With striking intimacy and candor, Eric Clapton tells the story of his eventful and inspiring life in this poignant and honest autobiography. More than a rock star, Eric Clapton is an icon, a living embodiment of the history of rock music. Well known for his reserve in a profession marked by self-promotion, flamboyance, and spin, he now chronicles, for the first time, his remarkable personal and … remarkable personal and professional journeys.
Born illegitimate in 1945 and raised by his grandparents, Eric never knew his father and, until the age of nine, believed his actual mother to be his sister. In his early teens his solace was the guitar, and his incredible talent would make him a cult hero in the clubs of Britain and inspire devoted fans to scrawl “Clapton is God” on the walls of London’s Underground. With the formation of Cream, the world’s first supergroup, he became a worldwide superstar, but conflicting personalities tore the band apart within two years. His stints in Blind Faith, in Delaney and Bonnie and Friends, and in Derek and the Dominos were also short-lived but yielded some of the most enduring songs in history, including the classic “Layla.”
During the late sixties he played as a guest with Jimi Hendrix and Bob Dylan, as well as the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and longtime friend George Harrison. It was while working with the latter that he fell for George’s wife, Pattie Boyd, a seemingly unrequited love that led him to the depths of despair, self-imposed seclusion, and drug addiction. By the early seventies he had overcome his addiction and released the bestselling album 461 Ocean Boulevard, with its massive hit “I Shot the Sheriff.” He followed that with the platinum album Slowhand, which included “Wonderful Tonight,” the touching love song to Pattie, whom he finally married at the end of 1979. A short time later, however, Eric had replaced heroin with alcohol as his preferred vice, following a pattern of behavior that not only was detrimental to his music but contributed to the eventual breakup of his marriage.
In the eighties he would battle and begin his recovery from alcoholism and become a father. But just as his life was coming together, he was struck by a terrible blow: His beloved four-year-old son, Conor, died in a freak accident. At an earlier time Eric might have coped with this tragedy by fleeing into a world of addiction. But now a much stronger man, he took refuge in music, responding with the achingly beautiful “Tears in Heaven.”
Clapton is the powerfully written story of a survivor, a man who has achieved the pinnacle of success despite extraordinary demons. It is one of the most compelling memoirs of our time.
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Inside look into the music business and Clapton’s life..
Inside look into sex, drugs and rock-n-roll/blues
Not great literature but a must read for Clapton fans.
If you are a guitar player ,you would like this book.
I love the history of rock n roll music and I have always loved Clapton’s music. His early years of alcoholism and drug abuse were sad but his honesty and his triumph over those problems were heartwarming.
If you like Hitchhiker s Guide to the Universe I think you’re going to like this
For a guitar god, he sure made a lot of bad life mistakes.
A moving memoir and also reads like a soap opera of rich and famous rock star lives. Quite entertaining and illuminating. For anyone interested in alcohol/addiction issues, it is informative.
If you are a fan of Clapton’s music or a striving young musician, you will surely enjoy this good read.
Wow, is all I can say. A must reader for all who have loved Eric Clapton ! How he rose from a young boy, musically inclined, through all the bands he had started or joined, through his harrowing life experience. Loved this book.
Not great. No big revelations.
Believable. It’s not a great book, but it is fairly well written and an interesting narrative about an iconic guitar player.
This is a great read and really gives insight into a good man.
I was a bit put off by Clapton. I’m a still active musician, but never stooped so low.
Understanding the man and his music.
Clapton is God.
Interesting life. Great guitar player.
Wonderful, he hides nothing, grabs you from the beginning. I have been recommending this to everyone!!!
If you like Clapton, this is a great read
Eric struggled with addictions and tragedy but surmounted them. He says the key to his sobriety is helping others and he has gone out of his way to do this. I loved that he taught himself to play guitar, never had a lesson. Of course many others have done that, but they didn’t have his stupendous gifts. He is honest and funny. Great book.
Being an EC fan I was looking forward to his story. Still like his music but don’t think too much of the man himself. Way too self centered with little real understanding of his motives until very, very late in his life. Also, as an animal lover I wasn’t too happy learning of his delight in shooting creatures, even though his excuse is that they …
An excellent window into the soul of a great man. It was written with humility and a great deal of candor.