Eric ClaptonEric ClaptonEric Clapton CBE (born Eric Patrick Clapp on March 30, 1945 in The Green, Ripley, Surrey), is a British guitarist and composer, nicknamed slowhand. He is considered by many to be among the world's best living guitarists. Born as an illegitimate son of the 16 year old Patricia Molly Clapp and Edward Walter Fryer, a 24 year old Canadian pilot, Clapton's father returned to his wife in Canada before he was born. Eric grew up with his grandparents believing they were his parents, and that his mother was his older sister. Years later his mother married another Canadian soldier, moved to Canada and left Eric with his grandparents. When Eric was 9 years old he found out, and the experience became a defining moment in his life. Music career and personal lifeClapton's RiseOn his 13th birthday he received a guitar which he taught himself to play, and at the age of 17 he joined his first band, the Roosters. Growing up listening to blues recording by the likes of Robert Johnson, Clapton first made his name as a member of The Yardbirds, a pop-influenced rock and roll band whose biggest hit "For Your Love" came whilst Eric was a member. Clapton, who was at that time obstinately dedicated to his blues roots, took strong exception to the Yardbirds' new 'pop' direction, refused to play on the single and quit the band as soon as it had been recorded; he was replaced by Jeff Beck. After a spell working in a laboring job and several months of intensive practice, he joined John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers. His emotional playing on their first album (which features Eric reading a copy of the Beano on the cover) established his name as a blues player, and inspired a short-lived craze of graffiti deifying him ("Clapton is God", it read). He left the Bluesbreakers in mid 1966 (to be replaced by Peter Green) and then formed Cream, one of the earliest examples of the supergroup, and also one of the earliest 'power trios', with Jack Bruce (also of Bluesbreakers and Manfred Mann) and Ginger Baker (of the Graham Bond Organisation). During his time with Cream he began to develop as a singer as well as guitarist, though Bruce, one of rock's most powerful singers, took most of the lead vocals. By late 1966 Clapton's status as Britain's top guitarist was shaken by the arrival of Jimi Hendrix. Hendrix attended a performance by Clapton's newly formed Cream at the Central London Polytechnic, October 1, 1966, during which Hendrix sat in on a shattering double-timed version of Killing Floor. Clapton immediately realised that he had a new and almost unbeatable competitor, whose dazzling showmanship was matched by his staggering ability as a guitarist. Hendrix's early club performances were avidly attended by top UK stars including Clapton, Pete Townshend and The Beatles. Hendrix's arrival had an immediate and major effect on the next phase of Clapton's career. Cream's repertoire varied from pop soul ("I Feel Free") to lengthy blues-based instrumental jams ("Spoonful") and featured Clapton's searing psychedelic guitar lines, Bruce's soaring vocals and prominent, fluid bass playing, and Baker's powerful, jazz-influenced drumming. The group achieved major commercial success during its brief existence with the song "Sunshine Of Your Love", from the Disraeli Gears album, and "White Room" from Wheels of Fire. The lurid psychedelic covers of both these albums were created by Australian artist Martin Sharp, who lived in the same building Clapton at the time in the Chelsea artists colony The Pheasantry. At their first meeting in a London club, Clapton mentioned that he had some music that needed lyrics, so Sharp wrote out a poem he had composed on a napkin and gave it to Clapton, who recorded it as Tales Of Brave Ulysses. Although Cream was hailed as one of the greatest groups of its day, and the adulation of Clapton as guitar hero reached new heights, the band was destined to be shortlived. The legendary in-fighting — especially between Bruce and Baker — and growing tensions between all three members eventually led to Cream's demise. Another significant factor was a strongly critical Rolling Stone review of a concert of the group's second headlining US tour, which affected Clapton profoundly. The valedictory Goodbye album featured live performances from Cream's farewell performance at the Royal Albert Hall; it was released shortly after Cream disbanded in 1968, and also featured the studio single "Badge", co-written by Clapton and Beatle George Harrison. "Badge" served as the basis for Harrison's later Beatles composition, "Here Comes the Sun". The close friendship between Clapton and Harrison resulted in Clapton playing on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" from the Beatles' White Album — a tactic by Harrison to make the other band members take his song seriously. But the friendship was later sorely tested when Harrison's wife, Pattie Boyd-Harrison, left him for Clapton. Clapton's relationship with Pattie — who had turned him down at first — was his inspiration for the classic song, "Layla". A second spell in another supergroup, the less successful Blind Faith (1969) with Baker, Steve Winwood of Traffic and Rick Grech of Family, resulted in a patchy LP and an aborted US tour. By now Clapton was tired of the spotlight, and the hype that had surrounded Cream and Blind Faith, and he had been strongly affected by the music of The Band — which he had in fact asked to join after the split of Cream. Clapton then decided to step into the background for a time, and he toured as a sideman with the American group Delaney and Bonnie and Friends. He became close friends with Delaney Bramlett, who encouraged him in his singing and writing. Using the Bramletts' backing group and an all-star cast of session players including Leon Russell, Clapton then released his restrained 1970 self-titled solo album, which included the Bramlett composition "Bottle Of Red Wine" and one of Clapton's best songs from this