Real Rock and Blues » eric clapton

Eric Clapton Autobiography – A Review

Phil — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 16:37:52 +0000

I should point out before I begin that I am not EC’s biggest fan – I have never forgiven him for 461 Ocean Bvd.

Having got that off my chest I must say that I enjoyed this book. It is well written with lots of insights and honesty (as far as anyone can tell). He acknowledges his arrogance and failings though he becomes a bit self serving towards the end of his book. All in all, however, it comes across as an honest account of his life.

The account of his upbringing seems so removed from the experience of today’s youth, it is even removed from those of us born just 10 years later than him. The privations of the post war years, the birth of skiffle, the part played by the old jazzers in introducing the Blues to these shores are covered. That EC became fixated with the blues resonated with me. I remember the effect of listening to Muddy, Howlin’ Wolf etc. for the first time and understand what that would mean to a socially inadequate, but talented youngster.

The lost years, fogged by various addictions, are covered openly. EC makes no excuses. The one question that I have is how much of the past can he really remember, but then I asked myself that when ready Life by Keith Richard.

Worth buying? I would say yes. You will not get a track by track explanation of the albums as you sometimes find in other biographies. What you do get is a worthy attempt to put his life into context. Motives and feelings are the name of the game here. It is an exceptional book because it is so personal. The flaws and mistakes are addressed (though I would have liked a bit more about the Birmingham racist comments). This is a man who was known to be a bastard to his family and friends, a man who dodged his responsibilities for years, a man who took the easy way out and relied on others.

EC started as an exceptional talent who could not live up to other peoples’ expectations. He became a jobbing guitarist, going through the motions. He both believed his own hype and hated the attention that it brought to him. That he survived is a testament to his resilience, that he survived and reclaimed happiness and the ability to play sublime music is a testament to his strength.

I still have not forgiven for 461 but I understand better, I just wish that I had not bought it. This book should be on your Christmas list, you will not be disappointed.

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On This Day – EC Takes Over

Phil — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 00:26:14 +0000

On this day in 1963 a promising young guitarist replaced Tony Topham in the Yardbirds. Of course that guitarist was Eric Clapton (Known as God to his graffiti writing friends). He was 17 when he left his first band The Roosters to join them.

Reassuringly for us mere mortals, EC found learning the guitar difficult but he stayed with it as fascinated with the blues. The blues was his first love and it was the reason he would leave The Yardbirds a couple of years later. The Yardbirds were moving in a pop direction that did not sit well with him.

From the Yardbirds EC joined John Mayall and released one of the seminal records of the 60s the so called Beano album. From there he formed Cream and then an amazing solo carer with amazing highs and incredible lows (I still have not forgiven him for 461 Ocean Boulevard….)

As a bit of a side note, the guitarist he recommended to the band to take over from him in the Yardbirds was Jimmy Page, but he did not want to stop his successful career as a session player. Later, of course Jimmy was in the New Yardbirds a band that quickly changed their name to Led Zep.

This is EC playing second fiddle to one of the GREAT blues guitarists Buddy Guy.

And this is the last straw as far as EC was concerned, The Yardbirds with “For Your Love”. It’s jeff Beck in this performance as EC had already left the Building.

And THIS is EC with John Mayall in 1966. Boy, did he make the right decision!

And again.

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On This Day – Jimi Hits London

Phil — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 00:47:54 +0000

On this day in 1966 Jimi Hendrix bplayed for the nfirst time in the UK. He got up on stage to jam with Cream while they were playing at the London Poly. The story is that Jimi’s playing scared the shit out of EC……………

Sadly is was 4 years to the day that Jimi was buried at The Greenwood Cemetery at the Dunlop Baptist Church Seattle. Among the mourners were Miles Davis, Eric Burdon, Johnny Winter and members of Derek and the Dominoes.

Those who the gods love they take early.

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On This day – Cream Rises to The Top.

Phil — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 08:02:41 +0000

Cream of the crop.

On this day in 1966, or as clsoe to today in 1966 as to not to matter, Cream came into existence. Formed by Eric Clapton (late of the Yardbirds and John Mayall) and Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce (both late of the Graham Bond organisation) Cream had a huge influence on popular music.

In an interview with the BBC Jack Bruce once said that EC thought that they were a blues band while Jack and Ginger made him play jazz. The truth is that this was a blues influenced, jazz, rock, beat, teen combo the like of which we had not seen before (no, sorry, that’s The Mothers of Invention).

Cream was a blues rock fusion with a tinge of jazz. What really distinguished Cream from most bands at the time was the level musicianship. EC was well known as a guitarist (over hyped to my mind – but that is an argument for another day). Jack Bruce was ‘classically trained’ and one of the first rock bass guitarists with serious talent. Ginger Baker was a rhythmic genius, one of the few rock drummers who could construct an interesting drum solo – although many tried, and failed sadly….

It is not often remembered that Cream only lasted 2 years or so but had a huge influence on the direction of popular music. Given Baker and Bruce’s volatile history while in the Graham Bond Organisation (Including fights on stage, musical sabotage and threats at knife point), it was not likely that the band would be long lived.

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