mr sog
19 posts
Apr 21, 2009
7:29 PM
|
The harmonica got me into blues music rather than the other way around. Sounds odd but there you go. I am odd. Now I am trying to learn to play blues guitar aswell. Anyhoo, I'm trying out a few clapton licks. I like his blues stuff. Just out of curiosity I checked amazon.com for any books on clapton as I really didn't know anything about him. His autobiography came up so I checked out some of the 300-odd reviews. Man, what a surprise (to me anyway). The majority of the readers were saying the impression they got of him after reading it was that he is a selfish, up-himself, back-stabbing woman hater who spent his life high and drunk. Some people had gone right off him after reading his book. The drugs and booze is no surprise I suppose considering the era. Other than that I was intrigued. One guy's review even went as far as describing him as a "human turd".
I'll hold my own judgement till I've read it myself but I thought I'd just throw it out there to fellow blues enthusiasts.
Funny how some musicians can be real dickheads yet if they play good music they can be heroes.
Thoughts?
|
ZackPomerleau
44 posts
Apr 21, 2009
7:56 PM
|
Stage/Public Persona is different than real-life persona. Go talk to a musician after a show, if they are jerks, it's the same thing.
|
Buddha
280 posts
Apr 21, 2009
9:11 PM
|
I'm probably the only fella on this board that has actually met and played with Clapton. The drummer in one of my old bands is one of clapton's closest friends and Eric would take two weeks out of his schedule every year to hang out with my buddy John.
Eric struck me as a quiet and very serious fellow. He was generous with his knowledge and always paid for meals or anything thing that involved spending.
There was one evening Eric was guesting with my band. A drunk patron came up to him and said "You really got that Clapton thing down to a tee. You even kinda look like him."
Eric just smiled and said thanks.
I know he had his days with drugs, women and other nasty things that people get to choose from when they are famous, but I hung with him in a very real setting, un-showered, shorts, t-shirt and sandals. You rarely get to see people in their real light. I'm blessed to have experienced him that way.
|
ZackPomerleau
48 posts
Apr 21, 2009
11:16 PM
|
He seems nice, I'm not a big fan of his music, but he seems nice.
|
b1ueskyz
26 posts
Apr 21, 2009
11:24 PM
|
I read the book, seems like last summer. I came away thinking he is one of the most driven people I've read about. And, yes, he took full advantage of all the vices made available to him. I can't say I would have done any different in the same situation. There's no denying his talent, though. And how bad a guy can you be if you ultimately end up settling down in central Ohio after it's all said and done?
Last Edited by on Apr 21, 2009 11:26 PM
|
mr sog
20 posts
Apr 21, 2009
11:49 PM
|
I'd better clarify a couple of things.
I have no opinion either way on him. I've never met him, never likely to. Also, there were 300 or so reviews (supposed to be of the book not the man).
I read about 30 or 40 of the reviews. Not all 300 of them. Some praised him for being open and honest. Some liked it. A lot didn't have much nice to say ay all.
He seems a pretty straight up guy to me. It's just that some of the comments took me by surprise is all. On that point they are just other peoples opinions at that. As dirty harry once said "opinions are like assholes...everybodys got one".
Last Edited by on Apr 22, 2009 12:45 AM
|
sonvolt13
12 posts
Apr 22, 2009
5:28 AM
|
A good thing about Clapton is that he seems to go out of his way to help out the guitarists who have influenced him (Buddy Guy, Hubert Sumlin, etc).
|
Oisin
215 posts
Apr 22, 2009
6:19 AM
|
The only knowledge I have of Eric Clapton is when he was with the Yardbirds. If you listen to "5 Live YardBirds" you can hear these young white guys taking blues music and starting to evolve it into what we now call rock and Clapton is the main man in this evolution. They even played with Sonnyboy on that Album and done a great version of Smokestack Lightining too. I listened to that Album as a teenager and it is probably the most evocative album I've ever listened to...it transports you to a sweaty english club, full of pilled up mods (on speed) in the mid-sixties with some passionate kids trying to emulate their blues heros ....even though the harp playing is not the best you've ever heard, it definetly the most passionate and Claptons guitar playing is sizziling.
Listen to this album and you'll see what I mean.