period, "Let It Rain". Taking over Delaney & Bonnie's rhythm section — Bobby Whitlock (keyboards, vocals), Carl Radle (bass) and Jim Gordon (drums) — he formed a new band which was similarly intended to counteract the 'star' cult that had grown up around him and show Clapton as an equal member of a fully-fledged group. This was made evident in the choice of name — "Derek and the Dominos" — which came from a backstage joke at their first concert appearance. Working at Criterion Studios in Miami with producer Tom Dowd, the band recorded a brilliant double-album which is now widely regarded as Clapton's masterpiece — Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs. Most of the material, including the title track (which soon became an FM radio staple) were inspired by Clapton's unrequited love for Patti Harrison. The two-part "Layla" was recorded in separate sessions; the opening guitar section was recorded first, and for the second section, drummer Jim Gordon composed and played the elegaic piano part. The Layla LP was actually recorded by a five-piece version of the group, thanks to the unplanned addition of slide guitar virtuoso Duane Allman. A few days into the sessions, producer Tom Dowd invited Clapton to an Allman Brothers concert in Miami (he was also producing the Allmans). The two guitarists — who previously knew each other only by reputation — met backstage after the show, then both bands repaired to the studio to jam (an impromptu session which, happily, was captured on tape). Clapton and Allman 'fell in love' with each other's playing and became instant friends, so Allman was invited to become the fifth member of The Dominos. (These studio jams were eventually released as part of the 3-CD 20th-anniversary edition of the Layla album.) When Allman and Clapton met, The Dominos had already recorded three tracks ("I Looked Away", "Bell Bottom Blues" and "Keep On Growing"); Allman debuted on the fourth cut, "Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out", and contributed some of his most sublime slide-guitar playing to the remainder of the LP. The album was heavily blues-influenced and featured a winning combination of the twin guitars of Allman and Clapton, with Allman's incendiary slide-guitar a key ingredient of the sound. It showcased some of Clapton's strongest material to date, as well as arguably some of his best guitar playing, with Whitlock also contributing several superb numbers, and a powerful soul-influenced voice. But tragedy dogged the group throughout its brief career. During the sessions, Clapton was devastated by news of the death of Jimi Hendrix; the band cut a blistering version of Little Wing as a tribute to him which was added to the album. One year later, Duane Allman was killed in a motorcycle accident. Adding to Clapton's woes, the Layla album received only lukewarm reviews on release. The shattered group undertook a US tour. Despite Clapton's later admission that the tour took place amidst a veritable blizzard of drugs including alcohol, it resulted in the surprisingly strong live double album In Concert. But the group disintegrated messily in London just as they commenced recording for their second LP. Although Radle worked with Clapton for several more years, the split between Clapton and Whitlock was apparently a bitter one, and they never worked together again. Another tragic footnote to the Dominos story was the fate of drummer Jim Gordon, who was an undiagnosed schizophrenic — some years later, during a psychotic episode, he murdered his mother with a hammer and was confined to a mental institution, where he remains today. Despite his success, Clapton's personal life was in a mess by 1972. In addition to his (temporarily) unrequited and intense romantic longing for Pattie Boyd-Harrison, he withdrew from recording and touring and became addicted to heroin, resulting in a career hiatus interrupted only by the Concert for Bangladesh and the "Rainbow Concert" in 1973 (see 1973 in music), organised by The Who's Pete Townshend to help Clapton kick the drug. Clapton returned the favour by playing 'The Preacher' in Ken Russell's film version of The Who's Tommy in 1975; his appearance in the film (performing "Eyesight To The Blind") is notable for the fact that he is clearly wearing a fake beard in some shots — the result of him unthinkingly shaving off his beard between takes! Relatively clean again, Clapton put together a strong new touring band that included Radle, Miami guitarist George Terry, drummer Jamie Oldaker and vocalists Yvonne Elliman and Marcy Levy (later better known as Marcella Detroit of 1980s pop duo Shakespeare's Sister). They toured the world and subsequently released the superb 1975 live LP, 'E.C. Was Here. Clapton released 461 Ocean Boulevard (1974), an album with the emphasis on songs rather than musicianship. His cover-version of "I Shot The Sheriff" was a major hit and was important in bringing reggae and the music of Bob Marley to a wider audience. He also championed the work of singer-songwriter-guitarist J.J.Cale. The 1975 album There's One In Every Crowd continued this trend. (Its original intended title The World's Greatest Guitar Player (There's One In Every Crowd) was altered, as it was felt the ironic intention would be missed.) He continued to release albums sporadically and toured regularly, but much of his output from this period was deliberately low-key and failed to find the wide acceptance of his earlier work. Bad Luck ClaptonIn 1976 Clapton was the centre of controversy, and accusations of racism, when he spoke out against increasing immigration, during a concert in Birmingham. Clapton said that England had "become overcrowded", and implored the crowd to vote for Enoch Powell to stop Britain becoming "a black colony." The comments would directly motivate the foundation of Rock Against Racism. Despite the damage to his career and reputation caused, Clapton has always steadfastly refused to distance himself from the remarks and denied there