“I found a pattern in my behavior that had been repeating itself for years, decades even. Bad choices were my specialty, and if something honest and decent came along, I would shun it or run the other way.” With striking intimacy and candor, Eric Clapton tells the story of his eventful and inspiring life in this poignant and honest autobiography. More than a rock star, he is an icon, a living embodiment of the history of rock music. Well known for his reserve in a profession marked by self-promotion, flamboyance, and spin, he now chronicles, for the first time, his remarkable personal and professional journeys. Born illegitimate in 1945 and raised by his grandparents, Eric never knew his father and, until the age of nine, believed his actual mother to be his sister. In his early teens his solace was the guitar, and his incredible talent would make him a cult hero in the clubs of Britain and inspire devoted fans to scrawl “Clapton is God” on the walls of London’s Underground. With the formation of Cream, the world's first supergroup, he became a worldwide superstar, but conflicting personalities tore the band apart within two years. His stints in Blind Faith, in Delaney and Bonnie and Friends, and in Derek and the Dominos were also short-lived but yielded some of the most enduring songs in history, including the classic “Layla.” During the late sixties he played as a guest with Jimi Hendrix and Bob Dylan, as well as the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and longtime friend George Harrison. It was while working with the latter that he fell for George’s wife, Pattie Boyd, a seemingly unrequited love that led him to the depths of despair, self-imposed seclusion, and drug addiction. By the early seventies he had overcome his addiction and released the bestselling album 461 Ocean Boulevard, with its massive hit “I Shot the Sheriff.” He followed that with the platinum album Slowhand, which included “Wonderful Tonight,” the touching love song to Pattie, whom he finally married at the end of 1979. A short time later, however, Eric had replaced heroin with alcohol as his preferred vice, following a pattern of behavior that not only was detrimental to his music but contributed to the eventual breakup of his marriage. In the eighties he would battle and begin his recovery from alcoholism and become a father. But just as his life was coming together, he was struck by a terrible blow: His beloved four-year-old son, Conor, died in a freak accident. At an earlier time Eric might have coped with this tragedy by fleeing into a world of addiction. But now a much stronger man, he took refuge in music, responding with the achingly beautiful “Tears in Heaven.” Clapton is the powerfully written story of a survivor, a man who has achieved the pinnacle of success despite extraordinary demons. It is one of the most compelling memoirs of our time.

Clapton: The Autobiography

Biographies & Memoirs

CLAPTON,ERIC

Arts & Literature

Crown/Archetype

This unique book/CD pack breaks down six Clapton songs into manageable sections to help you learn each by heart, with a special pull-out "Riff Route Maps" section that shows you how to link them all together. It includes chord boxes and symbols linked to the song lyrics, a full demo and backing tracks on the CD, and detailed playing notes for each riff. Songs: Bad Love * Badge * Cocaine * Layla * Strange Brew * Sunshine of Your Love. Also includes lots of photos and quotes from Eric Clapton.

Riff by Riff -- Eric Clapton: Book & CD

Arts & Photography

Shellard, Martin

Music

Alfred Music

Features 14 songs from Clapton's acclaimed Blues release, including: Ain't That Lovin' You Baby * Alberta * Cross Road Blues (Crossroads) * Cryin' * Give Me Strength * Have You Ever Loved a Woman * Kind Hearted Woman Blues * Mean Old World * The Sky Is Crying * Wonderful Tonight * more.

Selections from Eric Clapton - Blues

HAL LEONARD CORPORATION

This guitar workshop is a powerful tool that enables players to learn 8 Clapton classics note-for-note, then jam with live backing tracks from a professional session band on the accompanying CD. Songs include: Bad Love * Cocaine * Cross Road Blues (Crossroads) * Hideaway * Layla * Tears in Heaven * White Room * Wonderful Tonight.

Jam with Eric Clapton

Riffs and solos from 8 classic Clapton songs, including: After Midnight * Cocaine * Forever Man * Lay Down Sally * Motherless Children * Pretending * Running on Faith * Wonderful Tonight. DVD bonus features include a guitar techniques section, jam-along songs, and practice tips. 73 minutes.

Clapton Solo Years

Hal Leonard

A Step-by-Step Breakdown of Guitar Styles and Techniques. Learn the riffs and solos of Eric Clapton's early years with The Yardbirds, John Mayall's Blues Breakers, Cream, Blind Faith, and Derek and the Dominos! Eight classic songs are taught note-for-note: "All Your Love (I Miss Loving)," "Bell Bottom Blues," "Can't Find My Way Home," "Cross Road Blues (Crossroads)," "I Ain't Got You," "Layla," "Sunshine of Your Love," "White Room. Bonus features include: guitar techniques section, jam-along songs, practice tips. 63 minutes.

Clapton Early Years

Learn to play eight of Clapton's best acoustic songs and solos note-for-note with this DVD: Change the World * Circus * Layla * Malted Milk * Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out * Signe * Tears in Heaven * Walkin' Blues. Exclusive DVD features include: guitar techniques section, jam-along songs, and practice tips. 79 minutes.

Clapton Acoustic

Note-for-note transcriptions with tab for 13 songs from Slowhand's 2001 release: Believe in Life * Come Back Baby * Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight * Find Myself * Got You on My Mind * I Ain't Gonna Stand for It * I Want a Little Girl * Modern Girl * Reptile * Second Nature * Son and Sylvia * Superman Inside * Travelin' Light.

Eric Clapton - Reptile

Play guitar and/or sing along with this terrific pack's "sound-alike" CD backing tracks and guitar transcriptions with easy-to-read tab! The CD includes full performance demo tracks as well as backing tracks only for each of the six Slowhand hits included: Change the World * Layla * Lonely Stranger * Old Love * Signe * Tears in Heaven.

Play Acoustic Guitar with Eric Clapton: Six of His Greatest Hits

(Bass Recorded Versions). 12 of his greatest, including: After Midnight * Badge * Cocaine * Crossroads * Forever Man * Have You Ever Loved a Woman * Lay Down Sally * The Sunshine of Your Love * White Room * and more.

The Best of Eric Clapton for Bass

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Books by CLAPTON,ERIC