He continued then to tour and record through to 2000 with few issues. His most notable performances came in the early 90s on Creator/{{MTV}}'s ''Unplugged'' series. There he performed [[UnpluggedVersion acoustic versions]] of "Layla" and "Tears in Heaven," the latter of which was written in grief after the death of his 4-year-old son in 1991.

Although most people remember the Clapton of the '60s and '70s, he has been lauded for many efforts between 1990 and 2010. Two electric blues essentials, ''From The Cradle'' (1994) and ''Me And Mr. Johnson'' (2004, a tribute to blues pioneer Robert Johnson). Two hugely successful collaborations, ''Riding With The King'' (2000, with BBKing) and ''The Road To Escondido'' (2006, with JJCale). As well as the critically acclaimed ''CLAPTON'' (2010). He announced his retirement around the middle of the new ten's and his probable last tour (although that was also said of the 2001 tour) will be held in 2015.

* 1975 - ''There's One In Every Crowd''
* 1976 - ''No Reason To Cry''

* 1983 - ''Money And Cigarettes''
* 1985 - ''Behind The Sun''
* 1985 - ''Edge Of Darkness''

* 2000 - ''Riding With The King'' [[note]]A collaboration with BB King[[/note]]

* 2004 - ''Me And Mr. Johnson''
* 2004 - ''Sessions For Robert J''

* 2006 - ''The Road To Escondido'' [[note]]A collaboration with JJ Cale[[/note]]

* 2014 - ''The Breeze: An Appreciation Of JJ Cale''

* 1983 - ''Time Pieces Vol.II Live In The Seventies''

* 1996 - ''Crossroads 2: Live In The Seventies''

* 2011 - ''Play The Blues Live From Jazz At Lincoln Center'' [[note]]A collaboration with Wynton Marsalis[[/note]]

* LeadSingerPlaysLeadGuitar: Clapton [[ZigZaggingTrope Zig Zags]] the lead singer part while keeping the role of lead guitarist constant. In Music/{{Cream}} he occasionally sang but mostly let [[LeadBassist Jack Bruce]] handle lead vocals. In Derek and the Dominos and his solo career, however, he plays both roles.

* DreamTeam: Cream was considered a super-group, as was Powerhouse, Blind Faith and Music/DerekAndTheDominos. Clapton also appeared with The Louisiana Gator-Boys in ''Film/BluesBrothers2000'' with Bo Diddley, Dr. John, B.B. King, Gary U.S. Bonds, and Jeff Baxter.
** "The Palpitations", a one-off group that backed him in his 1973 comeback show, included Pete Townshend, Ronnie Wood, and Music/SteveWinwood.
** In 1968, he was part of a one-time super-group called "The Dirty Mac", with Music/JohnLennon, Music/KeithRichards, and Mitch Mitchell of [[Music/JimiHendrix The Jimi Hendrix Experience]], performing together on ''Film/TheRollingStonesRockAndRollCircus''. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAjdRHzH4M8 Amazing.]]
** His late '80's band of Clapton, bassist Nathan East, keyboardist Greg Phillanganes and Music/PhilCollins can be considered as such, too.

''[[GriefSong I must be strong, and carry on]]''\\

-->-- "'''Tears in Heaven'''"

->'''[[BlasphemousPraise CLAPTON IS GOD]]'''
-->-- [[TheSixties '60s]] [[MemeticMutation Urban Graffiti]]

Eric Patrick Clapton [[UsefulNotes/KnightFever CBE]] (born in Ripley, England on 30 March 1945) is one of those artists who can find great success in his solo efforts or as part of a band. He ranked second in ''Rolling Stone's'' list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time[[note]]Music/JimiHendrix was #1[[/note]]. He's played a variety of genres, from blues to psychedelic to pop and even reggae numbers. His influence is felt across pop, blues, and rock, with multiple chart and critical successes.

[[caption-width-right:339:[[Music/FiveLiveYardbirds Lead guitar: Eric "Slowhand" Clapton!]].]]

Massive success, as it often does, took its toll. Clapton fell into substance abuse in the 70's - in particular heroin. After going into rehab, he managed to free himself from that particular issue but relapsed into alcohol several times. After this dark episode, he managed to remain in public consciousness with ''461 Ocean Boulevard'', a laid down, reggae-inspired album including "I Shot The Sheriff" which quickly sold like crazy. His alcohol problems continued at the time to haunt him and his still often brought up racist rant in Birmingham, 1976 was only one of many events that eventually caused him to go into rehab, again.

It was thanks to the support of other massive 80's artists - notably Music/PhilCollins but also Music/TinaTurner - that he managed to climb back the slope. Beginning with ''Behind The Sun'' and ''August'', he managed to recapture part of his early meteoric stardom. He continued then to tour and record through to 2000 with few issues. His most notable performances came in the early 90s on Creator/{{MTV}}'s ''Unplugged'' series. There he performed [[UnpluggedVersion acoustic versions]] of "Layla" and "Tears in Heaven," which was written in grief after his son's death in 1991.

