Eric Clapton: The Great Debate

Eric Clapton. To many he is a hero, and to others, he's "that guy dressed in Armani who's music got boring but apparently everyone loved him".

O.k, so the debate rages on and on. Many of today's younger guitarists (not all of them sadly) appreciate the brilliance (don't argue with me over this) of Page, Hendrix, Young and Slash, as well as many old timers (yes I know Slash is still going strong, but record 1 for him was 1987). However, barely any have heard of Cream or The Yardbirds, two of the most influential bands of all time.

Eric Clapton's mainstream guitar career began with The Yardbirds in 1963. Heavily influenced by great blues players such as B.B. King and Robert Johnson, Clapton quickly began to develop his technique and sound. The Yardbirds, whilst unknown amongst many youngsters, could be described as the most influential rock band ever after maybe Elvis Presly and Chuck Berry. The band eventually became the starting block for the careers of Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page as well as Clapton, and many may know that Led Zeppelins original name in 1968 was The New Yardbirds untill a suggestion was made by The Who's Keith Moon.

Clapton left The Yardbirds after he felt that their musical direction was becoming far too mainstream, steering towards more comercial territory. He left for John Mayall's Bluesbreakers. This move made Clapton respectful, as the Yardbirds were a band going places. However Clapton wished to keep playing the blues which he loved so dearly.

Once he joined The Bluesbreakers, Clapton had firmly established his sound. He played a Gibson Les Paul and became one of the first people to use Marshall Stacks. Along with Pete Townsend and Hendrix, Clapton became one of the pioneers of loud distorted sounds.

Clapton released one album with the Bluesbreakers, but then left again to form Cream in the latter part of 1966. This is where Clapton's career really took off. Already a respected and well know guitarist, Cream became known as the worlds first supergroup, consisting of Clapton on guitar, frontman and multi instrumentalist Jack Bruce, and Ginger Baker, considered by many to be the greatest drummer of the 60's along with Keith Moon and Led Zep's John Bonham.

Just before the first Cream gig, Clapton had his Les Paul stolen and so switched to ES-335's and SG's, along with the Marshalls. Clapton annoyed many studio engineers by putting all his settings up to 10 on his amp, creating the "Woman Tone" most famously found on the classic, "Sunshine Of Your Love". Clapton also pioneered the use of the Wah pedal. Classics such as "White Room" and "Tales Of Brave Ulysees" so this pioneering techinique.

It was during this time that three words were grafitied onto a London wall:

Clapton Is God

Cream's career was short lived due to the constant disagreements between Bruce and Baker, but during this time Clapton had established himself as one of the greatest guitarists in the world. Clapton also developed several relationships with other great guitarists.

Clapton was famously friends with George Harrison, Jeff Beck and Pete Townsend. The Beatles' "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" has the solo played by Clapton, whilsts Harrison played the famous bridge to Cream's "Badge". And then there was Jimi Hendrix.

There is a famous rumour told about what happened outside one of Jimi's first London gigs. Jeff Beck was walking into the club. At the same time, Clapton walked out and made the famous remark, "I think we're in trouble here".

Clapton admired Jimi Hendrix for his skill, creativity and sheer madness, but got angry with him for steeling his "trademark" wah pedal. Thus the two had a love hate relationship up still Hendrix's death in 1970.

After Cream, Clapton's career began to slow down. In 1970 he played in Derek and the Domino's, and wrote "Layla", which some say is the greatest love song of all time, alsthough some thing that Duane Alman actually wrote the famous riff.

Clapton's solo career kept on releasing albums which have included occaisional hits, and his live shows consisted of many Cream songs and Layla. But since 1973 Clapton replaced his Marshall Stacks and Gibson's for "Blackie", his Fender Strat and small Fender combos. Clapton became identified as a bore, and like Paul McCartney, his far from up to scratch solo work overshadowed his hours of genius in the 60's. That being said, Blackie, auctioned last year for charity, became the most expensive guitar ever (forgotton the price sorry).

I said in the description of this article that it would be a summary of the arguements for and against Clapton, but I'll let you decide what arguement's their are out of this history that I have given.

You may have been able to tell that I unlike my fellow school mates, love Clapton's work. I adore Cream and listen to them almost everyday, but please don't take that into acount. Use the comments section to make your own debate and comment on the accuracy of my information.

Comments

[Slashfan#1]

He is still top 20 of all time even though his music is boring know.

[P.B.]

as much as i love Clapton (my fav), he is slowing down. changing his style.

[P.B.]

One thing you for got to mention is that when he was 12 he would go to a blues club and sing for the bands when they would let him. when he was done he would say 'I'm also learning to play guitar'. one of that bands he sang with was 'the Rolling Stones'. I got that from Bill Wyman's book "rolling with the stones'.

[Hosscat]

I appreciate his playing and his contribution to guitar, but Clapton is a pompous sack of sh_it. Eddie Van Halen and Brian May did a little project in the late eighties and recorded a song they titled Bluesbreaker to honor Clapton. In response, Clapton made some comment that neither Eddie nor Brian had the first clue about playing guitar. What a sh_ithead. But then again, most British people are a little uptight.....

[Anachronism]

He didn't use stacks in the Bluesbreakers, he used a small combo, it wasn't until Cream they started using the huge walls of amps. But he was one of the first mainstream guitarists to develope the masrhall/paul combination, and Tales of Brave Ulysses was the first time most people had heard a wah pedal. I think he started to decline when Cream broke up, he just got too worn out by the constant jamming everynight and wanted to move into more commercial territory. I suggest everybody should get a copy of Bluesbreakers too, its great.

[rockinlewis]

clapton is god

[elitetony]

Some spelling mistakes. But good article

[VR05]

clapton is an amazing guitarist and i love his work, but its sad that not many people my age appreciate it.