Oisin
|
Honkin On Bobo
59 posts
Apr 22, 2009
7:33 AM
|
I'm a huge Clapton fan though I came at it a different way. Didn't really care for his early music (with the exception of a few Cream tunes). First started to like him when the Unplugged CD was released (don't really care for electric Layla, LOVE the unplugged version). Absolutely LOVE his Me and Mr. Johnson CD. On an different thread somebody asked "what CD absolutely makes you want to pick up a harp and wail", for me it's that one (nudge, nudge, wink, wink to Oldwailer). Love the guitar fests he puts on every few years..
Read his bio a few months ago. Nothing in it made me feel any different about the man. If you want to stop listening to him because of the drugs, women, brooding/sullen period; you might as well stop listening to most of the blues, rock, rock n' roll, hard rock, punk, Jazz, R&B, Motown et al. May I suggest a nice Jonas Brothers CD.
As for me, I'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints. The sinners are much more fun (sorry Billy).
Buddha's right. None of us really knows the man anyway. I certainly include myself in that statement. Even after 300 pages.
Last Edited by on Apr 22, 2009 7:48 AM
|
dfwdlg
13 posts
Apr 22, 2009
12:25 PM
|
I bought the Clapton book in the airport last year while traveling to my dad's funeral and loved it (of course I started playing guitar in the 70's so Clapton was a big influence). He mentions Little Wlater as one of his all time favorites. I get the feeling it might have been more about Little Walter's singing and delivery than his harp playing though. I get the impression Clapton learned beaucoup from his mistakes and the accidental death of his son.
I'm doing my best to combine guitar and racked harp and Clapton's version of Running on Faith from his unplugged album was one of the first things I put together (even though I think there is no harp on that version).
Only slightly related question for Buddha, did the Stormy Monday video I sent a couple of days ago make it? It was big and may have crashed somewhere along the way.
|
oldwailer
684 posts
Apr 22, 2009
1:58 PM
|
Just another asshole (er, opinion) here--but, saying that you don't care for Clapton is (to me,) like saying you don't care for the blues.
Mr. Clapton might have many faults, but, in my opinion, he is GREAT! He is even greater in the later years, when he started the unplugged stuff--especially "Me and Mr. Johnson."
However, I do understand that all people have the right to their own opinions and music--so, if you disagree with my opinion, you are absolutely free to go back to listening to the crap-rap and bullshit you normally listen to--until you are ready to join me as a true music lover. . . LOL!!!
|
Blind Melon
23 posts
Apr 24, 2009
3:24 PM
|
I am with Oldwailer on this one.
I think Clapton along with Stevie Ray in the '80's had a lot to do with keeping the blues alive for the mainstream music world.
E.C. has been one of my favorite guitarists for a long time and I think one of the best rock guitarists that plays the blues.
I was lucky enough to see him twice, including his "From The Cradle" tour in '94.
There is a DVD called "Nothing But The Blues" that was shown on PBS that is worth checking out.
Just because he had a drinking and drug problem (which artists didn't during that time) doesn't give me enough reason to quit listening him. If we are to judge artists based on this criteria, then we might as well throw away our Muddy Waters and Little Walter CD's, as these gentlemen lived far from perfect lives.
I am amazed at the diversity of the folks here at Modern Blues Harmonica and their tastes in music.
Whether you like Clapton's music or not, it is tough to hear people cut him down.
Maybe if he gave up singing and playing guitar, wore oversized pants so they hanged off his ass and wears his cap on sideways, then he would be more popular with some. It would also mean he is no longer a musician.
Last Edited by on Apr 24, 2009 3:30 PM
|
CarolynViolin
41 posts
Apr 24, 2009
4:14 PM
|
mr sog, Thanks for starting this thread on Clapton! I absolutely adore him!! When I first got into the blues stuff and taught myself how to improvise, I used Clapton's cds. Unplugged, etc. I love everything that he does, and I guess when I play the blues, it's obvious that I am strongly influenced by Clapton. I have to say that he was a very excellent teacher for me - both for playing blues and learning how to improvise. He is incredible! I especially love his cd of Robert Johnson's delta blues stuff!
Carolyn
Last Edited by on Apr 24, 2009 4:14 PM
|
