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)

Excellently Done

This is a wonderful and seemingly honest account of Clapton’s life and his reverence for life beyond drugs and alcohol. It is a beautiful testament to the love of music especially the blues. Very well done.

Mostly for Eric Clapton devotees

Eric Clapton's autobiography is probably more interesting as a chronicle of the many bands and people he performed with as it is for a look at his personal story and struggle with addictions. He is not very inciteful but his struggle with sex, drugs, alcohol and rock and roll are worth reading if you struggle with addiction or are a Clapton fan. Otherwise, its mediocre.

Great story with perfect narration

Talk about an open and honest autobiography! Mr Clapton has let loose all of the stories from the road, his home life, his issues with other performers, family, love and loss. It is not often that a musician writes his own life story and is so forthcoming and honest about everything, dispelling rumours that I have long held true. His honest portrayal of relationships, feelings and addictions. I can not help but compare this book to Bruce Springsteens autobiography, written from the heart AND sould. Once again, the narration by Simon Vance has made a great book even better, one that I will listen to again, a few more times.

I listened to this 2 times !!!!

What made the experience of listening to Clapton the most enjoyable?

So many " stars" are impressed with themselves but over and over E.C. showed a true humbleness and thankfulness for all those around him and all those who helped and inspired him. I came away from the book thinking -- I really like that guy , he could be a friend . A warm caring soul , who could play a hell of a guitar

FANTASTIC

Such honesty and humility, a bigger fan than ever now. I just Loved it! Great.

The book was really good!

Too bad the audio kept skipping every time he started a new paragraph. So annoying! 👎

Eric Clapton

Thid isn't one of my favorites. i prefer hearing authors read their own stories.

A great story

If you like the history of rock & roll as well as the blues this is a great book.
I would've liked to heard more about his friendship with George Harrison but overall a great listen.
Highly recommended.

honest biography

crazy life. took an honest look at himself. inspiring triumph over deug addiction and alcoholism

Enjoyed learning how Eric viewed the story of his life, instead of thru some other persons view

I have read most everyone who has been an important part of music history, autobiography’s. Clapton’s, to date, has been the most detached to read/listen. Specifically, for this reason it would’ve made a huge difference if he, himself would have read it. It is very true, that the random person who is chosen to read someone else’s memoir (or any book, for that matter)can make or brake the readers/listeners likability of the memoir itself. This is the worst thing to experience and it literally can make you think poorly of the words you are comprehending. It winds up having no depth, empathy or endearing qualities that can automatically evoke, when the actual biographer reads. For this reason, this book is actually the most disappointing read. This narrators voice almost makes you want to stop the book, you end up losing so much interest in it. This Narrator has no emotion in his tone and is literally monotone all the way thru. It makes you feel that Eric, himself, is this way as a person, as well. Not a good take away.
My absolute favorite autobiography is life by Keith Richards..he cared enough to read parts himself and also involve people he truly cares about to also read. Which, with his book, was just as good as him reading it, himself.
I also really enjoyed Nikki six and Sebastian Bach for this reason. It makes all the difference in the world. I still think about the stories that each of these musicians were reading about themselves, all the time.
Sebastian Bach is a great story teller and it put his book at one of my top memoir reads.