He is taken into account some of the influential guitarists in music historical past, bought round 280 million albums and was the one artist to be included within the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame” thrice: Eric Clapton is undoubtedly some of the essential musicians of the twentieth century. Finally, nevertheless, his popularity suffered just a little. Now the person who she calls “Slowhand” is 80 years outdated.
“Layla”, “Tears in Heaven” or “Wonderful Tonight” are just some of the numerous recognized songs which might be linked to your title. In addition to his personal compositions, Eric Patrick Clapton made many blues classics. The ardour for the blues introduced the British, who was born in Surrey on March 30, 1945, to music.
From the Yardbirds through Cream to Derek and the Dominos
He celebrated his first successes within the mid -Sixties with the Yardbirds. With John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers, he strengthened his popularity as an distinctive guitarist. His affect was so nice that the one album with him obtained the title “Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton”. In London, followers wrote “Clapton is God” on home partitions.
With Cream, one of many first tremendous teams in rock historical past, he managed the worldwide breakthrough. The trio created a combination of blues, rock and psychedelic parts. Songs like “Sunshine of your love” and “White Room” are rock classics. The band dissolved as early as 1968.
His subsequent two bands solely handed a 12 months, however secured their place in music historical past. With blind religion (“Can’t Find My Way Home”), Clapton gave a live performance in entrance of 100,000 folks within the London Hyde Park. He wrote “Layla” for Derek and the Dominos in 1970. He was impressed by his unlucky love for high mannequin and photographer Pattie Boyd. She was married to Clapton’s pal, the ex-beatle George Harrison.
Solo profession, medication and alcohol
After the top of Derek and the Dominos, Clapton fled in medication. Nevertheless, in 1970 he managed to begin his solo profession extraordinarily efficiently together with his Titelle debut album and songs similar to “After Midnight” and “Let It Rain”. But it took years for the guitar virtuoso to overcame its heroin dependancy.
In 1974 he printed considered one of his most well-known albums – “461 Ocean Boulevard” with the Hitslandle “I Shot the Sheriff”. At that point, the wedding of George Harrison and Pattie Boyd broke. So Clapton and Boyd got here collectively. When they obtained married in 1979, Harrison was one of many wedding ceremony friends. The friendship remained, however the marriage solely lasted ten years.
Instead of heroin, Clapton was now alcohol -dependent. He wanted till the late Eighties to beat his dependancy. Today he’s concerned in his CrossRoads Center Foundation for individuals who undergo from dependancy. To help him, he known as the favored CrossRoads Guitar Festival, which was final came about in 2023.
Heavy stroke of destiny conjures up world hit
One of his biggest musical success is related to essentially the most tough stroke of destiny in his life. The music “Tears in Heaven”, which was awarded a number of Grammys, wrote Clapton out of grief for the lack of his son. Conor Clapton fell out of the window of a excessive -rise constructing in New York in 1991.
As a solo artist, Eric Clapton has printed 22 studio albums and quite a few reside recordings. “MTV Unplugged” from 1992 is a milestone and, with 26 million copies bought, is taken into account the best-selling reside album in music historical past. With the legendary BB King he introduced out “Riding with the King” (2000), with JJ Cale “The Road to Escondido” (2006).
Irritation through Corona statements
Politically, Clapton had hardly ever commented throughout his now over 60 years of profession. The undeniable fact that he abruptly ran out in Corona pandemic irritated a few of his buddies, colleagues, followers and even his household. Clapton himself reported. He has 4 daughters, three of them together with his second spouse Melia Mcenery, with whom he has been married since 2002.
On his most up-to-date album “Meanwhile”, which was launched in autumn 2024, the controversial musician continued to be in opposition to Corona coverage. The undeniable fact that he equated the duty to vaccinate with slavery within the music “Stand and Deliver” was bitterly stood out to his pal and colleague, the blues musician Robert Cray. Friendship broke after greater than 30 years.
Other companions remained loyal to the British. His lengthy -time black bassist Nathan East, for instance, defended him in opposition to allegations of racism, which works again to an outdated stage look that now got here up once more. At a live performance in Birmingham, Clapton scolded racistically about immigrants in 1976. He later apologized and stated he was ashamed of it. He additionally commented on this within the documentary “A Life in 12 Bars” from 2017. He didn’t persuade his critics.
On tour once more from April
The “Washington Post” suspected that Claptons Corona ärger needed to do together with his private scenario. He has well being issues, nerve injury in palms and legs and shedding his listening to. He subsequently wished to make as a lot music as doable. “This is his life of life,” confirmed his drummer Jim Keltner. “You can’t just take away his appearances – that’s how breathing for him.”
In the meantime, Eric Clapton is touring frequently once more. His subsequent tour begins in April. In Japan, Great Britain, Italy, France and the USA, he seems within the large halls. His popularity might have suffered, his profession apparently didn’t hurt it.
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https://www.zeit.de/news/2025-03/30/streitbare-gitarrenlegende-eric-clapton-wird-80