Eric Clapton reveals this week of his declining health

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…

@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!  

@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!

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!!!

From OP:

“…and is suffering nerve damage to his hands that will in just a matter of time compromise his ability to play.”

Not doubting what EC is stating. But this reminds me of Peter Frampton made a similar public announcement. Yet I think he is still playing publicly? Yes? No?

The very first album I ever bought (back in the 70’s) was Derek and the Dominos “Live in Concert”. I played that on my Philips GA-212 turntable from Tech-Hifi and that kicked off the next post-AM radio phase of audiophilia that has lasted a LONG time.

stuartk

2nd- "Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad"

Happy Listening!

@cfjl1

There are many great guitarists who have never reached Mr. Claptons level of fame. I live near DC, which spawned some of the best: Roy Buchanan, Danny Gatton, (both deceased-seen them both), Link Wray, Tom Principato (still performing). Then there is Larry Carlton, Walter Becker. Many others who never rang the top 40 bell.

Great list of guitar players but Gatton, Roy and the others are not really considered by me to be Rock Guitarists.  Clapton could never play like Gatton like most of us cannot.  But to your point there are many great guitar players still playing today.

I do not feel that Eric sold out - hey you get tired of playing your hits songs over and over again.  Enjoy them while you can.  It is also hard to be creative.  

Thank you, jssmith. My sentiments exactly, particularly regarding the massive disparity between Clapton’s ability and those of Jimi, Chet Atkins, Eddie, Yngwie, Morello, and plenty of others.  Say what you want about Yngwie’s “music”😂 but to put Clapton and Yngwie in the same sentence is ridiculous.  If you want to play the “there’s more to playing guitar than just technical proficiency/virtuosity” game, I don’t see much in the way of creativity or innovation in Clapton’s playing. No more “soulfulness” than the guy at your local tavern this evening.  
Clapton, any way you slice it, is not in Jimi’s galaxy, let alone stratosphere.

Easily the most overrated guitarist in the history of popular music.

I mean, he’s…fine.  Many peers were equally adept at dispensing standard-issue minor-pentatonic licks, and thousands of bar bands over the decades, on any given Saturday night in Anytown, USA, have been as well.

I could offer many speculations as to why this above-average co-opter of blues formula attained the hyper-elevated status he’s enjoyed (and maintained for decades via the perpetuation of the media’s mythologizing his status) but the fact remains that, just because we’ve seen the photograph of a spray painted wall a hundred times, we are grossly overrating this “god” of guitar.

A lot of us grew up hearing so many great guitarist's. For me its eons ago now, and in case anyone hasn't noticed those greats are disappearing pretty quickly now.

Yes there are a lot of fantastic new artists, some we'll never even know at all.

I try and play guitar myself, but it still amazes me the dedication to music Clapton must have had. He just oozes the blues.

I only wish modern music listeners could get into it the same way we did. There's no dedication, its all hit or miss, and it has to be quick.

 I wish him all the best.

There always comes a time, but still sad to hear. Clapton's music was a mainstay on my Walkman during high school. I had a chance encounter with him in the men's washroom in the KLM Lounge in Schiphol airport about 15-years ago. But before I realized it was EC himself it was already a bit late to get an autograph. 

Without a doubt one of the most significant guitarists in rock & roll history.

-a

I’ll accept Mike Bloomfield"s opinion of Clapton:

The Rolling Stone Interview: Mike Bloomfield - Rolling Stone

You were telling me that Eric Clapton was a perfect guitarist. What makes you think that?
His attack is flawless, that’s one of the things. A perfect musician is dedicated. He has ideas, attack, touch, ability to transmit emotion and abillity to transmit his ideas. His ability to transmit his ideas and his emotion logically is kineticism; he can build. Eric does all of these about as well as you can do them. It shows in the area that he plays that his attack is perfect. His tone is vocal; his ideas are superb; he plays almost exclusively blues–all the lines he plays in the Cream are blues lines. He plays nothing but blues; he’s a blues guitarist and he’s taken blues guitar to its ultimate thing. In that field he’s B. B. King cum the Freddie King and Ernie Cahill style of guitar playing. Eric is the master in the world. That is why he is a perfect guitarist. Eric plays in bad taste when he wants to. He can play crappy. But, like, Eric plays almost exclusively perfect.

