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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A very good look into the private life of Eric Clapton.
May have been a good book but editing is terrible so is unreadable. Page text overlaps, sometimes repeats, sometimes skips sentences…is very disjointed. Impossible to follow from one page to the next. This version should never have been released.
Clapton was honest about the turmoil in his life, the drugs and alcohol and the people he hurt. He also chronicled the early days of the rock and roll revolution and the bands who came out of it. Then he got straight and sober and saved his life.
For those of us who came of age musically with the Yardbirds, Cream, Derick and the Dominoes, Blind Faith, and so many other Clapton groupings of musicians, this memoire presents an engaging retelling of Eric Clapton’s formative family background and musical development. Although one is left wondering how E.C.’s body survived years of drug and …
A really good read for Eric’s fans or rock fans in general
Fearless truth of Clapton’s journey to fame. Sometimes disturbing, always boldly honest. A fascinating read.
I liked it. I know more about Clapton than I did before I read it. Interesting life.
Yawnnnnn…. this book had some tidbits of historical info but, it was so boring. I had to make myself continue to read it.
Keith’s bio is probably more interesting, but he may be a tad more amoral than Eric.
All the same there’s a palpable sense of “being there” when Clapton shares his pleasure in jamming with Winwood. His alarm when that one drummer – you know- crashes the jam like a jealous cuck.
His life post rehab of course is terrific and full of gratitude …
For Clapton fans: it is an honest look at the successes and failures of a rock and roll icon.
As I read Mr. Clapton’s historical autobiography, I simultaneously listened to his referenced songs and artists (on You Tube). What a great ride through history!
Interesting reading about an entertainer I have followed for years and have many CDs. Great that he is still with us!!
I have always loved Clapton no matter which group he played with, as well as a solo artist. I knew he had a history with substance abuse, but the brunt of my exposure to his music was when I was in high school and college. Naturally, it wasn’t on my radar.
This bio was told with raw truth. It takes a certain kind of person to be able to admit …
What a life he had. On the brink of death most of his life.
A great trip down memory lane through the eyes of a rock icon. But it turned out to be a lot more than just the rock and remembrances of a guitar virtuoso, it’s the personal journey of a very real and warm man.
If you’re interested in celebrities – Very interesting to learn how he was self taught and how he rose to the top.
So honest and interesting. Couldn’t put it down!
Just enjoying the history that Clapton both made and experienced.
Enjoyed the book. It opened my eyes to the story behind one of the best guitar players in the world.
I love rock music. Having now read several biographies and autobiographies of some of the greatest, I have concluded that the ability to make great art seldom translates into an interesting person or book.