[Maet]

Odd. You neglect one of claptons best albums (Unplugged) and his more reccent work. How can you form a debate without expressing all angles of his work?

[Metalhead_Jams]

clapton is overrated as a guitarist, thats all i'll say.

[.[trim]]

£320,000 i think...

[Punk Poser]

Did anyone see the George Harrison tribute with Clapton and a bunch of other musicians??
I saw it and by the looks of it, Clapton is still going strong.

[zxZoSoxz]

you really should proofread...
and you shoudl research before you write things, alot of this is wrong or misinformed.
good intentions, but the article needs work.
Cream is awesome, Clapton is god, and Clapton is not a "Pompous sack of shit," he has talent and is much better than Van Halen or May.

[Hosscat]

[zxZoSoxz:.....Clapton is not a "Pompous sack of shit," he has talent and is much better than Van Halen or May.]

I'd say both Clapton and Van Halen can both play the shit out of the guitar and they both influenced music about the same at their respective times. But Clapton is a sack of shit because he couldn't be a gentleman and take a compliment politely.

[metal_fanatic]

How can you mention "pioneers of distorted sound" without mentioning Dick Dale? Many may know him from "Misirlou" (Pulp Fiction theme). He was in fact one of the very first people to ever use an amp to distort sound.

[gmsje]

I have read the current trend of criticism that Clapton has dwelled too long on licks that are now blues cliches. But they are damned good cliches. What excites me most now is that Cream has reunited on stage and Eric can now let loose again. Perhaps it should be noted that going balls out all the time takes a tremendous toll. Think of those who left us way too soon. By regrouping through the decades and surviving a lot of stuff not mentioned in the main story, Clapton is now ready to forge new ground even for him. Finally, his solo career is light years ahead of that walking Muzak machine, Paul McCartney.

[pytolk]

Eric Clapton IS one of the greatest guitarists of all time and people should respect him more.

[falloutboy106]

2 thinks other than them, great and informative article.

1. It wasnt clapton who was walking out of the hendrix gig, it was jeff beck, who say "we're in trouble" to clapton and townshend/

2. you probably should have mentioned how clapton wrote laya to steal george harrison's wife, patty boid, away from him

[Maet]

Hosscat, you are a fool. Clapton is a musical genius. His groundbreaking guitar work for one thing, but his mastery of various classial, blues and rock methods elevates him far beyond others.

Clapton is not just a guitarist, he is a musician, and a damn good one at that.

[shock74]

no omg clapton had lots of great solo work. let it rain, wonderful tonight, etc. not to mention you totally LEFT OUT BLIND FAITH! not a grerat article

[psychodelia]

Clapton is a very good thinking man's guitarist, I am still nowhere near him in terms of knowledge.

Derek and the Dominoes was great, however, I suspect Duane Allman to be the driving force on Layla. I mean, Duane is so damn smooth...

[lmthedarkman]

yea cream are great.

[wanna_lick_me?]

since nobobdy has taken the time to flame the shit out of clapton, I shall take that mantle upon my own warry back. First of all, why should clapton feel pissed off at Hendrix cause he used a wah-wah (if that's even true)?? if music was like that, we'd never go anywhere...Just imagine Leo Fender not letting anybody play his guitars, cause he made em first??!?! wtf....If cream was as influential as you say, then they'd be a bit more famous (lets say like...Led Zeppelin or Hendrix maybe?!?)

However Clapton wished to keep playing the blues which he loved so dearly.

then why in the holy *** did he become such a pussy!?! i'd say 80% of what he plays is not really blues...he tries so hard to be a 'bluesman' sorta like a white Rob Johnson, you guys dig what im saying??

well i could go on and on, but ill spare you. And by the way, i like clapton, but i just don't think he's soo amazing...well, he was ***ing incredible with cream, but that was 'cause Bruce and Baker were there to keep things interesting...

go ahead clapton-lovers flame my ass...

[wanna_lick_me?]

Hosscat, you are a fool. Clapton is a musical genius. His groundbreaking guitar work for one thing, but his mastery of various classial, blues and rock methods elevates him far beyond others.

Clapton is not just a guitarist, he is a musician, and a damn good one at that.

i feel like killing someone veeerry slowly and painfully...

you should go do some research on guys like John Paul Jones and Frank Zappa before you say who a "true musician is"

[wanna_lick_me?]

bwahahaha Maet, you amuse me

[sirpsycho85]

i feel like killing someone veeerry slowly and painfully...

you should go do some research on guys like John Paul Jones and Frank Zappa before you say who a "true musician is"

those guys are great but youve got to be kidding if u dont believe clapton is a true musician. i dont think too much of his solo songwriting, but as a blues guitarist hes great.

[sirpsycho85]

i feel like killing someone veeerry slowly and painfully...

you should go do some research on guys like John Paul Jones and Frank Zappa before you say who a "true musician is"

those guys are great but youve got to be kidding if u dont believe clapton is a true musician. i dont think too much of his solo songwriting, but as a blues guitarist hes great.

[the_who]

I respect Clapton and all but your comment:"The Yardbirds, whilst unknown amongst many youngsters, could be described as the most influential rock band ever after maybe Elvis Presly and Chuck Berry" is flawed. The Beatles were more influential than the yardbirds.

[MayallRules]

Being one of the only artists in history to be inducted into the Rock n Roll hall of fame 3 times says something about Clapton's talent as a muscian.

Clapton is a bluesman, blues has influenced all of his work. All you youngsters out there (Wanna_lick_me) should remove you simple plan CD and try some "Me and Mr. Johnson," Claptons latest.