was any contradiction between his political views and his career based on an essentially black musical form. At about this time, his name appeared on albums distributed in Japan as Eric Crapton[1] (http://www.engrish.com/detail.php?imagename=CDCover.jpg&category=Music&date=2002-02-18), though this is probably a case of Engrish rather than innuendo. The late 1970s saw Clapton struggle to come to terms with the changes in popular music, and a relapse into alcoholism, that eventually saw him hospitalised and then spending a period of convalescence in Antigua, where he would later support the creation of a drugs and alcohol rehabilitation centre, The Crossroads Centre. His albums continued in the 1980s, with only 1989's Journeyman achieving much critical acclaim, featuring a strong return to his blues roots. Clapton did, however, win much acclaim and a BAFTA Award for his collaboration with Michael Kamen on the score for the 1985 BBC television drama serial Edge of Darkness. In 1985 Clapton met Yvonne Khan Kelly, with whom he started a relationship. They had a daughter, Ruth, in the same year. Clapton divorced Pattie Boyd in 1988. The early 1990s saw tragedy enter Clapton's life again on two occasions. On August 27, 1990 guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan, who was touring with Clapton, and two members of their road crew were killed in a helicopter crash between concerts. Then, on March 20, 1991, Clapton's four-year-old son Conor (with Italian model Lori Del Santo) died following an accidental fall from an apartment window. A fraction of Clapton's grief was heard on the song "Tears In Heaven" (on the soundtrack to the 1991 movie Rush), co-written with Will Jennings, which, like the MTV Unplugged album that followed it, won a Grammy award. It resulted in the break-up of his marriage. Slow Hand re-emergingLike Unplugged, his 1994 album From The Cradle, featured a number of versions of old blues standards, and highlighted his economical acoustic guitar style. In 1997 he recorded Retail Therapy, an album of electronic music under the pseudonym TDF, and he finished the twentieth century with critically-acclaimed collaborations with Carlos Santana and B. B. King. Clapton's 1996 recording of the Wayne Kirkpatrick/ Gordon Kennedy/Tommy Sims tune "Change the World" won a Grammy award for song of the year in 1997. In 1999 Clapton, then 56, met 25 year old graphic artist Melia McEnery in Los Angeles while working on an album with B.B. King. They married in 2002 and have three daughters, Julia Rose (2001), Ella May (2003), and a third born in 2005. As notable as Clapton himself is his use of a variety of guitars. Early in his career, he used a late 1950's Gibson Les Paul, and he was partially responsible for Gibson's reintroduction of the original Les Paul body style. Later, Clapton began using Fender Stratocasters. Most famous of all Clapton's guitars was "Blackie", a concoction of favorite parts from several other 'Strats' and which he used until the 1990s when it literally wore out. During 1988 Clapton was honored by guitar manufacturer Fender by the introduction of a signature model Stratocaster along with fellow Strat player Yngwie J. Malmsteen. These were the first two artist models in the famous Stratocaster range and since then the artist series range has grown including models from some of Clapton's contemporaries like Jeff Beck and some of his influences, Buddy Guy. The late Stevie Ray Vaughan also has an artist series model. In 1999 Clapton auctioned off some of his guitar collection to raise money for his Crossroads centre he founded in Antigua in 1997. The Crossroads centre is a treatment base for addicitive disorders like drugs and alcohol. The total revenue raised by the auction at Christie's was $7,438,624. Discography
Singles discographySee Eric Clapton singles discography. Trivia
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See Eric Clapton singles discography. Gothic rock, Siouxsie and the Banshees. The total revenue raised by the auction at Christie's was $7,438,624. The Cure, Join the Dots: B-Sides and Rarities 1978-2001 (15). The Crossroads centre is a treatment base for addicitive disorders like drugs and alcohol. 2. In 1999 Clapton auctioned off some of his guitar collection to raise money for his Crossroads centre he founded in Antigua in 1997. The Cure, Join the Dots: B-Sides and Rarities 1978-2001 (13). The late Stevie Ray Vaughan also has an artist series model. 1. These were the first two artist models in the famous Stratocaster range and since then the artist series range has grown including models from some of Clapton's contemporaries like Jeff Beck and some of his influences, Buddy Guy. Given that the group had just recently released a four-disc set of b-sides, the amount of non-album material the band possesses appears to be rather high. Malmsteen. Inspired by Elvis Costello's reissues, other albums ("Faith", "Seventeen Seconds" and "Pornography") are planned in the series. During 1988 Clapton was honored by guitar manufacturer Fender by the introduction of a signature model Stratocaster along with fellow Strat player Yngwie J. In 2004, a reissue of Three Imaginary Boys was released, with a second bonus disc of unreleased material, demos, live tracks etc. Most famous of all Clapton's guitars was "Blackie", a concoction of favorite parts from several other 'Strats' and which he used until the 1990s when it literally wore out. The show was hosted by Marilyn Manson. Later, Clapton began using Fender Stratocasters. In the event, many artists ranging from AFI to Blink 182 covered various Cure songs as a tribute to the band. Early in his career, he used a late 1950's Gibson Les Paul, and he was partially responsible for Gibson's reintroduction of the original Les Paul body style. The Cure have been made 2004's MTV Icon. As notable as Clapton himself is his use of a variety of guitars. The album also received a generally positive reaction with some critics rating it as the group's