Clapton

This is the second to last of the books that were Christmas gifts. Clapton The Autobiography is currently on some best seller lists. That the book is popular is little surprise, this writer, singer guitarist has been in the public limelight for over 40 years.

Born in 1945, the child of an unwed mother and Canadian soldier, the youngster was raised by his grandparents as their own. The revelation of this as an adolescent did cause a typical pattern of self loathing. Drawn to the blues of black American artists like Muddy Waters and BB King, Eric Clapton took up the guitar with used models he bought at local pawn shops. Self taught by the middle 1960's he was playing with John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers, this was followed by the Yardbirds where he reached critical and popular acclaim with he hit "For Your Love" just before leaving the band. Then he formed a trio with Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker named Cream, this was the partnership that propelled all to virtuoso stardom.

Being the sixties drugs were being experimented with and for some becoming addictive. During the time between and the next super group Blind Faith Eric Clapton became addicted to heroin. Also during this time the guitarist fell in love with George Harrison's wife Patti Boyd. Clapton's obsessiveness over Boyd continued through the creation of the album Derek and the Dominos which was created with among others Bobby Whitlock, Carl Radle and Duane Allman. His most famous torch song was create, Layla for the wife of another. After this and following the album 461 Ocean Boulevard, Clapton and Boyd became a couple, with Clapton maintaining a loose friendship with her husband. Times were different. The life of a travelling musician and the continuing drug use doomed the relationship though it did include a marriage and two trips to a rehabilitation hospital in the States.

Shortly after his breakup with Boyd and kicking of the drug habit, Clapton settled on the substitute alcohol as his drub of choice. It was at this time he had a boy named Conner born to an Italian actress. Sadly this boy named Conner died by accidentally running out of a hotel window while playing with the nanny. Such sadness and loss drove the musician into an alcoholic abyss. From this came some of his best lyric, "Tears In Heaven".

By 1988 Eric Clapton was able to quit the drinking for good, this opened his path to self responsibility and as a pleasant result more creativity and collaboration with famous artists.

Since the middle 1990's Clapton met current wife Melia, had three daughters, taken up shooting, fishing and sponsoring a rehab facility. He concludes that the last decade has been his happiest.

On a scale of 1-10, "Clapton" gets a 4. As I suppose most autobiographies are, this book concentrates on self abuse and actualization. From this book you can conclude that Eric Clapton is by no means conceited and holds many musicians in greater esteem than himself. The book is worth reading if you are interested but not what I would call a great read.