I saw the man play last year, and he still rocked hard...a man who has shared the stage with SRV, Buddy Guy, Robert Cray, Jeff BEck, B.B King, and so on is alright in my books.

[ledhed68]

wanna_lick_me havent you ever heard his unplugged album. More than half the stuff he plays on that album is blues and only Tears In Heaven, Layla and Signe is his work on that album.

[Maet]

bwahahaha Maet, you amuse me

Someones got ADD then...

[vantage4]

I saw the man play last year, and he still rocked hard...a man who has shared the stage with SRV, Buddy Guy, Robert Cray, Jeff BEck, B.B King, and so on is alright in my books.

imo buddy guy and srv are (or in srv's case, "was") better than clapton, at least nowadays. it's weird, because clapton's newer stuff is consistantly good, but not that good. whatever, he's still a damn good guitarist, maybe he just isn't as likeable. it's a mystery.

[TNfootballfan62]

as much as i love Clapton (my fav), he is slowing down. changing his style.

Changing his style? He plays nothing but the blues these days. That's not changing style, thats going back to your roots.

[allenm]

i find it strange that so many people don't like his solo work. i love it. stuff doesnt have to be heavy to be good, unplugged is a fantastic album and its accoustic.

and just because someone isn't that famous doesnt mean that they're not good. these days i pretty much take a famous band as automatically shit. look at all the ***en popular music today and then tell me a band has to be famous to be influential. a lot of great artists were influenced by cream, even if they're not that famous.

[Rivers]

i think this debate is an uneccesary one, regardless of whether you like his style of music or not there is no doubt that he is a great musician and played an important role in the development of rock and blues in the 20th century

[#1Angusfan]

ERIC CLAPTON IS THE MAN AND THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DEBATE

Angus is also the man, by the way

[[FrozEn]]

Im only 13 years old, and i appreciate eric claton alot more than ANY of the artists we find in music today. Groups like the Yeah Yeah Yeah's and the Killers really have NOTHING on eric clapton. Music these days is terrible, its all rap and hip hop. Music back in eric clapton and led zeppelins era was so much better. Good article by the way.

[AndyGray]

what were u debating? didnt make sence, stevie ray vaughn is one of the best guitarists ever!

[clwy87]

Eric Clapton is an amazing guitar player....end of story...

[dnjoe]

Eric clapton is an awesome blues player, specially soloing in that style. His blues soloing is exceptional but is just not regarded as anything special by most people when compared to the shredding of people like kirk hammet etc.(im usre theres better but Im bad at remembering musicians names). He is also the person to best recreat robert johnsons music ever(exceopt for robert johnson of course) and has dedicated himself to learning that style of music. TBH though thats mainly now cause hes a bit washed up and it was the only thing he could think of doing. Its still exceptional though.

However In my opinion, he only does that one little tiny bit of music well, but from the kind of people you lot are describing thats the tiny bit we're talkign about. there has been much better musicians in history, in classical areas and all other areas. Hes incredibly skilled in blues and his soloing, in my opinion, is the best around.

[prettyduck]

eric clapton is awsome!!! my mom wouldnt let me get a new electric guitar un less i could play layla with out messin up!!!

[elclappitono]

eric clapton locked himself in his castle for a year to become the best guitarist in the world and i think he's amazing. Unplugged? No other album comes close.

[Blues Stringer]

I agree with #1AngusFan:
ONLY ONE INDUCTED INTO ROCK'N'ROLL HALL OF FAME 3 TIMES....ERIC CLAPTON IS THE MAN!!!
SO IS ANGUS!!!
'NUF SAID!

[ferchersan]

Eric clapton was the reason i started playing guitar.

[ferchersan]

Sure other guys can play more notes in a bar , but so what? Sometimes a solo with one bend in it can have a lot more of an impact than a bar of 32nd notes. I love my shred guitarists too, but c'mon man, anybody can learn to play fast with practice, but how do you practice when not to play?

[Seasoninhell]

To the guy who made the comment about Van Halen and Brian May. Uh, to point out the obvious, Brian May is British too, you dolt.

Way to negate your whole argument with racism.

Oh, and Robert Johnson basically started modern popular music; hell he more or less turned blues mainstream, he was blues through and through; you clearly know nothing about blues music, or popular music at all.

[Seasoninhell]

That second part was directed at the guy further down. (I'm too lazy to look for names)

[ferchersan]

Dunno about Eric Clapton "pioneering the use of the Wah-Wah". I thought Frank Zappa used it first (FREAK OUT, 1965- Rock's first double concept album). I read in a book on Hendrix that Jimi was introduced to the Wah by Frank Zappa at the Garrick Theatre in 1965. Clapton then got introduced to it by Hendrix. Clapton can be heard talking throughout various sections of Zappa's 1967 album "We're Only In It For The Money". He is the guy at the beginning of side one saying "Are you hung up?" "Outta site". Zappa told Clapton to pretend he was Eric Burdon (of The Animals) on acid! Clapton gets credited on the album as Eric Clapton- noted philosopher and guitarist with the Cream.

[gmsje]

To psychodelia - I think you are right about the signature Layla lick and Duane Allman. If you listen to the Allman Bros.' song Jessica, you can here the genesis of the Layla lick at 6:11 into the song, toward the end of the extended guitar solos (maybe Dickie Betts influence too?).
Eric Clapton is one of the all time great guitarists, not just for his early work, but also for longevity and his songwriting. If Robert Johnson had played electric blues, he would have sounded alot like Clapton.

[wanna_lick_me?]

yep I do have ADD, a strong case of it, btw. And i do have the Unplugged CD. when i made the blues comment i was refering to all of his stuff...o what the hell people, i like clapton also, i just felt like since the title of this dumbass article refers to a debate, there should be two points of view...and since everyone adores clapton madly, i decided to point out some bad stuff...
now can we all chill out listening to Bob Marley and smoke some weed? yeah, thats more like it.