Magazine/RollingStone recognizes him as the second-greatest guitarist of all time on their list of 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.

* DrugsAreBad: "Cocaine".

* NotChristianRock: Blind Faith's "Presence of the Lord", which Clapton wrote, has been covered by actual ChristianRock bands.

* SelfDeprecation: He does this a lot in his autobiography, e.g. recalling how reluctant he was to sing "Rambling On My Mind" on the ''Blues Breakers'' album because he disliked his "thin, high" voice so much, compared to the voices of his favourite blues singers.

* GrowingTheBeard: The consensus is that Clapton did this on the album he made with John Mayall, ''Blues Breakers''. He wouldn't grow an actual beard until about five years later, however.

It was in 1966 that Clapton formed his first supergroup: Powerhouse. With the likes of Jack Bruce and Steve Winwood, their discography consists of just three officially released songs on an artist compilation called ''What's Shakin'''. This was immediately followed by Music/{{Cream}}, with Bruce and Ginger Baker. Cream brought Clapton his first success in America with the songs "Sunshine Of Your Love", "White Room" and "Crossroads." They were also legendary for [[EpicRocking their long jams]] and high musical capability. Back when they existed, they were the top-selling live act, beating out Hendrix.

* 2009 - ''Live From Madison Square Garden'' [[note]]A collaboration with Steve Winwood[[/note]]

** "The Palpitations", a one-off group that backed him in his 1973 comeback show, included Pete Townshend, Ronnie Wood, and Steve Winwood.

Magazine/RollingStone recognizes him as the second-greatest guitarist of all time on their list of [[UsefulNotes/RollingStone100GreatestGuitaristsOfAllTime 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time]].

* {{Mondegreen}}: This may be how "Music/DerekAndTheDominos" got its name. Supposedly they were originally "Eric and the Dynamos" but someone misheard it.

** In 1968, he was part of a one-time super-group called "The Dirty Mac" With Music/JohnLennon, Music/KeithRichards, and Mitch Mitchell of [[Music/JimiHendrix The Jimi Hendrix Experience]]. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAjdRHzH4M8 Amazing.]]

Clapton has the distinct accomplishment of having made guest appearances on solo albums released by all four ex-[[Music/TheBeatles Beatles]] over the years; Music/JohnLennon's ''Live Peace In Toronto'' and ''Sometime In New York City''; Music/PaulMcCartney's ''Kisses On The Bottom''; Music/RingoStarr's ''Ringo Rama'', and numerous Music/GeorgeHarrison albums, as well as a Beatles group album (Music/TheWhiteAlbum, contributing the solo to "While My Guitar Gently Weeps").

Magazine/RollingStone recognizes him as the second greatest guitarist of all time on their list of [[UsefulNotes/RollingStone100GreatestGuitaristsOfAllTime 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time]].

* AlwaysSomeoneBetter: In London in the late 60s, a young man fresh off the boat from America made the audacious request to jam with Cream... and ended up upstaging Clapton. The young man's name? Music/JimiHendrix (oh, and you know how the intro mentioned Clapton being the second greatest guitarist of all time? Guess who's number one?)

* TheCasanova: He ''is'' a Rock Star, after all. In addition to romancing the wives of other Rock Stars, some of his more notable relationships include Music/JanisJoplin and supermodel (and former French First Lady) Carla Bruni. Music/SherylCrow's "My Favourite Mistake" is allegedly about him.

* EvolvingMusic: "Layla." First, he performed it with Music/DerekAndTheDominos. Then, when he did a solo unplugged performance for MTV, he did a much slower and soulful rendition of it. Later, he and Wynton Marsalis performed it in a New Orleans-styled jazz blues style.

* {{Mondegreen}}: This may be how "Music/DerekAndTheDominos" got its name. Supposedly, they were originally "Eric and the Dynamos", but someone misheard it.

--> It's late in the evening; she's wondering what clothes to wear\\

* WhatTheHellHero: "Layla" is a love song to Patti Boyd ... while she was still married to George Harrison.

And I say, "Yes, you look wonderful tonight

Massive success, as it often does, took its toll. Clapton fell into substance abuse in the 70's - in particular heroin. After going into rehab, he managed to free himself from that particular issue but relapsed into alcohol several times. After this dark episode, he managed to remain in public consciousness with ''461 Ocean Boulevard'', a laid down, reggae-inspired album including "I Shot The Sherrif" which quickly sold like crazy. His alcohol problems continued at the time to haunt him and his still often brought up racist rant in Birmingham, 1976 was only one of many events that eventually caused him to go into rehab, again.