Why does Eric Clapton attract so much negative comment..

poopot · April 2022

Joking aside…

for me, apart from a couple of tracks with cream, everything he’s put out just lacks feeling and soul imo… it’s paint by numbers blews/rock and it’s very dull… but, that’s just me and my tastes… it doesn’t matter what I think or the fact that I’m right… if you like him, fair play!….

randella · April 2022

Jimbro66 said:

Wasn't he actually singing about George's missus?

They were together by then - the Layla... record was when she was still with George.

ICBM · April 2022

koneguitarist said:

The point is Clapton was a great guitarist at a time when rock and blues guitar was erupting and he led the way. His work with Yardbirds, Bluesbreakers and Cream would be enough to ensure his legacy but add in Blind Faith, Derek and the Dominoes and his solo work makes for a very impressive body of work.
personally I preferred his solo work, though patchy at times as he was going through various addictions etc, still some real gems amongst that.

For me his greatest period was from Layla to Another Ticket - ironically (or possibly because) that's when he was suffering from severe addiction issues. The racist outburst which is in the middle of that would be unforgivable in any other context, and almost is anyway - for many years I had real trouble being able to listen to anything he did - but he does seem genuinely ashamed about it, and he maintained friendships with many black musicians afterwards who presumably did forgive him. The anti-vax nonsense alienated a different set of people, and he does seem like a right dickhead in a lot of ways, but... he's still one of the most important rock guitarists whether you like him, or his music, or not.

fretmeister · April 2022

Things I don’t like about him:

He admitted he raped and abused his wife Patty Boyd

The entire “Keep Britain White” thing and his support of Enoch Powell

His support of fox hunting

His anti vax views.

While in many cases I am perfectly happy to separate art from artist rape and racism are things that I can never look past.

thecolourbox · April 2022

He's also supposedly a West Brom fan, though sadly he never chose to try and win me around by investing in making the club less of a joke

Stuckfast · April 2022

Speaking for myself, I just don't like his music, and I don't think his guitar playing has ever been anything special. Even in the sixties I think you could argue that players like Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck and Mike Bloomfield were way more innovative and technically better.

LPManic · April 2022

I think for guitar players at least Clapton was ahead of everyone and aggressive and on fire for about 4 years and then he started playing Strats and just noodled around the major and minor pentatonic for 40 years.

It’s incredible that someone with one of the greatest LP sounds would later play some of the worst Strat sounds.

wesker123 · April 2022

LPManic said:

I think for guitar players at least Clapton was ahead of everyone and aggressive and on fire for about 4 years and then he started playing Strats and just noodled around the major and minor pentatonic for 40 years.

It’s incredible that someone with one of the greatest LP sounds would later play some of the worst Strat sounds.

Got worse when he picked up acoustic

CaseOfAce · April 2022

ICBM said:

koneguitarist said:

The point is Clapton was a great guitarist at a time when rock and blues guitar was erupting and he led the way. His work with Yardbirds, Bluesbreakers and Cream would be enough to ensure his legacy but add in Blind Faith, Derek and the Dominoes and his solo work makes for a very impressive body of work.
personally I preferred his solo work, though patchy at times as he was going through various addictions etc, still some real gems amongst that.

For me his greatest period was from Layla to Another Ticket - ironically (or possibly because) that's when he was suffering from severe addiction issues. The racist outburst which is in the middle of that would be unforgivable in any other context, and almost is anyway - for many years I had real trouble being able to listen to anything he did - but he does seem genuinely ashamed about it, and he maintained friendships with many black musicians afterwards who presumably did forgive him.

For sure ICBM - it was a stupid thing for Clapton to say - and as you say he seems remorseful about it now - much as I guess Bowie regretted the Nazi salute at Victoria station right? There was a lot of silliness going on with rock musicians in the 70s - hence the whole fantastic Rock Against Racism movement...

To be fair - throughout his career he has done much to raise the profile of black musicians and the blues genre whilst he's raised millions for his drug and alcohol rehabilitation charity through his Crossroads festivals and guitar auctions.

Musically - christ...it's Clapton - where do you start?! So many hits, albums - I'm not even what you'd call a fan but I could easily come up with 5 faves (including that adrenaline rush opening riff of Layla, the guitar solo in Forever Man).

DesVegas · April 2022

Sunshine of your Love is a super song

ElectricXII · April 2022

He has consistently come across as a complete tosser. I like some of the Cream era stuff, but I'm there for Jack and Ginger. As soon as he picked up a Strat it was over for me.

darthed1981 · April 2022

Like a few Cream tracks, and Layla, but the rest I can take or leave.

But music is totally subjective so you can all fill your boots.

Like most musicians he should stick to music, and not express his opinions on other topics.

Rocker · April 2022

Very interesting guys and thanks to all for your contributions. Here in Ireland we listen to his music, which is generally well liked, but know almost nothing of the guy himself. Or his opinions or utterances. Most of us know of his addictions and his Crossroads work. AFAIK he remains the only non Beatle to play guitar on a Beatles record. If that is so, it sets a very high bar and is an indication of what other musicians felt of his guitar playing. On balance I like and have always liked EC records and I have most of them on CD.

Thanks again, it is always interesting to read your opinions and I appreciate your honesty. I did not start this thread to cause a war or to make a thread that is known as clickbait. And fair play to you guys, you gave your reasoned opinions without questioning my motives.

Grumpyrocker · April 2022

darthed1981 said:

Like a few Cream tracks, and Layla, but the rest I can take or leave.

But music is totally subjective so you can all fill your boots.

Like most musicians he should stick to music, and not express his opinions on other topics.

What jobs are allowed opinions?

Hurling_Fruitmig · April 2022

BenSirAmos said:

If you read EC's autobiography, it's hard not to conclude that the bloke is an arrogant wanker

Having watched the recent documentary and particularly the bits about his childhood, I came away thinking it would be hard not to be totally screwed up.

darthed1981 · April 2022

Grumpyrocker said:

darthed1981 said:

Like a few Cream tracks, and Layla, but the rest I can take or leave.

But music is totally subjective so you can all fill your boots.

Like most musicians he should stick to music, and not express his opinions on other topics.

What jobs are allowed opinions?

I didn't say he couldn't have an opinion, he should just keep it to himself, especially as it includes rants on stage about "Enoch being right", and more recently anti vax nonsense.

munckee · April 2022

Aside from his personal flaws of which he has many he has always come across to me as a great guitarist who became a bland middle age and then old man which you can hear in his output.

viz · April 2022

darthed1981 said:

Grumpyrocker said:

darthed1981 said:

Like a few Cream tracks, and Layla, but the rest I can take or leave.

But music is totally subjective so you can all fill your boots.

Like most musicians he should stick to music, and not express his opinions on other topics.

What jobs are allowed opinions?

I didn't say he couldn't have an opinion, he should just keep it to himself, especially as it includes rants on stage about "Enoch being right", and more recently anti vax nonsense.

Yep he should take a leaf out of this musicians’ forum!

idiotwind · April 2022

munckee said:

Aside from his personal flaws of which he has many he has always come across to me as a great guitarist who became a bland middle age and then old man which you can hear in his output.

If he had managed to kill himself with heroin post Derek and the Dominoes I imagine his stock here would be higher.

Devil#20 · April 2022

He's not the first and certainly won't be the last musician to express his unpalatable opinions. Music-wise, he's done some great stuff and some not so good stuff. Definitely a game of 2 halves. Oh..and he can play a hell of a lot better than me.

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Why does Eric Clapton attract so much negative comment..

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