[Cobainliveson]

What about Derek and the Dominoes?

[vantage4]

damn man, nice job catching that lick from jessica, it does sound like layla. although you never know, it could just be a coincidence.

[Blues Stringer]

To gmsje and psychodelia: duane did not write the riff! it is a chuck berry riff. duane copped it and sped it up, thats all.

[systemrules]

Punk Poser:
Did anyone see the George Harrison tribute with Clapton and a bunch of other musicians??
I saw it and by the looks of it, Clapton is still going strong.

yeah that would have been an amazing show to see live

[proguit933]

usually when u get along in life you slow down, clapton is pretty old i think and he deserves to make whatever music he wants, i guess, i dunno, there have been some good songs recntly, like tears in heaven was a good acousti song, and yeah i saw that george harrison tribute thing too, that was ***ing great

[gmsje]

To Blues Stringer - I'll trust your addition to the genesis of the Layla lick, although I can't think of any riff from Berry that brings it to mind. Can you pinpoint which song or songs have it?
..I'm watching a replay of the Crossroads festival and Clapton didn't appear slowed down, especially playing with Carlos Santana.

[lsw444]

I went off Clapton during the Armani suit phase, hated unplugged because it was so popular, and as a result missed out on From The Cradle until recently. I dont like his stuff with Simon Climie, like Pilgrim and that live CD (mostly) but From the Cradle, the Hyde Park concert and the Mr Johnson CD show that when he sticks to the blues he is still incendiary.
He's great. He's done some dodgy stuff, but he's been recording for 40 years, he's allowed to.
Am really looking forward to his Cream reunion.

[Klown]

And Clapton was(is?!) a racist. He said something about the jobs in england being for the english and not the immigrants or something.

thats what gets the bitter taste in my mouth when someone names clapton.

(this is true, its what started the "rock against racism" thingy that i actually gigged on)

[CharlesMathon]

^^"Clapton is a racist"
How in the hell can you call someone racist for being biased towards people from their own country. Racism is having prejudices against someone of another race/color not nationalities. co cklord. you could be black, asian, arab or spanish and still be english. you retard

[Seasoninhell]

What a load of tosh. Have you never heard people making racist comments using nationalities? Pakistanis for one?

Of course someone who says something like that, not that I'm saying Clapton did, is racist. You can be black and racist against blacks, you can be white and racist against whites. Seriously Charles, get a clue mate!

[craig_thomson]

cream were simply the dogs bollocks (in the good sense, to those who may be unfamiliar with the phrase)

[boothy]

Klown:
And Clapton was(is?!) a racist. He said something about the jobs in england being for the english and not the immigrants or something.

thats what gets the bitter taste in my mouth when someone names clapton.

(this is true, its what started the "rock against racism" thingy that i actually gigged on)

He was VERY drunk. And it's not what started it. Do a search on the forums, theres a long thread about his.

[vantage4]

whether he was drunk or not, it's not hard to quote someone out of context and make them sound bad. there are a lot of people in the U.S. who are pissed that so many jobs are going overseas, but that doesn't make them racist either.

[Roburrell]

Well ok thats all good and well, but writing an artical on Clapton, but forgetting to mention "Blind Faith" in which clapton wrote one of his best riffs "Had to cry today", high up there with "sunshine...." and "layla" EVERYONE CHECK IT OUT...

[100MPH]

I wouldn't exactly call this a "Great Debate". From what I'm hearing about Clapton, he sounds like an asshole. I like his music, well the older stuff, he's a great guitarist, but to me, he's not even close to being the best.

[dr_john]

he's a good guitar player, great timing, but rather predictable. there are many others who are better.

as a person, in all the interviews i've seen/read he comes over as an arrogant twat.

[Garpo]

I recently saw the Cream reunion at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Clapton was back to his best that night I think inspired by the two other great musicians sharing the stage with him. It was a welcome return to form for me as he had been a bit dissapointing the last time I had seen him.
I have seen him now 10 or 12 times and he is certainly one of the all time greats ,in the top 5 of all time unquestionably.

[TimmyEatWorld]

i want eric clapton to be in my band, i think i'll call him up real quick and ask if hes interested.

[FeatherBreeze]

why has noone mentioned that sunshine of your love was written for Mr.Hendrix
am i the only one whose read the "Electric Gypsy" book?
but yeah it was written for jimi, after the guys saw him live they were so "inspired" they wrote the song.

and yeah Clapton Is God!!!!

[BillieJoefan108]

hosscat u arrogant little shit, this worlds problems mainly rest with americas insistence of proclaiming itself the best. oh crap you may try and bomb me now ive said that or shoot me, you may not be american but you possess the same sort of arrogance. for all you americans on here who support george bush, please do the world a favour when you get the urge to bomb something make the target yourselves.

[vantage4]

^chill man. i'm not too fond of bush myself, but if you didn't make yourself into such a hypocrite, people would probably not mind listening to you more.

[TNfootballfan62]

BillieJoefan108:
hosscat u arrogant little shit, this worlds problems mainly rest with americas insistence of proclaiming itself the best. oh crap you may try and bomb me now ive said that or shoot me, you may not be american but you possess the same sort of arrogance. for all you americans on here who support george bush, please do the world a favour when you get the urge to bomb something make the target yourselves.

You're a moron. "this world's problem" lies in idiots like you who like to rant against America and President Bush when you have no idea what you're talking about.

[gmsje]

Yea, but Bush has no idea what he is talking about. Wasn't this thread supposed to be about Eric Clapton? Hendrix performed Sunshine of Your Love. I have on a Hendrix live CD entitled The Jimi Hendrix Experience Live at Winterland.

