Eric Clapton's younger years were truly a sight to see. He broke the rules and made his own for musicians to follow. From his time with cream to his solo work, the Rock God himself will forever be cemented in music history.
Eric Clapton's Humble Beginnings
From humble beginnings, Eric Clapton was born March 30th, 1945 to single teenage Mom Patricia in Surrey, England. He struggled a bit growing up, being raised by his grandparents and not his parents. He left school to focus on music and became quite popular for his guitar playing in England's popular West End.
By only 18 years old he was asked to join the well-known Yardbirds. Eric had an incredible bluesy style that earned him a lot of air time and became one of the most talked-about musicians in the world. A few years later he joined the famous blues band John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers.
Around this time his distinct psychedelic blues sound became so recognizable and impressive that the famous "Clapton is God" graffiti was being strewn around London. Although having reached great success with both the Yardbirds and the Bluesbreakers Clapton moved on to form his own rock group, you may recognize, Cream.
Eric Clapton's Cream and Derek & The Dominos
Cream hit an insane level of fame with their albums Fresh Cream, Disraeili Gears, Wheels of Fire, and Goodbye. The band had hypnotized. the world with their unforgettable singles "Sunshine of Your Love" and 'White Room". Cream too disbanded due to "clashing egos" and Eric went on to form the group Derek and the Dominos in 1970.
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As Derek and the Dominos, the group created one of the most critically acclaimed rock albums of all time, Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs. "Layla" was famously about Clapton's obsession with his friend George Harrison's wife Pattie Boyd.
Eric Clapton's Solo Years
Unfortunately for years, Eric struggled with a terrible heroin addiction. After ending his drug habit in 1974 he worked on his solo career which greatly paid off. In his album 461 Ocean Boulevard he has his famous Bob Marley cover of "I Shot the Sheriff".
His solo career proved incredibly fruitful and he pumped out album after album and hit after hit like his easily recognizable songs "Cocaine" and "She's Waiting".
Eric would perform and collaborate with the best of the best like The Who's Peter Townshend, Bob Dylan, BB King, John Lennon, Frank Zappa, and The Rolling Stones. He eventually did land his dream girl, Pattie Boyd and the two were married for a few years but unfortunately, alcoholism tainted the marriage, and Eric had 2 extramarital children which lead to their eventual divorce.
One was his beautiful blonde son Conor who tragically fell to his death from an apartment window in 1991. This awful passing took a heavy toll on Eric, who put his pain into the timeless song "Tears in Heaven."
The Rock God Today
Eric Clapton has won an astonishing 18 Grammy Awards and is the sole 3 time Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Inductee and has not stopped recording music and touring the world. The Rock God has been sober now since 1987, even forming a very reputable drug and alcohol rehabilitation known as Crossroads Centre.
Eric Clapton is now happily married to Melia McEnery and the pair has 3 gorgeous daughters.
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