Clapton

The Autobiography

By: Eric Clapton

Narrated by: Simon Vance

Length: 10 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

Eric Clapton is far more than a rock star. Like Dylan and McCartney, he is an icon and a living legend. He has sold tens of millions of records, played sell-out concerts all over the world, and been central to the significant musical developments of his era. His guitar playing has seen him hailed as "God". Tracks such as "Layla", "Sunshine of Your Love", "Wonderful Tonight", and "Tears in Heaven" have become anthems for generations of music fans. Now, for the first time, Eric tells the story of his personal and professional journeys in this pungent, witty, and painfully honest autobiography.

Eric was born illegitimate in 1945 and raised by his grandparents. He never knew his father, and until the age of nine believed his absentee mother to be his sister. In his teens his solace was the guitar, and he soon became a cult hero in the club circuits of Britain. With the foundation of the world's first super-group, Cream, in 1966, he became a world superstar.

But the rock-star lifestyle has had a darker side. In more than 40 years at the forefront of his profession, he has twice survived near fatal addictions to drugs and alcohol, the death of his four-year-old son, the deaths of friends such as Jimi Hendrix and John Lennon, the break-up of marriage, and the disintegration of relationships with a succession of beautiful women.

These are the memoirs of a survivor, someone who has reached the pinnacle of success, who has had it all, but whose demons have never left him. At the age of 62, Eric is now ready to tell his story as it is, hiding nothing, with a directness and searing honesty that will make this book one of the most compelling memoirs of our time.

©2007 E. C. Music Limited (P)2007 Books on Tape

Critic reviews

"Both the youthful excesses and the current calm state are narrated with an engaging tone that nudges Clapton's story ahead of other rock 'n' roll memoirs." ( Publishers Weekly)
"Clapton is honest - sometimes, as in the account of his son's death, even searing - and often witty, with a hard-won survivor's humor." ( The New York Times)

Loved it!

I have been a fan of Clapton for 35 years. Not only does he share the greatness of his life, but also the very lows. He has some profound thoughts on recovery, which I found very interesting. If you love rock'n' roll, you'll love this book.

Ok Book

This book was nothing special. If you want to get some insight on addiction you'll get plenty here.

Honest and real

Truth is stranger than fiction! Who would have guessed? This is a brutally honest look at a human being named Eric Clapton. Genius, artist. Rebel, collector and boy next door. Bravo Eric! It's also a success story for addicts of all types.

The Real Life EC

I very much enjoyed this book. I have been reading several auto biographies of well known musicians, and this one is way at the top of the list. It is a true recounting of what his life was and has been like. It is not all glamorous by any stretch. It is real, it is honest, and you get a true true look inside the life of Eric Clapton. I always admired him as a musician, and I now also admire him as a human being who picked himself up from the gutter and made a worthy life happen. He did many good things besides play great music, it just took him a while.

A little bland

Being a fan and somewhat a historian of Rock and Roll I enjoyed this book by Eric. It was a bit slow in parts but much of the struggle and triumph I found very interesting. I wished he would have dug a bit deeper into area's such as his and George Harrison's relationship but being as private a man as he seems to be I'll take what I can get.

Very enjoyable

I enjoyed the book. There were points in there where I felt like you do at some movies – you want to tell the person not to open the door because there is a monster or something outside. Its hard to know how “accurate” it is, but there is a clear attempt at honesty, and an attempt to make you understand what Eric was thinking (or not thinking) when he was doing things. There are some surprises – without ruining it for anyone, one of the biggest surprises to me is how much he has always been into fashion. Anyway, its all there: the Yardbirds, Cream, John Mayall, Derek and the Dominoes, his love for Patty, George Harrison’s wife; his addiction to heroin and his even more debilitating alcoholism. He talks about how some of his big hits came about; what makes a guitar “good”; getting wasted and being sober; family, friends and others. It was a good “read.” The narrator, Simon Vance, did a very nice job, as always.

A Confessional Autobiography

I have followed Eric Clapton’s career. He is a complete guitarist, able to play in any genre, and able to collaborate with any artist. He plays electric, acoustic guitar, and slide guitar.

This book is almost a confessional of his drug and alcohol use and his bad treatment of some people he used in his life. In his 62 years, he has been involved with an enviable number of beautiful young women. His chapters coincide with his albums and the band he played with.

Unfortunately, Clapton makes little mention of the various guitarists he collaborated with. Duane Allman gets two paragraphs though these two pushed each other into making one of the all-time great guitar albums, Layla and other Love Songs. Fans of Clapton as a musician will find little here about the musical aspects of his career. This information has to be sought out in the many interviews he gives in various magazines.

In all other aspects, this is a great read.

loved the book. inspiring life rebounds

What a strong spirit. He gives the credit to where credit was due, his wonderful grandparents.

Clapton Is God

If you don't love Clapton then you don't love the history of Rock & Roll

LOVED it

We started out on an 8 hour drive and couldn't wait to start this book. We were hooked immediately and loved every minute of it. We were wishing our drive was even longer because we weren't able to finish it until the return trip! Eric's voice was perfect and I believe made it even better knowing it was him speaking. He read as if he was sitting with us telling his story. I'll recommend this highly to friends for sure.