No one is perfect, of course, I think that Bloomfield is talking about Clapton’s schmaltz when he says Clapton plays in bad taste when he wants to, and Clapton played many concerts that were drunken messes in the 70s and snooze fests in the 80s..

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.

Again, if you think Layla is a classic album, give the Tedeschi Trucks Band’s version a listen. I think you’ll like it.

Folks, the original post about 'Clapton reveals this week...' is from over 4 years ago - Jan 2018. Talking about his music is one thing, but concerns for his health based on this 'revelation' would appear to be misplaced.... 

@tomcy6 

Layla is one of the greatest studo albums in Rock.

It's Clapton's fondness for bland material (his hallmark since his first solo album) that's the biggest turn off for me. I don't care where he plays Lay Down Sally - live or in a studio or in the shower- it still sounds like drivel to me (or to use Clapton's own term, "schmaltz"). I realize he has many, many fans who prefer his post guitar hero career. Each to his/her own.They can listen to Wonderful Tonight. I prefer Why Does Love Got To Be So sad?.

Sorry to hear about Mr. Clapton.  He isn’t one of my favorite artists . . his music is played so much all over and everyone lauds him like a God.  His voice irks me somehow.  I wish him all the best regardless. 

I feel for the guy and enjoy his music but wish he had kept his health-related politics to himself.

In the 60s I totally get what the fuss about Clapton was. From then on, not at all. I’ve little respect for the “…but live…” argument either. His Albert Hall and other residencies were the very definition of middle aged complacency. A night down the pub with your mates; playing from memory and knowing that some people are daft enough to pay regardless just to tick the box; see the legend and hear the songs. I don’t have any problem with that mindset, I’ve done it myself, but the artist? Oh dear. Saw him with my uncle and his wife at the MEN arena in Manchester. My uncle had been watching him live since the late 60s. He came out shaking his head with utter dismay. Tasteful and complacent are pejorative terms in this context. 

I was a friend of Duane Allman’s daughter. Very nice person. For some time she had been trying to get Mr. Clapton to recognize Duane Allman’s contribution to Layla and honor his family by sharing royalties. He never returned her calls.

So I turn the radio to another channel when I hear Clapton. I can’t help myself. For some reason that stuff really bothers me.

But hey, no one’s perfect, right?

People that knock Clapton for his studio albums are missing the point. His live playing is what made his reputation. Yeah there are lots of players who can play rings around him technically, but fill a stadium full of people bring out a bunch of big name guitar players and Clapton will get the watermelon (Woodstock reference = The hottest guitar player gets a watermelon). And he’s respected by his peers. Who else could get the line-up for his Crossroads Festivals to show up?

For Layla fans, get the Tedeschi Trucks Band - Layla, Live at Lock’n. IMHO, better than the original, It definitely sounds better.

Clapton, The Autobiography is a must read for any fan, an awesome book. I have had the privilege to have seen him 5 times starting in the 70's, the man is an incredible artist and showman. 

Most excellent @stuartk and heartily enjoyed. He has a very soulful talent. I do like him, but he's never ranked number one for me. That title for me is held by either David Gilmour or Alex Lifeson depending on which day it is demonstrating that number one, as other's have said is a subjective endeavor.

hope Eric comes to grips with diminishing playing skills, I thought of how Keith Emerson dealt with his diminishing ability to play when I read this.

+1 on the 'Blues' recommendation, I find much of his solo stuff uneven, that Blues collection assembled some of his most inspired playing over several concerts and years and is a showcase of why so many consider him tops.

@stuartk - but Ginger got his revenge with 'Toad'.... 🤣

Here's a track from Cream's reunion tour that shows what Clapton is capable of in the right company. Gorgeous soloing that transcends typical Blues/Rock playing. . .

@onhwy61 

Yes; and furthermore, G. Baker always felt his contributions to arrangements were overlooked and deserved financial compensation (royalties). He remained very bitter about this. And, the constant touring, in addition to being physically exhausting, made it very difficult for the band to generate new material. There's a documentary called Beware of Mr. Baker or something similar that reveals what a difficult person he was. At one point, he assaults the film maker!

I just checked, stuartk has a better memory on this than jafant!