best since Disintegration. They married in 2002 and have three daughters, Julia Rose (2001), Ella May (2003), and a third born in 2005. The album The Cure made a top ten debut on both sides of the Atlantic in July 2004 and debuted in the top 30 in Australia. King. They also appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. In 1999 Clapton, then 56, met 25 year old graphic artist Melia McEnery in Los Angeles while working on an album with B.B. To promote this album, the band headlined the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on May 2. Clapton's 1996 recording of the Wayne Kirkpatrick/ Gordon Kennedy/Tommy Sims tune "Change the World" won a Grammy award for song of the year in 1997. The Cure released their first eponymous album on iam records on June 28, 2004. King. This album peaked at #106 on the Billboard 200 album charts. B. The set includes seventy Cure songs, some previously unreleased, and a 76-page full-colour book of photographs, history and quotes, packaged in a hard cover. In 1997 he recorded Retail Therapy, an album of electronic music under the pseudonym TDF, and he finished the twentieth century with critically-acclaimed collaborations with Carlos Santana and B. In 2004 The Cure released a new four-disc boxed set on Fiction Records titled Join the Dots: B-Sides and Rarities, 1978-2001 (The Fiction Years). Like Unplugged, his 1994 album From The Cradle, featured a number of versions of old blues standards, and highlighted his economical acoustic guitar style. In the spring of 2003, The Cure signed to iam Records. A fraction of Clapton's grief was heard on the song "Tears In Heaven" (on the soundtrack to the 1991 movie Rush), co-written with Will Jennings, which, like the MTV Unplugged album that followed it, won a Grammy award. It resulted in the break-up of his marriage. These performances were relased as the Trilogy DVD in 2003. Then, on March 20, 1991, Clapton's four-year-old son Conor (with Italian model Lori Del Santo) died following an accidental fall from an apartment window. In 2002 they continued recording, and also headlined twelve major music festivals, in addition to playing several three-hour concerts during which they performed the albums Pornography, Disintegration and Bloodflowers in their entirety in Berlin. On August 27, 1990 guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan, who was touring with Clapton, and two members of their road crew were killed in a helicopter crash between concerts. In 2001 The Cure left Fiction and released their Greatest Hits album. The early 1990s saw tragedy enter Clapton's life again on two occasions. The band also embarked on the nine-month Dream Tour, attended by over one million people worldwide. Clapton divorced Pattie Boyd in 1988. This album was widely seen as the third in a trilogy including Pornography and Disintegration. They had a daughter, Ruth, in the same year. The Grammy-nominated album Bloodflowers was released in 2000. In 1985 Clapton met Yvonne Khan Kelly, with whom he started a relationship. The Cure also contributed to the soundtrack album for The X-Files: Fight the Future as well as For the Masses, a Depeche Mode tribute album. His albums continued in the 1980s, with only 1989's Journeyman achieving much critical acclaim, featuring a strong return to his blues roots. Clapton did, however, win much acclaim and a BAFTA Award for his collaboration with Michael Kamen on the score for the 1985 BBC television drama serial Edge of Darkness. In 1996 The Cure released the album Wild Mood Swings, and in 1998 Smith appeared as himself on the animated TV show South Park. The late 1970s saw Clapton struggle to come to terms with the changes in popular music, and a relapse into alcoholism, that eventually saw him hospitalised and then spending a period of convalescence in Antigua, where he would later support the creation of a drugs and alcohol rehabilitation centre, The Crossroads Centre. Boris Williams (drums) left the band, and was replaced by Jason Cooper (formerly with My Life Story), and Roger O'Donnell rejoined. At about this time, his name appeared on albums distributed in Japan as Eric Crapton[1] (http://www.engrish.com/detail.php?imagename=CDCover.jpg&category=Music&date=2002-02-18), though this is probably a case of Engrish rather than innuendo. During 1994, Lol Tolhurst sued Robert Smith and Fiction Records over royalties payments, also claiming joint ownership of the name "The Cure" with Smith; after a long legal battle Tolhurst eventually lost. Despite the damage to his career and reputation caused, Clapton has always steadfastly refused to distance himself from the remarks and denied there was any contradiction between his political views and his career based on an essentially black musical form. Porl Thompson (guitar) left the band once more during 1993 to play with Robert Plant and Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin. Clapton said that England had "become overcrowded", and implored the crowd to vote for Enoch Powell to stop Britain becoming "a black colony." The comments would directly motivate the foundation of Rock Against Racism. The EP has since become an extremely sought after item, copies exchanging hands for approaching £100. In 1976 Clapton was the centre of controversy, and accusations of racism, when he spoke out against increasing immigration, during a concert in Birmingham. Entitled Lost Wishes, the proceeds from the four track cassette tape went to charity. The 1975 album There's One In Every Crowd continued this trend. (Its original intended title The World's Greatest Guitar Player (There's One In Every Crowd) was altered, as it was felt the ironic intention would be missed.) He continued to release albums sporadically and toured regularly, but much of his output from this period was deliberately low-key and failed to find the wide acceptance of his earlier work. As a promotional exercise with the Our Price music chain in the UK, a limited edition EP was released consisting