Biography

Gene Vincent, Chuck Berry and Elvis Presley were three of ECs biggest idols in the late 50s. But they soon became distant the minute he heard the big Robert Johnson. Now he had really found his soulmate and the blues was just around the corner.

In early 1963, Clapton joined his first band, The Roosters. Following the bands demise, he spent one month in the pop-oriented Casey Jones and The Engineers. In October 1963, Keith Relf and Paul Samwell-Smith recruited him to become a member of The Yardbirds because Clapton was the most talked about player on the R&B pub circuit. It was with The Yardbirds that Clapton made his first albums Five Live Yardbirds, Sonny Boy Williamson and The Yardbirds, and the single, "Good Morning Little Schoolgirl". During this time, he also earned his nickname, "Slowhand", because whenever he would break a string on stage, he would change it to the accompaniment of a "slow hand clap" from the audience. His serious research into the American Blues continued and when The Yardbirds began moving towards a more commercial sound with the single "For Your Love", he quit the band. His path in music was the blues.

In April 1965, John Mayall invited Clapton to join his band, John Mayalls Bluesbreakers. During his tenure with this band, Clapton established his reputation as a guitarist. His time with the band was turbulent and Clapton even left for a while to tour Greece with friends. Upon his return, the album Blues Breakers With Eric Clapton was recorded.

In late 1966, he teamed up with Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker to formCream. Extensive touring in the U.S. and three solid albums - Fresh Cream, Disraeli Gears, and Wheels of Fire - brought the band worldwide acclaim. While a member of Cream, he cemented his reputation as rocks premier guitarist. The band crumbled beneath the weight of the members egos and constant arguing. Following Creams break-up in 1968, Clapton founded Blind Faith - rocks first "supergroup" - with Steve Winwood, Ginger Baker, and Rick Grech. Disbanding after one album and a disastrous American tour, Clapton tried to hide from his growing fame by touring as a sideman with Delaney & Bonnie. A live album from that tour was released in 1970. Claptons self-titled debut was also released in that year. In the summer of 1970, he formed Derek and the Dominos with members from Delaney & Bonnies band. The Dominos would go on to record the seminal rock album, Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs. A concept album, its theme revolved around Claptons unrequited love for George Harrisons wife, Patti. The band would drift apart following an American tour and a failed attempt at recording a second album.

Hit hard by the break up of The Dominos, the commercial failure of the Layla album and his unrequited love, Clapton sunk into three years of heroin addiction. Although he and his girlfriend, Alice Ormsby-Gore, emerged rarely from his Surrey Estate, he filled box upon box with tapes of songs. Clapton kicked his drug addiction and relaunched his career in January 1973 with two concerts at Londons Rainbow Theater. In 1974, he would reappear with a new style and sound with the now-classic album, 461 Ocean Boulevard. Sadly, he replaced heroin with an addiction to the love of music.