Part of the tension within Cream resulted from the fact that Peter Brown, Jack Bruce's song writing partner, was making more money than either Eric Clapton or Ginger Baker.  Bruce/Brown were prolific songwriters and at that time publishing and copywrite royalties could generate more money than record sales.  Additionally, Bruce/Brown wrote quirky pop/rock tunes whereas Clapton tilted more towards riff based blues/rock.  And then there was the constant Ginger vs. Jack feud.  Over time these tensions added up and the band could not survive.

I much prefer Jack Bruce's post Cream output over Eric Clapton's.

jafant and stuartk,

I am in agreement with both of you.  

A quick listen to Jack Bruce's first two solo albums illustrates a range and sophistication that far exceeds what one typically encounters in Blues/Rock

forgotten treasures…..

stuartk

True. A Power Trio setting can work musical wonders.

Happy Listening!

@jafant 

Thanks! Just how I hear it.

A quick listen to Jack Bruce's first two solo albums illustrates a range and sophistication that far exceeds what one typically encounters in Blues/Rock.It would've been interesting had Cream stayed together longer and provided a setting for some of the material that ended up on Bruce's solo albums.

It seems Clapton raised his game when he was challenged and not just supported by sidemen. 

stuartk

Very nice overview of EC in both roles with The Cream then Derek and the Dominos.

Jack Bruce was a BEAST! (R.I.P.)

Happy Listening!

@jafant :

👍

" I believe that the energy of youth and the influence a Jack Bruce's genius were responsible from the great music they created together."

Can't argue with this. By contrast, what drove the Dominos was the "energy of heroin-fueled romantic desperation". Clapton's playing with Cream has an incredible power and authority but his playing as Derek has a human fragility and heart-on-sleeve vulnerability that I for one find more emotionally engaging. Different strokes. . . I still listen to both. 

stuartk

Laughing..   Happy Listening!

@jafant :

Funny, I remember that incident differently-- as I recall. Robbie Robertson jumped in at that point and took over.  But having just turned 66, I'm not about to claim my memory's better than yours!  

As someone who still listens to Cream discs on a regular basis, I believe that the energy of youth and the influence a Jack Bruce's genius were responsible from the great music they created together. Derek and the Dominos, which I know note for note, is still very enjoyable but not what I'd call transcendent like much of Cream's  material was.

Like Paul McCartney, most of his output since then has been boring, and sometimes vapid. (Tears in Heaven)

Clapton is still the "Man". One of my fave live moments is during The Last Waltz.

During his performance, the guitar strap broke and EC never lost a lick.

Happy Listening!

It must be very frustrating to feel one's facility slipping away due to aging. 

Clapton's career has been very mixed, to say the least. Arguably his best material was the Derek and the Dominos stuff co-credited to him and Bobby Whitlock, even if Whitlock was the dominant partner in that collaboration.

The tunes EC's come up with since that period have been pretty bland but then he once characterized his musical taste as "schmaltzy", so at least he's honest. Most of his career has been spent smack dab in the middle of the road. That's apparently where's he's felt most comfortable and after all, you can't legitimately criticize someone for being true to themselves. 

@loomisjohnson + 1

And the original post and most of the responses are from 4 years ago....

Karma's a bitch....

Sad to hear. The end of an era is upon us. I love riding with the king. A tuxedo and a shiny 335... 

As I know, he's still on track and it doesn't seem like everything is that bad, so I hope that he manages to give us many concerts in the future because, without him, the whole era will end. I used to have some problems with my nerves as well, but after I started taking full spectrum cbd oil, I started feeling better. Of course, I don't think that something like that will help him much, but I just hope he finds a way to cope with that.

I’ve followed both Clapton and Beck their entire careers, seeing Clapton live first in ’67, Beck in ’68. I loved The Yardbirds, Clapton being on about half the songs on their first album, Beck on the other half and the entire second and third. All three albums are fantastic, unlike the fourth, on which Jimmy Page took over on guitar. It’s really, really bad.

To prefer the playing of Jeff Beck to that of Eric Clapton is fine, but to rate them against each other is, imo, misguided. They play in completely different styles, each having his own area of superiority. Clapton’s strength is his lyrical, singing-style phrasing, a talent Jeff Beck does not possess. Beck is a much more original, unique guitarist, playing like no one else. And remember, Eric is a pretty fair singer, while Jeff doesn't sing at all. When you play like he does, you don't need to!

For anyone interested in hearing a guitarist who possessed the strengths of both, check out Danny Gatton.