Eric Clapton

Eric Patrick Clapton CBE (born March 30, 1945) is a British guitarist and composer. Nicknamed slowhand, Clapton became one of the most respected and influential artists of the rock era, garnering an unprecedented three inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Clapton's musical style underwent multiple changes during his career, but always remained rooted in the blues. Clapton is credited as an innovator in several phases of his career, which included blues-rock (with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and The Yardbirds), hard rock (with Cream), as a sideman, and as a solo artist.

Trivia

• According to Rolling Stone's rankings, Clapton is rivaled among living guitarists only by B.B. King.
• Although many sources give his surname at birth as Clapp, this is incorrect. Though his grandmother's second husband's name was Clapp, his mother's name was Clapton; his grandparents never legally adopted him.
• Eric Clapton is credited on the Dire Straits' Brothers in Arms album due to the fact that he loaned Mark Knopfler one of his guitars for the album.
• Clapton was banned from driving in France and had his British driver license confiscated after being clocked driving at 216 km/h (134mph) in a Porsche 911 Turbo on a French motorway in October 2004.
• Clapton claims to have slept with over 1,000 women. He once ordered a fellow musician to let him have sex with his girlfriend. See The Times profile for more details.
• Minor Planet 4305 is named 4305 Clapton to honor him. It is an asteroid between Mars and Jupiter.
• Once while playing a Cream concert, he suddenly stopped playing, and neither Ginger Baker nor Jack Bruce noticed.
• The soundtrack of Goodfellas contains two of his songs: "Layla" by Derek and the Dominos and "Sunshine of Your Love" by Cream. Both of these songs have very distinct and almost immedately recognizable guitar riffs.
• Clapton performed at The Band's farewell show, which is chronicled in The Last Waltz, a film by Martin Scorcese. While performing the beginning of "Further On Up the Road," his guitar strap came undone. To cover for him while he fixed it, Robbie Robertson improvised a guitar solo.
• Before the formation of Cream in 1966, Clapton was all but unknown in the United States. He left The Yardbirds before "For Your Love" hit the American Top Ten.
• Upon his return to England after recording Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, he was supporting a £1,000-per-week heroin addiction.