"I found a pattern in my behavior that had been repeating itself for years, decades even. Bad choices were my specialty, and if something honest and decent came along, I would shun it or run the other way."
With striking intimacy and candor, Eric Clapton tells the story of his eventful and inspiring life in this poignant and honest autobiography. More than a rock star, he is an icon, a living embodiment of the history of rock music. Well known for his reserve in a profession marked by self-promotion, flamboyance, and spin, he now chronicles, for the first time, his remarkable personal and professional journeys. Born illegitimate in 1945 and raised by his grandparents, Eric never knew his father and, until the age of nine, believed his actual mother to be his sister. In his early teens his solace was the guitar, and his incredible talent would make him a cult hero in the clubs of Britain and inspire devoted fans to scrawl "Clapton is God" on the walls of London's Underground. With the formation of Cream, the world's first supergroup, he became a worldwide superstar, but conflicting personalities tore the band apart within two years. His stints in Blind Faith, in Delaney and Bonnie and Friends, and in Derek and the Dominos were also short-lived but yielded some of the most enduring songs in history, including the classic "Layla." During the late sixties he played as a guest with Jimi Hendrix and Bob Dylan, as well as the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and longtime friend George Harrison. It was while working with the latter that he fell for George's wife, Pattie Boyd, a seemingly unrequited love that led him to the depths of despair, self-imposed seclusion, and drug addiction. By the early seventies he had overcome his addiction and released the bestselling album 461 Ocean Boulevard, with its massive hit "I Shot the Sheriff." He followed that with the platinum album Slowhand, which included "Wonderful Tonight," the touching love song to Pattie, whom he finally married at the end of 1979. A short time later, however, Eric had replaced heroin with alcohol as his preferred vice, following a pattern of behavior that not only was detrimental to his music but contributed to the eventual breakup of his marriage. In the eighties he would battle and begin his recovery from alcoholism and become a father. But just as his life was coming together, he was struck by a terrible blow: His beloved four-year-old son, Conor, died in a freak accident. At an earlier time Eric might have coped with this tragedy by fleeing into a world of addiction. But now a much stronger man, he took refuge in music, responding with the achingly beautiful "Tears in Heaven." Clapton is the powerfully written story of a survivor, a man who has achieved the pinnacle of success despite extraordinary demons. It is one of the most compelling memoirs of our time.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
Eric's 'True Confessions':
Many Clapton fans were really disappointed in this book because they (me, included) discovered their hero was not the good guy they assumed he was. It is shocking, indeed, to read page-after-page of Clapton describing his shallowness, selfishness and excesses regarding woman, alcohol and drugs. It's like he has this compulsion to tell us every sin he ever committed, so he can be forgiven. Either that, or he's just totally coming clean. Clapton's accounts of stealing George Harrison's wife; not being... more info
Clapton Must Be The Luckiest Man Alive.:
I play guitar, so I know Clapton's works and guitar playing. Yngwie once said that Clapton has been playing the same blues pentatonic scale for over 40 years. That is true, but there's something special about his guitar playing. Anyway, I couldn't wait for this book and I am utterly disappointed. He is self-indulgent and abusive to women. Although he claims that he and George Harrison were the best friends, he hardly talked about George's death in this book. As others have written, Eric doesn't seem... more info
A shallow and self centered autobiography by an alcoholic and drug addict. Don't read it please.:
I was so disappointed with this book that I got it from my sister, a fan, who said she had to stop reading it before she got half way through. I read it and was so disappointed. He is self-centered, doesn't accept responsibility for any of his actions in his life and he has abused women. I am simply not willing to endorse this book to anybody. When I read Patty Boyd's book, she was very respectful of Clapton. He doesn't have the capacity to be the same way, unfortunately. I think now that he is older I... more info
For Musicians...:
For anyone who has ever lived the life of a musician - this book will speak to your soul. The journey to artistry is a long one & it's always good to hear from those who have made it through alive. Excellent book.
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