Eric Clapton

  • Los Angeles, CA
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  • 1962
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About Eric Clapton


By the time Eric Clapton launched his solo career with the release of his self-titled debut album in mid-1970, he was long established as one of the world's major rock stars due to his group affiliations -- the Yardbirds, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Cream, and Blind Faith -- which had demonstrated his claim to being the best rock guitarist of his generation. That it took Clapton so long to go out on his own, however, was evidence of a degree of reticence unusual for one of his stature. And his debut album, though it spawned the Top 40 hit "After Midnight," was typical of his self-effacing approach: it was, in effect, an album by the group he had lately been featured in, Delaney & Bonnie & Friends.

Not surprisingly, before his solo debut had even been released, Clapton had retreated from his solo stance, assembling from the D&B&F ranks the personnel for a group, Derek & the Dominos, with whom he played for most of 1970 and recorded the landmark album Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs. Clapton was largely inactive in 1971 and 1972, due to heroin addiction, but he performed a comeback concert at the Rainbow Theatre in London on January 13, 1973, resulting in the album Eric Clapton's Rainbow Concert (September 1973). But Clapton did not launch a sustained solo career until July 1974, when he released 461 Ocean Boulevard, which topped the charts and spawned the number one single "I Shot the Sheriff."

The persona Clapton established over the next decade was less that of guitar hero than arena rock star with a weakness for ballads. The follow-ups to 461 Ocean Boulevard, There's One in Every Crowd (March 1975), the live E.C. Was Here (August 1975), and No Reason to Cry (August 1976), were less successful. But Slowhand (November 1977), which featured both the powerful "Cocaine" (written by J.J. Cale, who had also written "After Midnight") and the hit singles "Lay Down Sally" and "Wonderful Tonight," was a million-seller. Its follow-ups, Backless (November 1978), featuring the Top Ten hit "Promises," the live Just One Night (April 1980), and Another Ticket (February 1981), featuring the Top Ten hit "I Can't Stand It," were all big sellers.

Clapton's popularity waned somewhat in the first half of the '80s, as the albums Money and Cigarettes (February 1983), Behind the Sun (March 1985), and August (November 1986) indicated a certain career stasis. But he was buoyed up by the release of the box set retrospective Crossroads (April 1988), which seemed to remind his fans of how great he was. Journeyman (November 1989) was a return to form. It would be his last new studio album for nearly five years, though in the interim he would suffer greatly and enjoy surprising triumph. On March 20, 1991, Clapton's four-year-old son was killed in a fall. While he mourned, he released a live album, 24 Nights (October 1991), culled from his annual concert series at Royal Albert Hall in London, and prepared a movie soundtrack, Rush (January 1992). The soundtrack featured a song written for his son, "Tears in Heaven," that became a massive hit single.

In March 1992, Clapton recorded a concert for MTV Unplugged that, when released on an album in August, became his biggest-selling record ever. Two years later, Clapton returned with a blues album, From the Cradle, which became one of his most successful albums, both commercially and critically. Crossroads, Vol. 2: Live in the Seventies, a box set chronicling his live work from the '70s, was released to mixed reviews. In early 1997, Clapton, billing himself by the pseudonym "X-Sample," collaborated with keyboardist/producer Simon Climie as the ambient new age and trip-hop duo T.D.F. The duo released Retail Therapy to mixed reviews in early 1997.

Clapton retained Climie as his collaborator for Pilgrim, his first album of new material since 1989's Journeyman. Pilgrim was greeted with decidedly mixed reviews upon its spring 1998 release, but the album debuted at number four and stayed in the Top Ten for several weeks on the success of the single "My Father's Eyes." In 2000, Clapton teamed up with old friend B.B. King on Riding with the King, a set of blues standards and material from contemporary singer/songwriters. Another solo outing, entitled Reptile, followed in early 2001. Three years later, Clapton issued Me and Mr. Johnson, a collection of tunes honoring the Mississippi-born bluesman Robert Johnson. Released in 2005, Back Home, Clapton's 14th album of original material, reflected his ease with fatherhood. Also in 2005, Clapton unexpectedly teamed with Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker for a Cream reunion that included May concerts at London’s Royal Albert Hall and shows at New York’s Madison Square Garden in October, with the former being compiled for a live release that fall.