[gmsje]

Opps, it's not the Live at Winterland CD, it's on a tape a friend made for me. Don't know where he got it from.

[Seasoninhell]

TNfootballfan62; would you require a rather lengthy list of things that America have done? Everything from murder right through to programmes that infringe on the basic human rights of people living in other countries.

It seems that you're the one with no clue. If you don't know what you're talking about, shut the hell up.

[Seasoninhell]

Not that I'm in anyway agreeing with Billiejoefan108, but the majority of infringements of rights extends from American control.

[Wylde]

clapton changing his style just showing that he can do anything... he truely is a complete guitar god... he didnt when you think of eddie van halen you think of tapping and crazy shit like that... when you think of srv you think of crazy ass blues... when you think of slash you think of his signiture tone that cuts through everything else... and so on and so forth... but when you think of clapton nothing specific comes to mind becuase the man has done so many things in his lifetime from classical, to hard rock and roll, blues, love songs, everything he is truely a master

[kmccoy37]

Being one of the only artists in history to be inducted into the Rock n Roll hall of fame 3 times says something about Clapton's talent as a muscian

He is the only person in it three times.

I think he is the greatest musician in history.

[J_Dizzle]

Is Hosscat serious with the "Bluesbreaker To Honor Clapton" thing? I never heard it. Anyway, why would Clapton say Van Halen didn't know shit when Van Halen made ERUPTION?

[J_Dizzle]

Oh never mind, I thought Clapton said that shit FIRST, I wasn't paying attention to the sentence

[sv1684]

bottom line, he is one of the best players to touch the instrument, ever.

[Rock agnst Bush]

Good article but you left out Blind Faith.

[guitar&drumguy]

Clapton is easily one of my favorite guitarists of all time but to like him u gotta appreciate the blues man. He started out doing psychadellic rock and as he got older he slowed down to blues. U can't say hes getting boring because he isn't out there blairinga few power chords like artists today. I mean u can't really say his career is bad because he hasn't had a hit record in awhile I mean look at Hendrix and Zeppelin they obviously for many reasons havent had any recent records but people still worship their music. Clapton has played with the best, grew up in an era with the best, and is one of the best ever.

[Kasmir]

Hes not that great
i know who cream and the yarid birds are
cream was great but after that i dont think he was that good

cream was the best band he has ever played in or with
thats when he showed his skill

the yard birds had 3 guitarst clapton beck and page
3 of the best to ever live

im not saying hes bad but im not kissing his ass
to me jimmy page is a way better player

[Metallica420]

Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Jimi Handrix, Goerge Harrison, Kirk Hammet, BB King, Kerry King, Dave Mustaine(I guess), Angus Young, and John Pitruccie are all Guitar Gods Van Halen can go blow himself he's overrated and his songs suck ass and so is Santana not that we were talkin' about him lol.

Peace

[ak50324]

^^^..add jeff beck,david gilmour,and ritchy blackmore to that BAD list of yours...you obviouly don't know a lot about van halen if you think he is anyhting but very talented and creative...and may I ask WHY you put harrison there?.....anyway clapton is really just the most successfull guitarist EVER...he may not be as talented as many others but he can make a solo so good it doesn't matter if you can't do a tremollo tap...

[Kasmir]

yea santana has the best playing skills out of any classic guitar player

and eddie vh would make you cry if you tryed to out play him

[Kasmir]

The band eventually became the starting block for the careers of Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page as well as Clapton

partly true

but jimmy page was already a famous studio musican playing on who and kink albums

[FretShredder6S]

Actually, Clapton is described by almost everyone who has worked with him as not egotistical in the least, hes described as kind, warm, and friendly (not to mention the fact that in G1 he said that his days with Cream were pretty crappy and that he cant bear to listen to them, if only I could sound that 'crappy'). Now, the first time Clapton used a wah pedal was with Cream playing (either White Room or Tales of Brave Ulysses or Sunshine of Your Love, I forget which came first). The part about his amps came from the John Mayall's Bluesbreakers sessions, apparently Clapton turned his amps all the way up to achieve the 'perfect sound', which upset the studio personell, and Clapton, not wanting to get anyless of a great tone than possible, refused to turn it down. George Harrison was problably one of Eric Claptons closest friends, as a matter of fact, the famous Clapton song 'Layla' was written about one of George Harrisons wives. The naming of Led Zepplin was not a suggeston, when Jimmy Page left the Yardbirds, the Whos drummer made the comment 'they are going to go down like a lead zepplin', when Jimmy Page heard this it was just before they were going to put out their first album, he changed the bands name on the label to 'Led Zepplin', when that album sold (and trust me, it sold, top of the charts almost immediately) that boy there had to eat some crow. Now, Im 16, Ive been listening to Clapton since I was a child, and he is still by far my favorite guitarist. Some of his music may be a little boring, but he just has such heart, its unbelievable the passion that he conveys through his music. And lately (within the past few years) he has moved towards his blues roots more and more, like the Unplugged album, and I love it.

[FretShredder6S]

mean u can't really say his career is bad because he hasn't had a hit record in awhile I mean look at Hendrix and Zeppelin they obviously for many reasons havent had any recent records but people still worship their music. Clapton has played with the best, grew up in an era with the best, and is one of the best ever.

Um..... hendrix is dead, of course he hasnt had an album, lmao.
Sorry, i had to do it

[FretShredder6S]

wanna_lick_me?:
since nobobdy has taken the time to flame the shit out of clapton, I shall take that mantle upon my own warry back. First of all, why should clapton feel pissed off at Hendrix cause he used a wah-wah (if that's even true)?? if music was like that, we'd never go anywhere...Just imagine Leo Fender not letting anybody play his guitars, cause he made em first??!?! wtf....If cream was as influential as you say, then they'd be a bit more famous (lets say like...Led Zeppelin or Hendrix maybe?!?)


