Having been a longtime fan and having read his autobiography, I didn't know if this program could offer me much more than I already knew about this rock guitar legend, but it was an interesting hour. I'm only sorry that the last 15 years of Clapton's life are just talked about in a few minutes. It's these last years in which Eric has been the most impressive as a human being and I'd like to have heard and seen more about this time period.
Instead, we mainly get his early years where he seems to switch bands every year or two, same with women and then has significant bouts with drugs and later, alcohol. The comments by people in this TV episode, however, were enlightening and candid. It also was fun to see some of these guys 30-40 years after they were young, long-haired rock stars.
Some of their names may not be familiar to a lot of folks, but they members of his first group, The Yardbirds, or Derek And The Dominoes, or had just worked with him in a session or two. Bobby Whitlock is one of those guys and someone who has kept in touch with Eric over the years. He sounded odd, as if he had some speech problems but he had some good observations.
Whitlock commented that Clapton "never looks the same. He's a real experimental entity, always re-inventing himself but always looking for the blues thing." How true. How many times have you seen Clapton over the years and you almost don't recognize who it is? Another close friend, blues legend B.B. King, said "Eric has proved you don't have to be black to be a good blues singer." Robert Cray also had nice things to say, as did Procol Harem's Gary Brooker. It was also interesting to hear how Pete Townsend, of "Who" fame, helped Clapton when he was going through one of his dark periods, and that "Delaney" of "Bonnie & Delaney" gave Eric the confidence to sing.
It's pointed out in this episode that from the mid 1970s to the early 1990s, the famous guitarist would constantly go from "brilliant peaks" to "perilous lows." Anyway, it was a very interesting hour and one of the better Biography shows I've seen. However, I am biased because I've always loved hearing Clapton play the guitar and own most of his CDs and DVDs. Most important, I'm glad he's finally grown up and is a responsible and happy father and all-around person.
Instead, we mainly get his early years where he seems to switch bands every year or two, same with women and then has significant bouts with drugs and later, alcohol. The comments by people in this TV episode, however, were enlightening and candid. It also was fun to see some of these guys 30-40 years after they were young, long-haired rock stars.
Some of their names may not be familiar to a lot of folks, but they members of his first group, The Yardbirds, or Derek And The Dominoes, or had just worked with him in a session or two. Bobby Whitlock is one of those guys and someone who has kept in touch with Eric over the years. He sounded odd, as if he had some speech problems but he had some good observations.
Whitlock commented that Clapton "never looks the same. He's a real experimental entity, always re-inventing himself but always looking for the blues thing." How true. How many times have you seen Clapton over the years and you almost don't recognize who it is? Another close friend, blues legend B.B. King, said "Eric has proved you don't have to be black to be a good blues singer." Robert Cray also had nice things to say, as did Procol Harem's Gary Brooker. It was also interesting to hear how Pete Townsend, of "Who" fame, helped Clapton when he was going through one of his dark periods, and that "Delaney" of "Bonnie & Delaney" gave Eric the confidence to sing.
It's pointed out in this episode that from the mid 1970s to the early 1990s, the famous guitarist would constantly go from "brilliant peaks" to "perilous lows." Anyway, it was a very interesting hour and one of the better Biography shows I've seen. However, I am biased because I've always loved hearing Clapton play the guitar and own most of his CDs and DVDs. Most important, I'm glad he's finally grown up and is a responsible and happy father and all-around person.
