Eric Clapton

Who Is Eric Clapton?

Eric Clapton is a legendary figure in rock ‘n’ roll history, renowned for his extraordinary skills as a guitarist and his profound impact on music. Initially rising to fame as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream, Clapton later established himself as a successful solo artist. He is celebrated for timeless classics such as “Layla,” “Crossroads,” and “Wonderful Tonight”, solidifying his place among the greatest guitarists of all time.

Early Life

Eric Patrick Clapton was born on March 30, 1945, in Ripley, Surrey, England. His mother, Patricia Molly Clapton, was just 16 years old at the time, while his father, Edward Walter Fryer, was a 24-year-old Canadian soldier stationed in England during World War II. Shortly before Clapton’s birth, Fryer returned to Canada, where he was already married to another woman.

Unable to raise her child as a single teenage mother, Patricia entrusted Eric’s upbringing to her parents, Rose and Jack Clapp. Although they never formally adopted him, the Clapps raised Clapton as their own, leading Eric to believe that they were his parents and that Patricia was his older sister. His surname, Clapton, originates from his maternal grandfather, Reginald Cecil Clapton.

Growing up, Clapton was surrounded by music. His grandmother was a skilled pianist, while his mother and uncle enjoyed big-band music. Interestingly, his biological father was also musically inclined, having performed as a pianist in various dance bands during his time in Surrey.

At the age of eight, Clapton experienced a life-changing revelation when he learned the truth about his parentage—that his “sister” was actually his mother, and his “parents” were his grandparents. The revelation had a profound impact on young Eric. Reflecting on the moment, he later shared, “The truth dawned on me, that when Uncle Adrian jokingly called me a little bastard, he was telling the truth.”

The news caused Clapton to withdraw socially, lose interest in academics, and become increasingly introspective. One poignant moment occurred when he saw his reflection in two mirrors for the first time:
“I was playing around with my grandma’s compact, and I saw myself in two mirrors. I was so upset. I saw a receding chin and a broken nose and thought my life is over.”

Clapton’s struggles at school culminated in his failure to pass the critical 11-plus exams, which determined admission to secondary school. However, his artistic talent shone through, leading him to enroll in the art program at Holyfield Road School at the age of 13.

This turbulent beginning shaped Clapton’s journey, setting the stage for his eventual rise as one of the most influential musicians in history.

Musical Beginnings

By 1958, rock ‘n’ roll had taken Britain by storm. For his 13th birthday, Eric Clapton requested a guitar and received a modest German-made Hoyer. However, the steel-stringed instrument proved challenging and painful to play, leading him to set it aside. At 16, Clapton was admitted to Kingston College of Art on a one-year probation. Surrounded by peers with similar musical tastes, he developed a passion for the guitar, influenced by blues legends like Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, and Alexis Korner. Korner’s influence prompted Clapton to purchase his first electric guitar—a rarity in England at the time.

At Kingston, Clapton also encountered another force that would shape his life: alcohol. His first experience with intoxication at 16 ended with him waking up alone in the woods, covered in vomit and penniless—a moment he recalls wanting to relive. Clapton was expelled from art school after one year, later reflecting, “Even when you got to art school, it wasn’t just a rock ‘n’ roll holiday camp. I got thrown out after a year for not doing any work. That was a real shock. I was always in the pub or playing the guitar.”

In 1963, Clapton began frequenting London’s West End, hoping to break into the music industry. He joined his first band, The Roosters, but the group disbanded within months. His stint with Casey Jones and The Engineers was similarly brief. To support himself, Clapton worked as a construction laborer while continuing to build his reputation as a guitarist on the West End pub circuit. His talents caught the attention of The Yardbirds in October 1963, where he recorded his first hits, “Good Morning Little Schoolgirl” and “For Your Love.” However, frustrated with their commercial pop direction, Clapton left the band in 1965, paving the way for future guitar icons Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck to join the group.

Rising Stardom

Later in 1965, Clapton joined John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, recording the landmark album Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton the following year. This record, featuring songs like “What’d I Say” and “Ramblin’ on My Mind,” cemented his reputation as a virtuoso guitarist. Fans famously nicknamed him “God,” inspired by graffiti proclaiming, “Clapton is God,” on a London Tube station wall.

Despite the album’s success, Clapton left the Bluesbreakers and soon formed Cream with bassist Jack Bruce and drummer Ginger Baker. The trio delivered groundbreaking performances of blues classics like “Crossroads” and “Spoonful,” as well as modern hits such as “Sunshine of Your Love” and “White Room.” Cream released three highly acclaimed albums—Fresh Cream (1966), Disraeli Gears (1967), and Wheels of Fire (1968)—achieving global superstardom. However, internal conflicts led to their breakup after two final shows at London’s Royal Albert Hall in 1968.

Hardships and Triumphs

Following Cream’s dissolution, Clapton formed Blind Faith, but the group disbanded after one album and a troubled U.S. tour. In 1970, he founded Derek and the Dominos, recording the legendary album Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, a passionate ode to his unrequited love for Pattie Boyd, wife of his friend George Harrison. Despite its critical acclaim, the album was a commercial disappointment, and Clapton spiraled into heroin addiction, retreating from the spotlight for three years.

Clapton overcame his addiction in 1973, reemerging with two comeback concerts organized by Pete Townshend of The Who. That same year, he released 461 Ocean Boulevard, which included his hit cover of Bob Marley’s “I Shot the Sheriff.” This marked the beginning of a prolific solo career, producing iconic albums like Slowhand (1977), featuring “Cocaine” and “Wonderful Tonight.”

Although successful professionally, Clapton’s personal life was tumultuous. He married Pattie Boyd in 1979, but his alcoholism and infidelity strained their relationship. He fathered two children outside their marriage: Ruth (1985) with Yvonne Kelly and Conor (1986) with Lory Del Santo. In 1991, Clapton faced unimaginable tragedy when his son Conor died in a fall from a New York apartment window. The loss inspired one of his most poignant songs, “Tears in Heaven.”

Sobriety and Renewal

Clapton achieved sobriety in 1987 through Alcoholics Anonymous and found stability for the first time in his adult life. In 1998, he founded the Crossroads Centre, a rehabilitation facility for addiction. By 2002, he married Melia McEnery, with whom he shares three daughters.

An 18-time Grammy winner, Clapton is the only artist inducted three times into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: as a member of The Yardbirds, Cream, and as a solo artist. In 2007, he released his autobiography, and in 2015, Rolling Stone ranked him the second greatest guitarist of all time.

Despite health challenges, including peripheral neuropathy and tinnitus, Clapton has continued to perform and record, solidifying his legacy as one of the most influential guitarists in music history.