This turned out to be the first of many reunions and looks back for Clapton. In 2006, he elevated the profile of his latter-day idol J.J. Cale by recording an album-long duet, The Road to Escondido. The following year he released his autobiography -- accompanied by a new career compilation called The Complete Clapton -- which focused more on his trials with addiction and subsequent recovery than his musical career. In 2008, Clapton began playing regular shows with his old Blind Faith partner Steve Winwood, gigs that were captured on the 2009 double-live set Live from Madison Square Garden. Winwood also appeared on Clapton’s next studio album, 2010’s Clapton, which was a collaboration-heavy affair also featuring Cale, Sheryl Crow, Allen Toussaint, and Wynton Marsalis. In 2011, Clapton returned the favor to Marsalis by collaborating on the live concert album Play the Blues: Live from Jazz at Lincoln Center.

Clapton parted ways with Warner after Clapton and he chose to set up his own Bushbranch imprint on Gary Hoey's independent label Surfdog. His first album for the label was Old Sock, largely a collection of old songs the guitarist loved. ~ William Ruhlmann, Rovi

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Music

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  • The Circus Left Town (Live)
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    The Circus Left Town (Live)
  • Lonely Stranger (Live)
    eric-clapton
    Video
    Lonely Stranger (Live)
  • Alberta (Live)
    eric-clapton
    Video
    Alberta (Live)
  • Pilgrim
    eric-clapton
    Video
    Pilgrim
  • Tears In Heaven
    eric-clapton
    Video
    Tears In Heaven
  • Forever Man
    eric-clapton
    Video
    Forever Man
  • Change The World
    eric-clapton
    Video
    Change The World
  • My Father's Eyes
    eric-clapton
    Video
    My Father's Eyes
  • Motherless Child
    eric-clapton
    Video
    Motherless Child
  • Layla (Live)
    eric-clapton
    Video
    Layla (Live)

Interviews & Exclusives

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  • Autobiography
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    Autobiography
  • Layla & Collaborations Interview
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    Layla & Collaborations Interview

Photos

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  • Eric Clapton
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    Eric Clapton
    Dave Alloca/Starpix
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    Eric Clapton
    Eric Clapton
  • Eric Clapton
    Eric Clapton
    Eric Clapton
  • Eric Clapton
    Eric Clapton
    Eric Clapton
  • Eric Clapton
    Eric Clapton
    Eric Clapton
  • Eric Clapton
    Eric Clapton
    Eric Clapton
  • J.J. Cale and Eric Clapton
    Eric Clapton
    J.J. Cale and Eric Clapton
  • J.J. Cale and Eric Clapton
    Eric Clapton
    J.J. Cale and Eric Clapton
  • J.J. Cale and Eric Clapton
    Eric Clapton
    J.J. Cale and Eric Clapton
  • Eric Clapton
    Courtesy of Warner Bros