of instrumental outtakes from the Wish sessions. He also championed the work of singer-songwriter-guitarist J.J.Cale. The Cure also embarked on the "Wish Tour" and released the live albums Show and Paris. His cover-version of "I Shot The Sheriff" was a major hit and was important in bringing reggae and the music of Bob Marley to a wider audience. "Mixed Up" was followed in 1992 by the album Wish, which went straight to #1 in the UK and to #2 in the US. Clapton released 461 Ocean Boulevard (1974), an album with the emphasis on songs rather than musicianship. In 1990 The Cure released a collection of remixes called Mixed Up, a collection which was roundly panned by both critics and fans (Smith says that he expected this, but decided to release the collection anyway). Was Here. This tour featured some of the band's longest ever shows; their final gig at Wembley Arena (announced By Robert as "probably our last show") lasted over three and a half hours. They toured the world and subsequently released the superb 1975 live LP, 'E.C. The Cure embarked on the "Prayer" tour. Relatively clean again, Clapton put together a strong new touring band that included Radle, Miami guitarist George Terry, drummer Jamie Oldaker and vocalists Yvonne Elliman and Marcy Levy (later better known as Marcella Detroit of 1980s pop duo Shakespeare's Sister). In 1989 they released the album Disintegration, which became their highest-charting album to date at #3 and featured four Top 20 singles ("Lullaby", "Fascination Street", "Pictures of You", and "Lovesong"). Shortly before the release, Tolhurst left permanently, leaving Smith as the only remaining founding member of The Cure. Clapton returned the favour by playing 'The Preacher' in Ken Russell's film version of The Who's Tommy in 1975; his appearance in the film (performing "Eyesight To The Blind") is notable for the fact that he is clearly wearing a fake beard in some shots — the result of him unthinkingly shaving off his beard between takes!. In 1988 the band history Ten Imaginary Years was released, and Lol Tolhurst, though he had not yet left the band, was replaced by Roger O'Donnell. In addition to his (temporarily) unrequited and intense romantic longing for Pattie Boyd-Harrison, he withdrew from recording and touring and became addicted to heroin, resulting in a career hiatus interrupted only by the Concert for Bangladesh and the "Rainbow Concert" in 1973 (see 1973 in music), organised by The Who's Pete Townshend to help Clapton kick the drug. In 1987 The Cure released the double album Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me, and embarked on the "Kissing Tour.". Despite his success, Clapton's personal life was in a mess by 1972. Throughout 1986 Lol Tolhurst's alcohol consumption was interfering with his ability to perform, and Roger O'Donnell was frequently called upon to stand in for him. Although Radle worked with Clapton for several more years, the split between Clapton and Whitlock was apparently a bitter one, and they never worked together again. Another tragic footnote to the Dominos story was the fate of drummer Jim Gordon, who was an undiagnosed schizophrenic — some years later, during a psychotic episode, he murdered his mother with a hammer and was confined to a mental institution, where he remains today. The album's title was taken from a line in the song "Killing an Arab." This release was accompanied by a video version called Staring at the Sea and by another tour, as well as a live concert film called The Cure In Orange. But the group disintegrated messily in London just as they commenced recording for their second LP. Following this release and another world tour, the band released Standing on a Beach, a collection featuring all The Cure's singles and B-sides. Despite Clapton's later admission that the tour took place amidst a veritable blizzard of drugs including alcohol, it resulted in the surprisingly strong live double album In Concert. In 1985 the new lineup released The Head on the Door which reached #7 in the UK and #59 on the American charts. The shattered group undertook a US tour. Robert Smith later expressed his satisfaction with the reunited Cure, saying "we're a band again.". Adding to Clapton's woes, the Layla album received only lukewarm reviews on release. At the end of the tour, however, Anderson was fired and replaced by Boris Williams, and Thornalley was replaced by returnee Simon Gallup. One year later, Duane Allman was killed in a motorcycle accident. The Cure then embarked on their "Top Tour" with Thompson, Anderson, and bassist Phil Thornalley on board. During the sessions, Clapton was devastated by news of the death of Jimi Hendrix; the band cut a blistering version of Little Wing as a tribute to him which was added to the album. In 1984 The Cure released The Top, an album on which Smith played all the instruments except the drums (played by Andy Anderson) and the saxophone (played by returnee Porl Thompson). But tragedy dogged the group throughout its brief career. Reduced to the duo of Smith and Tolhurst, the Cure released four studio singles and their B-sides as the album Japanese Whispers. The singles from this period were uncharacteristically upbeat and accessible, though Smith would soon return to writing more melancholy (if not as somber) material. It showcased some of Clapton's strongest material to date, as well as arguably some of his best guitar playing, with Whitlock also contributing several superb numbers, and a powerful soul-influenced voice. The same year, Smith also recorded and toured with Siouxsie and the Banshees, contributing his writing and playing skills on their Hyaena and Nocturne albums, as well as recording the Blue Sunshine album as The Glove (see above). The album was heavily blues-influenced and featured a winning combination of the twin guitars of Allman and Clapton, with Allman's incendiary slide-guitar a key ingredient of the sound. In 1983 The Cure released two more singles, "The Walk" (UK #12) and "The Lovecats," which became the band's first UK top 10 single at #7. When Allman and Clapton met, The Dominos had already recorded three tracks ("I Looked Away", "Bell Bottom Blues" and "Keep On Growing"); Allman debuted on the fourth cut, "Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out", and contributed some of his most sublime slide-guitar playing to the remainder of the LP. Smith says that he "doesn't even remember making a lot of Pornography" (2). (These studio jams were eventually released as part of the 3-CD 20th-anniversary edition of the Layla album.). After an altercation in a club between Smith and Simon Gallup, Gallup left the group and started another one called Fools Dance. Clapton and Allman 'fell in love' with each other's playing and became instant friends, so Allman was invited to become the fifth member of The Dominos. The release was followed by the "Fourteen Explicit Moments" tour, and by increasing problems among the members. The two guitarists — who previously knew each other only by reputation — met backstage after the show, then both bands repaired to the studio to jam (an impromptu session which, happily, was captured on tape). Perhaps because of the rumours, Pornography became the band's first UK Top 10 album, hitting the charts at #9. A few days into the sessions, producer Tom Dowd invited Clapton to an Allman Brothers concert in Miami (he was also producing the Allmans). In 1982 The Cure recorded Pornography, a bleak, nihilist offering that led to more rumours that Smith was suicidal. The Layla LP was actually recorded by a five-piece version of the group, thanks to the unplanned addition of slide guitar virtuoso Duane Allman. The band members' lives began to be marked by increasing drug use. The two-part "Layla" was recorded in separate sessions; the opening guitar section was recorded first, and for the second section, drummer Jim Gordon composed and played the elegaic piano part. Smith's increasing depression was embodied in the album, Faith, released in 1981. Most of the material, including the title track (which soon became an FM radio staple) were inspired by Clapton's unrequited love for Patti Harrison. In the next two years, I genuinely felt that I wasn't going to be alive for much longer, and I tried pretty hard to make this feeling come true" (1). Working at Criterion Studios in Miami with producer Tom Dowd, the band recorded a brilliant double-album which is now widely regarded as Clapton's masterpiece — Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs. Now 21, Smith "didn't see that there was much point in continuing with life. This was made evident in the choice of name — "Derek and the Dominos" — which came from a backstage joke at their first concert appearance. Carnage Visors was used as a "tour support" film for their "Picture Tour". Taking over Delaney & Bonnie's rhythm section — Bobby Whitlock (keyboards, vocals), Carl Radle (bass) and Jim Gordon (drums) — he formed a new band which was similarly intended to counteract the 'star' cult that had grown up around him and show Clapton as an equal member of a fully-fledged group. In 1981 came the album Faith, which hit #14 on the UK charts, as well as an instrumental soundtrack for the film Carnage Visors (these were packaged together as a long-play cassette called Faith/Carnage Visors). Using the Bramletts' backing group and an all-star cast of session players including Leon Russell, Clapton then released his restrained 1970 self-titled solo album, which included the Bramlett composition "Bottle Of Red Wine" and one of Clapton's best songs from this period, "Let It Rain". The Cure set out on their first world tour, at the end of which Matthieu Hartley left the band. He became close friends with Delaney Bramlett, who encouraged him in his singing and writing. "A Forest" became the band's first UK hit single. Clapton then decided to step into the background for a time, and he toured as a sideman with the American group Delaney and Bonnie and Friends. In 1980 the 4-piece Cure released "Seventeen Seconds" which reached #20 on the UK charts. By now Clapton was tired of the spotlight, and the hype that had surrounded Cream and Blind Faith, and he had been strongly affected by the music of The Band — which he had in fact asked to join after the split of Cream. Member Michael Dempsey left the band, and Simon Gallup (bass) and Matthieu Hartley (keyboards) joined. A second spell in another supergroup, the less successful Blind Faith (1969) with Baker, Steve Winwood of Traffic and Rick Grech of Family, resulted in a patchy LP and an aborted US tour. The next single "Boys Don't Cry" was a minor hit in the US, and Three Imaginary Boys was repackaged for sale there as Boys Don't Cry. Clapton's relationship with Pattie — who had turned him down at first — was his inspiration for the classic song, "Layla". In 1979, The Cure released the album Three Imaginary Boys and embarked on an extensive period of touring, during which they performed with various other iconic bands such as Joy Division and Siouxsie & the Banshees, leading eventually to a collaboration between Smith and Banshees member Steven Severin, released under the name The Glove. But the friendship was later sorely tested when Harrison's wife, Pattie Boyd-Harrison, left him for Clapton. The Cure released their first single "Killing an Arab" to both acclaim and controversy; while the single's provocative title led to accusations of racism, the song is actually based on French existentialist Albert Camus' story The Stranger. The single was packaged with a sticker label that denied the racist connotations. The close friendship between Clapton and Harrison resulted in Clapton playing on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" from the Beatles' White Album — a tactic by Harrison to make the other band members take his song seriously. The B-Side to the single "Boys Don't Cry", "Do the Hansa" was The Cure's way of getting back at Hansa Records for not signing