However Clapton wished to keep playing the blues which he loved so dearly.



then why in the holy *** did he become such a pussy!?! i'd say 80% of what he plays is not really blues...he tries so hard to be a 'bluesman' sorta like a white Rob Johnson, you guys dig what im saying??

well i could go on and on, but ill spare you. And by the way, i like clapton, but i just don't think he's soo amazing...well, he was ***ing incredible with cream, but that was 'cause Bruce and Baker were there to keep things interesting...

go ahead clapton-lovers flame my ass...

Okay, im not going to flame you, but im going to relay something to you. In the 60's, before Clapton had his big breaks with Cream, he began to hang out with B.B. King (btw, the Riding with the King album is phenominal) One day, while they were jamming, they started talking about what the blues really meant to them (what a cliche), and Eric made a comment about how no one cared about the blues anymore because they all found it outdated and that he only wanted to play the blues (by this he meant of course the blues of Muddy Waters and BB King and Robert Johnson), and BB King looked at him and said the blues isnt a concrete thing, the blues is a feeling, its an expression, and who is to say that you arent playing the blues when you play, anything can be the blues as long as it comes from your heart. After that Clapton exploded into Cream, and Cream WAS the blues, albeit it was a very new and robust form of the blues, but it was the blues dammit.

[gmsje]

Right on Fretshredder65 (sorry, my 60's lingo is showing)! You're firing from the heart. Harrison is in the mix, ak50324, because of his creative use of the "naughty chords," i.e. diminished, and unique combo chords. Look up the chords for Isn't It a Pity here on UG. Also, his use of the slide was innovative and unique as well, just listen to the Cloud Nine album (opps, 60's lingo again). Tom Petty told the naughty chords story in the Concert for George video. Clapton's affection for Harrison and his music (same thing I guess) is now an integral part of Clapton's passion. I glad he rested up a few decades before going back to Cream, or else he would have been gone a long time ago. I just downloaded the chords for Wonderful Tonite, and figured out a bit of his riff for it. Beautiful guitar work. Wish Eddie VH would do a blues CD. He is very fluid. Get back to the roots Eddie!

[oddling8]

Clapton was mad at Hendrix for stealing the wah style, is this correct? If so, that makes Clapton a major cunt. Can't be true, right?

[Seasoninhell]

Fretshredder, only partially right, he actually said they would go down like a lead balloon. Depending on the source, some people say it was Keith Moon, others say it was Pete Entwhistle (sp?)

[poontastic]

I think Eric Clapton is a jackass, and a arrogant noe. He has a ot of technical skill, but is not a powerful songwriter. He has done some great stuff but some of the stuff he has done has tarnished his reputation in my eyes.

[Gilmour_Rocks]

In my eyes, clapton is amazing, who cares if he is arrogant, who cares if he is a bore now, he has done it all, he pioneered the marsahll stack and wah pedal, not many people can claim that as their own, he has worked with many people. Whenyou read top 200 guitar albums or what ever, you'll see Crem Albums, John Mayall and blue breaker albums, Derek and the donimoes, guess what? Clapton was on all of them, I don't think its coincedence.

[Lymbe]

Yeah man, Clapton did it all, all ***in aspiring guitarists dream to do just 1/10 of what he did in his lifetime...

[Kasmir]

(not to mention the fact that in G1 he said that his days with Cream were pretty crappy and that he cant bear to listen to them, if only I could sound that 'crappy')

uhhh.. he just played 3 shows with them in england
it was a big deal didnt you hear about it?

and to every one who says look at hendrix and zeppelin
they have had a album in years

well jimis dead
bonzo died also but zeppelin still are one of the top selling bands of all time for albums not compalation cd or best ok kinda things like the beatles

i think more kids pick up the guitar to learn stair way to heaven then any clapton song

jimmy page is god
clapton is like a nun or something

[yohanand]

clapton is god

[TNfootballfan62]

Great points about the blues, FretShredder. BB King is truly a genious.

[irockoutloud!]

Clapton rocks and to what ive heard lately his music still rocks to! debates over

[prettyduck]

ohh look!!!
()_()
(.,.)
0 0
its a cute little bunny!

[prettyduck]

my dog just farted....it reminds me of GC's music

[Tedrick]

Kasmir:
(not to mention the fact that in G1 he said that his days with Cream were pretty crappy and that he cant bear to listen to them, if only I could sound that 'crappy')


uhhh.. he just played 3 shows with them in england
it was a big deal didnt you hear about it?

and to every one who says look at hendrix and zeppelin
they have had a album in years

well jimis dead
bonzo died also but zeppelin still are one of the top selling bands of all time for albums not compalation cd or best ok kinda things like the beatles

i think more kids pick up the guitar to learn stair way to heaven then any clapton song

jimmy page is god
clapton is like a nun or something
[POSTED: 07 June 2005 - 11:12]|

I totally agree. One of the first songs i learned was *Stairway to Heaven* and i honestly cant think of any Eric Clapton tunes

[kmccoy37]

Ever heard of a little song called Layla, or Tears in Heaven

[gmsje]

Hey, Kasmir and Tedrick - First of all, just saying that more kids learn Stairway to Heaven doesn't make it true. Yes, there is excellent guitar work in that song, and Jimmy Page is an excellent guitarist. What has he done since Zepplin? NOTHING OF NOTE. He blew his wad DECADES AGO. Robert Plant is the one from Zepplin who has continued his creativity up to the present. You don't see Jimmy Page touring with Plant or anyone else now. If you're just going to judge artists by the number of records sold, then Mariah Carey is one of the greatest artists of all time. See where your illogic leads you.

