Eric Clapton essays

Eric Clapton essays Eric Patrick Clapton was born in the small English town of Ripley, Surrey on March 30, 1945. He was the son of Patricia Molly Clapton and Edward Fryer. After Fryer returned from service, Patricia left Eric in the custody of his grandparents, Rose and Jack Clapp. Eric was raised believing that his grandparents were his parents and his mother was his sister. However, the truth was later revealed to Eric by his grandmother. As an adolescent, Clapton fell into Rock n Roll when he watched Jerry Lee Lewis perform on television. Erics love of blues and American R Clapton didnt get his big break until he joined the Yardbirds in 1963. Also in the band were Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck. This is where he got his nickname Slowhand because he would bend his strings so violently that he would break them. The crowd would then do a slowhand clap while he restrung. After a couple of years in the band, he left. And in 1965, he joined John Mayalls Bluesbreakers. Again, not staying long, he left to form Cream with bass player Jack Bruce and drummer Ginger Baker. Cream achieved great success with such classics as White Room and Sunshine of Your Love. After Cream broke up, Clapton joined the bands Blind Faith and John Lennons Plastic Ono Band. After these journeys were said and done, Eric decided to form his own band, Derek and the Dominos. About the same time he formed Derek and the Dominos, Clapton began to fall in love with Pattie Harrison, the wife of his close friend George Harrison. It was Pattie who inspired Eric to write the classic song, Layla. In 1977, Eric released his Slowhand album. It was also ...