News

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  • Eric Clapton
    Photos: Yoko Ono / Sonic Youth / Eric Clapton / Bette Midler / Paul Simon
    www.pitchfork.com
    Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band played the Brooklyn Academy of Music's Howard Gilman Opera House last night with special guests including members of Sonic Y...
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  • Eric Clapton
    Yoko Ono, Thurston and Kim, Eric Clapton, Bette Midler: Together at Last!
    www.pitchfork.com
    Avant-garde legend Yoko Ono doesn't play too many shows anymore. But when she does take the stage, it's a big deal. Right now, Ono's Yoko Ono Plastic ...
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  • Eric Clapton
    Paul McCartney - "My Valentine (Feat. Eric Clapton)"
    stereogum.com
    Paul McCartney's next solo album, due early next year, is slated to be a memory-lane sort of thing, with McCartney covering the old pop standards of h...
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  • Eric Clapton
    Eric Clapton Announces New Album for March, Old Sock
    Paste
    Legendary guitarist and songwriter Eric Clapton will be offering up his 21st solo studio LP on March 12, titled Old Sock. The collection will feature ...
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  • Eric Clapton
    Eric Clapton Talks Hendrix, Cream and Guitars at Home: Premiere
    music.yahoo.com
    RELATED CONTENTView Photo Eric Clapton Talks Hendrix, Cream and Guitars at Home: Premiere Eric Clapton doesn't sit for interviews too often, but he in...
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  • Eric Clapton
    Eric Clapton Says He Will Stop Touring at 70
    Paste
    Clapton fans, you've got three more years. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Eric Clapton revealed that his touring days will be over once he turns ...
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  • Eric Clapton
    Eric Clapton: 'When I'm 70, I'll Stop Touring'
    music.yahoo.com
    RELATED CONTENTView Photo Eric Clapton: 'When I'm 70, I'll Stop Touring' Eric Clapton is about to release his 21st solo album, Old Sock, on March 12th...
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  • Eric Clapton
    Music Review: Eric Clapton's 'Old Sock' is cozy
    music.yahoo.com
    RELATED CONTENTView Photo This CD cover image release by Bushbranch/Surfdog Records shows "Old Sock," by Eric ... Eric Clapton, "Old Sock" (Bushbranch...
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  • Eric Clapton
    Eric Clapton Plans Acoustic Set, Allman Brothers Jam for Crossroads Guitar Festival
    www.rollingstone.com
    Eric Clapton performs in Austin, Texas. Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival will take over New York's Madison Squar...
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  • Eric Clapton
    Eric Clapton Plans Acoustic Set, Allman Brothers Jam for Crossroads Guitar Festival
    music.yahoo.com
    Related ContentView Photo Eric Clapton Plans Acoustic Set, Allman Brothers Jam for Crossroads Guitar Festi ... Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festiv...
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Tour Dates

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  • May 20 Monday
    London, UK Royal Albert Hall
    Buy Ticket
  • May 21 Tuesday
    London, UK Royal Albert Hall
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  • May 23 Thursday
    London, UK Royal Albert Hall
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  • May 24 Friday
    London, UK Royal Albert Hall
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  • May 26 Sunday
    London, UK Royal Albert Hall
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  • May 29 Wednesday
    Frankfurt, Germany Festhalle Frankfurt
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  • May 30 Thursday
    Berlin, Germany O2 World
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  • Jun 1 Saturday
    Hamburg, Germany O2 World
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  • Jun 2 Sunday
    Leipzig, Germany Arena Leipzig
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  • Jun 4 Tuesday
    Kaunas, Lithuania Zalgiris Arena
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  • Jun 5 Wednesday
    Riga, Latvia Arēnā Rīga
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  • Jun 6 Thursday
    Lodz, Poland Atlas Arena
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  • Jun 7 Friday
    Lodz, Poland Atlas Arena
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  • Jun 9 Sunday
    Munich, Germany Olympiahalle
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  • Jun 11 Tuesday
    Vienna, Austria Wiener Stadthalle
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  • Jun 12 Wednesday
    Stuttgart, Germany Hanns-Martin-Schleyerhalle
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  • Jun 14 Friday
    Oberhausen, Germany König Pilsener Arena
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  • Jun 15 Saturday
    Cologne, Germany LANXESS Arena
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  • Jun 18 Tuesday
    Nuremberg, Germany Arena Nuremberg
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  • Jun 19 Wednesday
    Prague, Czech Republic O2 Arena
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Discography

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  • Old Sock (2013)
    Eric Clapton
    Old Sock (2013)
    Surfdog Records
  • Play the Blues: Live from Jazz at Lincoln Center (2011)
    Eric Clapton
    Play the Blues: Live from Jazz at Lincoln Center (2011)
    Warner Bros.
  • Clapton (2010)
    Eric Clapton
    Clapton (2010)
    Warner Bros.
  • Back Home (2005)
    Eric Clapton
    Back Home (2005)
    Warner Bros.
  • Sessions for Robert J. (2004)
    Eric Clapton
    Sessions for Robert J. (2004)
    WEA
  • Me and Mr. Johnson (2004)
    Eric Clapton
    Me and Mr. Johnson (2004)
    Reprise
  • One More Car, One More Rider (2002)
    Eric Clapton
    One More Car, One More Rider (2002)
    Reprise
  • Reptile (2001)
    Eric Clapton
    Reptile (2001)
    Reprise
  • The Story of Us [Music from the Motion Picture] (1999)
    Eric Clapton
    The Story of Us [Music from the Motion Picture] (1999)
    Reprise
  • Pilgrim (1998)
    Eric Clapton
    Pilgrim (1998)
    Reprise
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