[wanna_lick_me?]

FretShredder6S my friend, i admire you. in all seriousness. Nice comment up there about the blues

[Blues Stringer]

just about every kid in the country who has picked up a guitar has learned how to play stairway to heaven. Lots a guys just learn it to impress girls. You can walk into any music store in the US and 9 out of 10 times there will be some n00b in there plucking out stairway.Learning that song is not that big of an accomplishment. I promised myself i would not play Stairway until i learnd jimmys solo, and i still dont play it often now.When i started i sat down and learned every track (not the solos though, improv is my specialty) from the Clapton Crossroads 4 cd box set. Then i learned some SRV and EVH. Sure Page is great but he never inspired me to pick up a guitar like Clapton did. As soon as i heard Layla i knew playing guitar is what i wanted to do.
To poontastic: not a powerfull song writer? Tears in Heaven? Layla???
To gmsje: i'd have to go research it about the chuck berry riff, I think you misunderstood or i did but no he is great playing Jingo with Santana. EC's solo on Cocaine on the Crossroads dvd is awesome, isnt it!

To FretShredder6S: Two Words: Rock On!

To any who call Eric Arrogant: could you get me his home address so i can write to him? i mean, i am just assuming you know him. I guess that is how you know he is arrogant and all....

[Kasmir]

gmsje:
Hey, Kasmir and Tedrick - First of all, just saying that more kids learn Stairway to Heaven doesn't make it true. Yes, there is excellent guitar work in that song, and Jimmy Page is an excellent guitarist. What has he done since Zepplin? NOTHING OF NOTE. He blew his wad DECADES AGO. Robert Plant is the one from Zepplin who has continued his creativity up to the present. You don't see Jimmy Page touring with Plant or anyone else now. If you're just going to judge artists by the number of records sold, then Mariah Carey is one of the greatest artists of all time. See where your illogic leads you.

page tourd with the balck crowes and still plays benifits and shit

im sorry he dosnt feel that he needs to wite shitty non selling albums like clapton

to blue singer
he didnt even write tears in heaven by him self
witch is sad cuz its a song for his son

all im sayin is he passed his prime in about 1968
page passed his prime in about 94
back in the day page would have smoked clapton in a guitar off

with out a frickin doubt in my mind

[Kasmir]

gmsje:
Hey, Kasmir and Tedrick - First of all, just saying that more kids learn Stairway to Heaven doesn't make it true. Yes, there is excellent guitar work in that song, and Jimmy Page is an excellent guitarist. What has he done since Zepplin? NOTHING OF NOTE. He blew his wad DECADES AGO. Robert Plant is the one from Zepplin who has continued his creativity up to the present. You don't see Jimmy Page touring with Plant or anyone else now. If you're just going to judge artists by the number of records sold, then Mariah Carey is one of the greatest artists of all time. See where your illogic leads you.

also carey is great singer... not song witer but singer

[fu man chu]

posting this on a guitar site was really pointless sure lots of people in my age group got no respect for were there music came from but id have to say just about every body whose ever touched a guitar at least has some respect for the guy and i freaken love just about every thing he's done soft crap included
the covers of robert jhonson he did are amazing

[gmsje]

To Kasmir - Ah, Page toured with The Black Crowes. Their next album is coming out when? When was the last time Page wrote a song, by himself or with someone else? The comment about Clapton's song about his son is so pathetic. You can't make a valid point, so you have to go there. By the way, Clapton's albums do sell. Otherwise, he wouldn't get to make more (unlike The Black Crowes?). I do take your point that Mariah is a great singer. She does write a lot of her stuff though. Remember, I did give Page his due as an excellent guitarist. As much as I like Clapton and Zepplin, nobody touches the ability of Jimi and SRV to carry on endless improvisational, weighty phrasing and modulations, not just mindlessly going back and forth with scales at great speed or repeating a several note riff ad nauseam. Their chords and notes were as vital as inhaling and exhaling. The wealth of great guitarists after them includes Clapton and Page. With all the people listed in this discussion, I would have hoped that someone would have touted David Hidalgo of Los Lobos. His playing is fluid, effortless and jam packed with original sounds.

[Kasmir]

dude the black crowes are goin on tour
page has had solo albums
and he still writes tons of music but he dosnt feel the need to sell it

he dosnt feel the need to put out a most liky bad selling album

and the claptons son comment was fine its true he didnt even write the song alone thats just sad

and hendrix wasnt that good he was the sloppyst guitar player to ever live (HE WAS Innovative )

SRV was a gret guitar player his death was a shame
buthendrix he was just the first to get out there jimmy page and jeff beck were alrday playing more hard core then any one had heard they just wherent getting there names out there at the time

[gmsje]

Kamir - I still disagree about Jimi and the Clapton/son comment, but I'm glad you mentioned Jeff Beck. He doesn't get enough credit. There was a mini guitar off between Beck and Clapton in the first Monty Python charity benefit video, Secret Policeman's Ball. I will grant that Beck needled Eric by mimicing Clapton's riffs at double the speed. Speed ain't everything bro. Nevertheless, Beck is THE pioneer of sonic rock/jazz fusion. I still have Blow by Blow. Jimi used the sloppiness to explore the limits of the electronics. Eric might have needed help to talk about the tragic loss of his son. That's not an easy write.