them. "Badge" served as the basis for Harrison's later Beatles composition, "Here Comes the Sun". A year later, following disagreements about the direction the group should take, the newly named The Cure were signed as a trio (minus Porl Thompson) by former Polydor records scout Chris Parry's new Fiction label (distributed by Polydor). The valedictory Goodbye album featured live performances from Cream's farewell performance at the Royal Albert Hall; it was released shortly after Cream disbanded in 1968, and also featured the studio single "Badge", co-written by Clapton and Beatle George Harrison. In 1977, The Easy Cure auditioned for Hansa Records and received a recording contract worth £1000. Another significant factor was a strongly critical Rolling Stone review of a concert of the group's second headlining US tour, which affected Clapton profoundly. They began writing their own songs almost immediately, and quickly amassed both an impressive repertoire of original material and a growing following. The legendary in-fighting — especially between Bruce and Baker — and growing tensions between all three members eventually led to Cream's demise. Wilfrid's Catholic Comprehensive School in Crawley, Sussex. Although Cream was hailed as one of the greatest groups of its day, and the adulation of Clapton as guitar hero reached new heights, the band was destined to be shortlived. In 1976 Robert Smith, a 17-year-old student, formed The Easy Cure with classmates Michael Dempsey (bass), Lol Tolhurst (drums) and Porl Thompson (guitar) from St. At their first meeting in a London club, Clapton mentioned that he had some music that needed lyrics, so Sharp wrote out a poem he had composed on a napkin and gave it to Clapton, who recorded it as Tales Of Brave Ulysses. The band is often considered as being part of the Gothic genre, possibly because of lead singer Robert Smith's image, but Smith rejects this, saying that he considers the band to be mainstream. The lurid psychedelic covers of both these albums were created by Australian artist Martin Sharp, who lived in the same building Clapton at the time in the Chelsea artists colony The Pheasantry. The Cure is a British rock band widely seen as one of the leading pioneers of the British alternative rock and post-punk scenes of the 1980s. The group achieved major commercial success during its brief existence with the song "Sunshine Of Your Love", from the Disraeli Gears album, and "White Room" from Wheels of Fire. Jason Cooper (percussion; member 1995-present). Cream's repertoire varied from pop soul ("I Feel Free") to lengthy blues-based instrumental jams ("Spoonful") and featured Clapton's searing psychedelic guitar lines, Bruce's soaring vocals and prominent, fluid bass playing, and Baker's powerful, jazz-influenced drumming. Perry Bamonte (keyboards, guitars; member 1990-present). Hendrix's arrival had an immediate and major effect on the next phase of Clapton's career. Roger O'Donnell (keyboards; member 1987-1990 & 1995-present). Hendrix's early club performances were avidly attended by top UK stars including Clapton, Pete Townshend and The Beatles. Boris Williams (percussion; member 1984-1994). Clapton immediately realised that he had a new and almost unbeatable competitor, whose dazzling showmanship was matched by his staggering ability as a guitarist. Andy Anderson (percussion; member 1983-1984). Hendrix attended a performance by Clapton's newly formed Cream at the Central London Polytechnic, October 1, 1966, during which Hendrix sat in on a shattering double-timed version of Killing Floor. Phil Thornalley (bass guitar; member 1983-1984). By late 1966 Clapton's status as Britain's top guitarist was shaken by the arrival of Jimi Hendrix. Matthieu Hartley (keyboards; member 1979-1980). He left the Bluesbreakers in mid 1966 (to be replaced by Peter Green) and then formed Cream, one of the earliest examples of the supergroup, and also one of the earliest 'power trios', with Jack Bruce (also of Bluesbreakers and Manfred Mann) and Ginger Baker (of the Graham Bond Organisation). During his time with Cream he began to develop as a singer as well as guitarist, though Bruce, one of rock's most powerful singers, took most of the lead vocals. Simon Gallup (bass guitar; member 1979-1982 & 1985-present). After a spell working in a laboring job and several months of intensive practice, he joined John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers. His emotional playing on their first album (which features Eric reading a copy of the Beano on the cover) established his name as a blues player, and inspired a short-lived craze of graffiti deifying him ("Clapton is God", it read). Michael Dempsey (bass guitar; member 1976-1979). Clapton, who was at that time obstinately dedicated to his blues roots, took strong exception to the Yardbirds' new 'pop' direction, refused to play on the single and quit the band as soon as it had been recorded; he was replaced by Jeff Beck. Lol Tolhurst (percussion, keyboards; member 1976-1989). Growing up listening to blues recording by the likes of Robert Johnson, Clapton first made his name as a member of The Yardbirds, a pop-influenced rock and roll band whose biggest hit "For Your Love" came whilst Eric was a member. Porl Thompson (guitars; member 1977-1978 & 1984-1992). On his 13th birthday he received a guitar which he taught himself to play, and at the age of 17 he joined his first band, the Roosters. Robert Smith (vocals, guitar, keyboards; member 1976-present). When Eric was 9 years old he found out, and the experience became a defining moment in his life. Trilogy. Years later his mother married another Canadian soldier, moved to Canada and left Eric with his grandparents. Greatest Hits. Eric grew up with his grandparents believing they were his parents, and that his mother was his older sister. Galore. Born as an illegitimate son of the 16 year old Patricia Molly Clapp and Edward Walter Fryer, a 24 year old Canadian pilot, Clapton's father returned