Eric Clapton Biography Clapton is a Journeyman's Saga

His fans proclaimed him "God," but in his new book, Clapton, Eric Clapton reveals just how human and mortal he really is. His has been a life full of lusts and addictions, almost killing him a number of times. However, he escaped ,luckily for fans and readers, to produce a most seductive read.

Eric Patrick Clapton was born in March of 1945 to a teenage mum and an already married Canadian airman. The author only found out about this deception later on in his young life. However this was not the first family secret he learns. His maternal grandmother, Rose was married once before to the Oxford educated Reginald Clapton weeks after his uncle Adrian was born. Clapton's real grandfather dies after his second child, Clapton's mother ,Patricia, is a toddler. After this Rose marries Jack Clapp, a few rungs down on the social ladder than Reginald. These were the people whom he called his parents and who raised him in a loving but secretive environment. Clapton writes lyrically of growing up in the bucolic Surrey town of Ripley. He has good memories of typical beef and Yorkshire pudding Sunday dinners while listening to music programs, His Saturdays are filled listening to a children's radio show that features the future love of his life - American blues.

He writes much of his grandparents buying him his first guitar and of how he got hooked on American artists at an early age. By the time he was seventeen he was hopping the train to London, hanging out at folk clubs and pubs. He persuaded Rose and Jack to get him an electric guitar and that's when the phenomena of Eric Clapton was truly born. He imitated his favorite bluesmen, notably the Thirties great, Robert Johnson. It was at this time he played with his first group, the Roosters. He saw the birth of the Rolling Stones with his second group, The Yardbirds. During this period Clapton meet s up with Giorgio Gomelsky , a gregarious London impresario who gives him the lasting nickname "Slowhand."

The best part of Clapton is on the road tales. He had played with some of the best in their early days. One account stands out and that's his meeting with Paul McCartney and then being introduced to a future lifelong friend, George Harrison. The two men hit it off right away. Both showed an overwhelming passion for their music. During this time Clapton bought his first "serious" guitar, the Gibson E335. He describes this instrument more lovingly than any of the women he has bedded. At this time he also delved into his intellectual side, discovering like souls such as the French poet Baudelaire along with modern American writers Jack Kerouac and Alan Ginsberg.

As the book progresses Clapton goes through groups and women at equal speeds. He tells of his meeting with legendary John Mayall, and with him came the Bluesbreakers. Clapton then goes on to play with another legend, Ginger Baker and a young Steve Winwood. Around this time he meets another impresario, Robert Stigwood, the puppet master for The Bee Gees, Here Clapton lands himself in Cream and the States. He has his succinct criticism of the West Coast-San Francisco music movement, giving his opinions on The Jefferson Airplane and The Grateful Dead. This is the late Sixties and the author is quickly seduced into the drug culture on both sides of the Atlantic. Thus begins his heaviest addictions. Clapton also reminisces about the racial strife staining both countries and the impact it has on his life.

Cream broke up and another all consuming passion took over the author's life. Mrs. George Harrison., There are probably readers out there who will buy Pattie Boyd's version of their story just for the steamy details. They will be disappointed with Clapton's side of the story. He comes off more as a medieval troubadour (or at worst a pre-Raphaelite poet) desperately longing for his ideal woman. At first he worships her from afar, hooking up with Alice Ormsby-Gore, daughter of the British ambassador and an aristocrat. While pining away for his true love, he joined forces with Baker and Winwood and created Blind Faith.

After Blind Faith comes Derek and the Dominoes along with more lust for Mrs. Harrison. He resorts to love potions to get his elusive goddess. In a last ditch effort he even tells Mr. Harrison that he loves his wife. Luckily for Clapton, the ex-Beatle just brushes it off in a Monty Pythonesque kind of way. It was during this time that Clapton wrote the famous "Layla" for the woman he couldn't have yet. During his days with the Dominoes , he descends into hard drugs. Triggered by high living, unrequited love and the death of fellow guitarist and idol, Jimi Hendrix, Clapton falls deeper and deeper into addiction. He goes into rehab for the first time (and sadly not the last).After he manages to be weaned off heroin he records 461 Ocean Boulevard. Finally Pattie comes with its' success and sadly enough at this time he loses his half brother Brian in a motorcycle accident. Despite this Clapton is blissful. He not only as the love of his life but his mum, the still emotionally cold and distant Patricia, It's during this period he writes his second biggest hit, again thanks to his love, "Wonderful Tonight". One would think life would be magic for him . Not the case. He smashes up his beloved Ferrari right into a laundry van and, upon surviving, realizes he's an alcoholic. It's back to rehab, this time in Minnesota at the famous Hazelden Clinic. He wants to get better for his beloved "Nell" his nickname for Pattie.

After this, the book goes back and forth from rehab to relapse. There's a second trip back to Hazelden for his last and final stint in rehab. His relationship and eventual marriage with Pattie goes on the rocks. He then falls for Lori Del Santo, a scheming Italian beauty who would eventually be his son's , Conor's, mother. Clapton almost antiseptically describes the little boy's ghastly demise. He details his very English , stiff upper lip reaction, being shocked by Lori's family deluge of grief. However, it is this tragedy that produces his third and greatest hit 'Tears In Heaven". This poignant ballad makes the author legendary despite its' price. He wins an outstanding number of Grammys for it as well.

It's now the Nineties and with them comes "Unplugged". This makes Clapton a supernova. He also gives back to humanity by founding Crossroads on his favorite island of Antigua. Its' during this phase that Clapton loses his mother and tries to reconnect with his half sisters, Cheryl and Heather. He may be drug and alcohol free but he is still craving women. Luckily after a few divas, he meets up with the Ohio born Melia McEnery and she guides him into a comfortable life . The hell raising womanizer now relishes being a married man and new dad to three girls, Julie, Ella Mae, and Sophie. Clapton finally grows up as he approaches sixty - so much so that he reconnects with a grown daughter, Ruth. Again he has loss in his life. This time it comes in the form of George Harrison's death from cancer. Clapton now takes charge , being the guiding force for Harrison's widow and son.. That alone is a breakthrough. Clapton manages to produce good music during this era, despite his deafness. He ropes in every one from Billy Preston to Muddy Waters for his quick selling albums.

Eric Clapton writes a tale that's as addictive as drugs, sex and rock 'n' roll. His prose is as deep and soulful as any blues song. He may be a mortal, but he writes like a god.