[Kasmir]

clapton is behind
page,beck,and brian may

hes up there with them in the british blues but not in the top 3 ever

[Metallica420]

Ok I didn't say i could out play Van Halen or Santana and i didn't say they were bad at guitar.What I said was that they are overrated and their music blows man and i put Harrison on there because he could make things sound good man he took simple little things like courds and turned into a great song man and pluss the beatles rock man.But yeah man if you can do that on guitar you're a good guitarist man forinstense Green Day and Nirvana both of em Came/Come up with the simplest songs yet they sound awesome man.Oh and how dare you call my list a bad list man Kirk Hammet!Mike Pitrccie!!Jimi Hendrix MAN!!! WTF all those guys kick so much ass man so *** you, if you think those guitarists are "bad" then you wouldn't know a good guitar player if he smashed you in the face with your own guitar man!
Peace.

[lindex]

Clapton also pioneered the use of the Wah pedal.

Um, no. Check your facts.

[irockoutloud!]

CLAPTON RULES!!!..

[classicrockdude]

eric clapton is awsome thats all i have to say about that

[classicrockdude]

i agree with irockoutloud

[gmsje]

Metallica420 - I appreciate the notice of Harrison's skills. He is a tremendously underrated songwriter. Sinatra once that Something is the best song Lennon and McCartney ever wrote! Have another drink Frank! Harrison's slide sound tones are unique too.

[Kasmir]

Kirk Hammet!Mike Pitrccie!!Jimi Hendrix MAN!!! WTF all those guys kick so much ass man so *** you, if you think those guitarists are "bad" then you wouldn't know a good guitar player if he smashed you in the face with your own guitar man!

yes but santana and eddie are over ratted.....
kirk is over ratted and so is jimi

eddie could out play kirk
and santana is doin a album with his so i would whut the *** up

[classicrockdude]

eric clapton my have simple songs but they sound awsome

[irockoutloud!]

They really do classicrockdude i agree

[classicrockdude]

Kasmir Jimi Hendrix is good but hes not the best

[irockoutloud!]

yea classicrockdude i agree but jimi hendrix sucked on ice.

[irockoutloud!]

another great guitarist classicrockdude is allen colins

[irockoutloud!]

of lynyrd skynyrd of course

[classicrockdude]

theres alot of people that like clapton a whole lot more than people who dont

[classicrockdude]

allen collins is a legend

[irockoutloud!]

allen collins is awsome classicrockdude

[irockoutloud!]

matalica rocks to classicrockdude
they rule

[classicrockdude]

metallica sucks

[classicrockdude]

u cant even spell the name right dumbas#

[Pageismyhero]

alright article, but what's with degrading Paul McCartney, he's only one of the top 5 greatest songwriters ever and his solo stuff with Wings wasn't boring, ever heard Live and Let Die and Junior's Farm

[irockoutloud!]

So they friggin rock!and dont call me a dumbas# you dumbas#

[classicrockdude]

metallica is a bunch of no talents

[irockoutloud!]

yea well your a bunch of no talents you frikkin panzi classicrockdude!

[classicrockdude]

irockoutloud you prob. cant tell your butthole from a hole in the ground

[irockoutloud!]

SO WAT does that got to with this you matalicka hater!

[Kasmir]

allen collins isnt nearly as good as
ricky medlock

[classicrockdude]

you are crap if i knew u i would kick your as# so hard

[irockoutloud!]

yeah right allen collins on free bird, thats some work right there!

[classicrockdude]

i didnt say nething bad about allen u did

[irockoutloud!]

man classic rock dude if i knew u id kick your as# SO HARD kasmir didnt even say anything bad yet

[classicrockdude]

yeah your right i geuss

[irockoutloud!]

thats right classicrockdude you so shovit up your as#

[classicrockdude]

no i said that because i thoght irockoutloud wrote that bout allen collins after he said he was good but it was kasmir

[irockoutloud!]

you a dumbas$

[Kasmir]

dude do you even know whos who?

ricky medlock is the one with the explor
and the long blond hair

collins is the fat slide player

ricky is the better player

[Metallica420]

wow i started an argument i feal kind of honered...Oh and Fuck you Classicrockdude metallica is the best band in the world you asshole irockloud thanx for defending them.
Peace.

[Kasmir]

i dont think they are the best band
but yea there good

kirk is a good guitar player not god like
and lars plays a pretty good 2x time

[Metallica420]

Yeah i wouldn't say many bands suck compared to em or nothin like i love tons of other bands but in my personal opinion Metallica is a team of Gods Hetfield the god of singing Hammet God Guitar Burton God of Bass and Lars well semmi god of Drums and yes that's rite i said Burton he kicks Trujillio's and Newsted's ASS hard but Trujillio is better than Newsted.
Peace

[gmsje]

McCartney's Wings stuff is vapid. His last bout of decent songwriting was his 1st solo album. Since then it's been that Admiral Halsey type ***t. Does do a tight live concert, but only because of the good Beatle songs, not the Wings drivel. Live and Let Die was a total commercial sellout for a mediocre Bond movie. He should listen to Bad Company because he's Living in the Past.

[the_white_bunny]

i saw McCartney's it was great just like seen the beatles man sounded great i love paul

[classicrockdude]

hey Metallica420 kiss my as* i dont like them

[classicrockdude]

allen collin wasnt the slider that was gary rossington im pretty sure allen collins nickname was lightning fingers

[Metallica420]

kiss your ass???why the hell would i want to do that and for that matter why the hell would you want me to do that you're sick my friend.
Peace.

[Southern_Rock13]

You Rock Dude!!!!

[sloehand]

The last word -- Clapton is the most creative guitarist ever. I saw him last summer and I can say that he is getting better with age. He also has a new cd coming out at the end of August. If you like guitar , go see him ,you wont regret it. Clapton has earned the name God for good reason

[TheGuitarWizard]

clapton is NOTHING compared to page
ginger baker is NOTHING compared to bonzo