to his wife in Canada before he was born. The Cure Play Out. He is considered by many to be among the world's best living guitarists. Picture Show. Eric Clapton CBE (born Eric Patrick Clapp on March 30, 1945 in The Green, Ripley, Surrey), is a British guitarist and composer, nicknamed slowhand. The Cure in Orange. Eric Clapton: Crossroads liner notes. Standing on a Beach. Fred Weiler, Eric Clapton (Smithmark, 1992). "I want to be old" - demo from '77/'78. Ray Coleman, Clapton! (Warner Books, 1985). "Need Myself" - demo from '77/'78. Clapton was banned from driving in France and had his British driver license confiscated after being clocked driving at 216 km/h (130mph) in a Porsche 911 Turbo on a French motorway in October 2004. "Listen" - demo from '77/'78. Eric Clapton is credited on the Dire Straits' Brothers in Arms album due to the fact that he loaned Mark Knopfler one of his guitars for the album. "Meathook" - demo from '77/'78. 2004 Sessions for Robert J. (official CD/DVD of tour auditions). "See the children" - demo from '77/'78. 2004 Me and Mr. Johnson (an album of Robert Johnson covers) #10 UK, #6 US. Join the Dots: B-Sides and Rarities, 1978-2001 (The Fiction Years) (2004) #106 US. 2002 One More Car, One More Rider (Live 2001) #43 US. Greatest Hits (2001, compilation of singles 1978-2001/two new tracks) #33 UK, #58 US. 2001 Reptile #7 UK, #5 US, US Sales: 500,000. Galore (1997, compilation of singles 1987-1997) #37 UK, #32 US. King) #15 UK, #3 US, US Sales: 2,000,000. Show (1993, live) #29 UK, #42 US. 2000 Riding With the King (with B.B. Paris (1993, live) #118 US. 1999 Clapton Chronicles: The Best of Eric Clapton #6 UK, #20 US, US Sales: 1,000,000. Mixed Up (1990, remixes) #8 UK, #14 US. 1999 The Blues (Double Disc Set) #52 US, US Sales: 500,000. Integration (boxed set). 1998 Pilgrim #6 UK, #4 US, US Sales: 1,000,000. Entreat (1991) (songs from Distintegration live) #10 UK. 1996 Crossroads 2: Live in the Seventies (Live from 1974 to 1978, Quadruple CD Set) #137 US. Standing on a Beach (1986, singles compilation) #4 UK, #48 US. 1995 The Cream of Clapton #80 US, US Sales: 1,000,000. Available only on cassette. 1994 From the Cradle #1 UK, #1 US, US Sales: 3,000,000. Concert and Curiosity (1984), The Concert album with unreleased tracks on the b-side. 1992 Unplugged (Live 1992) #2 UK, #1 US, US Sales: 10,000,000. Concert (1984, live) #26 UK. 1992 Rush #24 US, US Sales: 500,000. Happily Ever After (Seventeen Seconds and Faith together U.S.-only release). 1991 24 Nights (Live 1990) #17 UK, #38 US, US Sales: 500,000. Faith/Carnage Visors (1981), a special long-play cassette. 1990 The Layla Sessions (as Derek and the Dominoes) (20th Anniversary Edition, Box Set). Three Imaginary Boys (2CD Deluxe edition)(2004). 1989 Journeyman #2 UK, #16 US, US Sales: 2,000,000. The Cure (2004) #8 UK, #7 US
1988 Crossroads (Box Set) #34 US, US Sales: 2,000,000. Wild Mood Swings (1996) #9 UK, #12 US. 1987 The Cream of Eric Clapton #3 UK. Wish (1992) #1 UK, #2 US. 1986 August #3 UK, #37 US, US Sales: 500,000. Disintegration (1989) #3 UK, #12 US. 1985 Behind the Sun #8 UK, #34 US, US Sales: 1,000,000. Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me (1987) #6 UK, #35 US. 1984 Backtrackin' #29 UK. The Head on the Door (1985) #7 UK, #60 US. 1984 Too Much Monkey Business. The Top (1984) #10 UK, #180 US. 1983 Money and Cigarettes #13 UK, #16 US. Japanese Whispers (singles/b-sides) (1983) #26 UK, #181 US. 1982 Time Pieces: Best Of Eric Clapton (1970-1978) #20 UK, #101 US, US Sales: 7,000,000. Pornography (1982) #8 UK
1981 Another Ticket #18 UK, #7 US, US Sales: 500,000. Faith (1981) #14 UK. 1980 Just One Night (Live 1979, Double Disc Set) #3 UK, #2 US, US Sales: 500,000. Seventeen Seconds (1980) #20 UK. 1978 Backless #18 UK, #8 US, US Sales: 1,000,000. Boys Don't Cry (a renamed version of Three Imaginary Boys with a slightly different song lineup) (1980). 1977 Slowhand #23 UK, #2 US, US Sales: 3,000,000. Three Imaginary Boys (1979)
1976 No Reason to Cry #8 UK, #15 US. "Taking Off" (2004) #39 UK. Was Here (Live 1975) #14 UK, #20 US. "The End of the World" (2004) #25 UK. 1975 E.C. "Cut Here" (2002). 1975 There's One in Every Crowd #15 UK, #21 US. "Wrong Number" (1997). 1974 461 Ocean Boulevard #3 UK, #1 US, US Sales: 500,000. "Mint Car" (1996) #31 UK. 1973 Eric Clapton's Rainbow Concert (Live 1972) #18 US. "The 13th" (1996) #15 UK. 1973 Live at the Fillmore (as Derek and the Dominoes) (Live 1970) #36 UK, #20 US. "A Letter to Elise" (1992) #28 UK. 1973 Clapton (compilation) #67 US. "Friday I'm in Love" (1992) #6 UK, #18 US. 1972 Eric Clapton at His Best (compilation) #87 US. "High" (1992) #8 UK. 1972 History of Eric Clapton (compilation) #20 UK, #6 US, US Sales: 500,000. "Close to Me" (remix) (1990) #13 UK. 1970 Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs (as Derek and the Dominoes) #16 US. "Never Enough" (b-side: "Harold and Joe") (1990) #13 UK. 1970 Eric Clapton #17 UK, #13 US. "Pictures of You" (1990) #24 UK. "Lovesong" (1989) #18 UK, #2 US. "Fascination Street" (1989) #46 US. "Lullaby" (b-side "Babble"/"Out Of Mind") (1989) #5 UK, #74 US. "Hot Hot Hot" (1988) #65 US. "Just Like Heaven" (b-side "Snow In Summer"/"Sugar Girl") (1988) #29 UK, #40 US. "Catch" (b-side: "Breathe") (1987) #27 UK. "Why Can't I Be You?" (b-side: "A Japanese Dream") (1987) #21 UK, #54 US. "Boys Don't Cry" (re-issue) (1986) #22 UK. "Close To Me" (1985) #24 UK. "Inbetween Days" (1985) #15 UK, #99 US. "The Caterpillar" (1984) #14 UK. "The Lovecats" (b-side "Speak My Language")(1983) #7 UK. "The Walk" (b-side: "The Dream") (1983) #12 UK. "Let's Go To Bed" (b-side: "Just One Kiss") (1982). "The Hanging Garden" (1982) #34 UK. "Charlotte Sometimes" (b-side: "Splintered in Her Head") (1981). "Primary" (b-side: "Descent") (1981). "A Forest" (b-side "Another Journey By Train") (1980) #31 UK. "Jumping Someone Else's Train (b-side "I'm Cold") (1979). "Boys Don't Cry" (b-side "Plastic Passion") (1979). "Killing an Arab" (b-side: "10:15 Saturday Night") (1979). |