Eric Clapton reveals this week of his declining health


The King of Electric Guitar this week, Eric Clapton, announced to the news media that he is just about completely deaf from severe tinnitus and is suffering nerve damage to his hands that will in just a matter of time compromise his ability to play. When Clapton goes it will be the end of the Rock era as we know it.

Years ago, B.B.King was asked at a press conference who he thought was the greatest rock guitarist of all time, he replied,
"My personal opinion?..."Eric Clapton is the greatest rock and roll guitar player of all time." 1986


                                                 
audiozen

I did not read every item in this chain, but EC truly a great....some of his politics, not so much, but we love his art/music.....BTW, this relatively old news is not so dire.....his recent release, 2021 "Lady in the Balcony" is fabulous, though the LP may have the worst surface noise I have ever experienced...too bad about that!!!

@geoffkait You are clearly correct about Mr. L. I doubt he can hear anything or ever could, but he is a great marketing guy, right?

As for Mr. Clapton, he is truly gifted--I read his book, which you all should do as well. When I listen to Al Di Meola and others like him, I realize that musical talent has many forms and many genres.

"The Greatest" of anything is subjective, of course, but Eric Clapton is clearly a major talent in a field of millions of players.

Cheers!

@tomcy6 

"Everyone has the right to like or dislike Clapton, of course, but when people say his playing is junk, there are a lot of really good guitarists who disagree"

Agreed. Clapton has recorded plenty of excellent music-- if not, this thread would not exist!  

Clapton is a very talented guitar player I will say. A lot of people don’t know that the amazing slide guitar playing on the song “Layla” by Derek & the Domino’s was played by the Magnificent artist called Duane Allman which I feel should be in the top 5. The Rolling Stone Magazine had him at number two and Robert Johnson as number 3. I also feel there are other greats like the Guitar playing of Johnny Winter is the Master of the Slide Guitar and if you don’t believe me give him a listen. Jeff Beck is at the top with David Gilmore, Jimmie Page, Roy Clark, Allen Collins, Steve Gaines, Tommy Emmanuel, George Harrison, Stephen Stills, Guitar picker Dickey Betts, Robin Trower, Alvin Lee with Ten Years After, Lou Reed, Joe Banamassa, Henry Paul from the Outlaws, Pat Metheny, Lee Ritenour, Earl Klugh, Bob Dylan, Jerry Garcia and the list goes on and on…