By: David Schultz

Nobody plays the blues as well as Eric Clapton without experiencing them. Now out in paperback, the blues legend’s autobiography provides a nice bit of insight into his life and the events that have shaped it. Clapton tells his story in an easygoing, direct manner. Anyone looking for a classic rock tell-all or a compendium on the ins-and-outs of Clapton’s music will be sorely disappointed. Given the amount of time he spends on those topics, it’s not a subject that seems to interest him. Rather, Clapton tells a briskly paced story. With the exception of his battle with alcoholism, a subject that occupies a large portion of the tale and incorporates the tragedy of his infant son Conor's death, Clapton doesn’t spend too much time dwelling on any one topic. He dedicates only a handful of pages to The Yardbirds and Cream era and even less to Blind Faith.

Depending on your level of Clapton devotion, the factual nuggets and anecdotes about the origin of the “Slow Hand” nickname, the “Clapton Is God” phenomena, the story behind “Wonderful Tonight” (it wasn’t exactly meant as a love song) and how his wedding to Pattie Boyd nearly reunited The Beatles will have varying affect. In amiably discussing his relationship with Boyd, the inspiration for Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, and its effect on his relationship with George Harrison, he doesn’t guild any lilies but he also doesn’t step into the confessional and bare his soul. Despite the lack of depth, Clapton proves himself an effective storyteller, succinct, honest and to the point

With the exception of the epilogue in which he discusses the bluesmen whose music had a profound influence on his playing and his life, Clapton is about the guitarist’s life apart from his music. In fact, he hardly discusses his playing other than casual mentions that he knows he’s kind of a big deal. While he discusses his influences and mentions some details about the recording sessions, Clapton doesn’t provide a dissertation on his view of rock and roll like Bob Dylan did in Chronicles: Volume 1. Given his surprising preference for being a sideman, his reluctance to gush effusively is very much in character.

As with any classic rock icon, there’s a wide gap between the myths and legends that surround them and the actual facts. Without acknowledging too many of them, Clapton does a fine job debunking many of those wild stories simply by relating the true one. In relating his life’s story, Clapton is unflinching about his own mistakes and how they affected others. It may not be the definitive narrative on the last forty years of rock and roll but it is an extraordinarily fascinating read and make the blues Clapton has played for years that much more genuine.

Labels: Eric Clapton