View source for Eric Clapton

{{Short description|English musician (born 1945)}}
{{About|the musician|his album|Eric Clapton (album) {{!}} ''Eric Clapton'' (album)}}
{{pp-semi-indef}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Eric Clapton
| honorific_suffix   = {{post-nominals|size=100%|country=GBR|CBE}}
| image              = Eric Clapton - Royal Albert Hall - Wednesday 24th May 2017 EricClaptonRAH240517-30 (34987232355) (cropped).jpg
| caption            = Clapton performing at the [[Royal Albert Hall]] in 2017
| birth_name         = Eric Patrick Clapton
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|1945|3|30|df=y}}
| birth_place        = [[Ripley, Surrey]], England
| occupation         = {{flatlist|
* Musician
* singer
* songwriter
}}
| years_active       = 1962–present
| spouse             = {{plainlist|
* {{marriage|[[Pattie Boyd]]|1979|1989|end=div.}}<ref>{{cite book|last1=Womack|first1=Kenneth|title=The Beatles Encyclopedia: Everything Fab Four [2 volumes]: Everything Fab Four|date=2014|publisher=ABC-CLIO|page=158|quote= The couple were formally divorced in 1989.}}</ref>
* {{marriage|Melia McEnery|2002}}
}}
| children           = 5
| module             = {{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Musicians -->
| embed = yes
| background = solo_singer
| genre = {{flatlist|
* [[Rock music|Rock]]
* [[blues]]
}}
| instrument = {{flatlist|
* Guitar
* vocals
}}
| label = {{flatlist|
* [[Polydor]]
* [[Atco Records|Atco]]
* [[RSO Records|RSO]]
* [[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]]
* [[Duck Records|Duck]]
* [[Reprise Records|Reprise]]
* [[Surfdog]]
}}
| past_member_of = {{flatlist|
* [[The Yardbirds]]
* [[John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers]]
* [[Cream (band)|Cream]]
* [[The Dirty Mac]]
* [[Plastic Ono Band]]
* [[Blind Faith]]
* [[Delaney & Bonnie]]
* [[Derek and the Dominos]]
}}
}}
| website            = {{URL|ericclapton.com}}
| signature          = Eric Clapton sig.svg
}}

'''Eric Patrick Clapton''' (born {{nowrap|30 March}} 1945) is an English [[Rock music|rock]] and [[blues]] guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He is regarded as one of the most successful and influential guitarists in rock music.<ref name="AST">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-greatest-artists-of-all-time-19691231/eric-clapton-19691231 |title=55 – Eric Clapton |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |access-date=11 November 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120718095057/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-greatest-artists-of-all-time-19691231/eric-clapton-19691231 |archive-date=18 July 2012}}</ref> Clapton ranked second in ''[[Rolling Stone]]''{{'}}s list of the "[[Top 100 Greatest Guitar Players of all Time|100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time]]"<ref name="RS" /> and fourth in [[Gibson (guitar company)|Gibson]]{{'}}s "Top 50 Guitarists of All Time".<ref name="Gibson" /> He was named number five in ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine's list of "The 10 Best Electric Guitar Players" in 2009.<ref name="Tyrangiel-Time2009-08-14">{{cite magazine | last = Tyrangiel | first = Josh | title = The 10 Greatest Electric Guitar Players | date = 14 August 2009 | magazine = Time | url = https://content.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1916544_1921860,00.html | access-date = 26 April 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130918082452/http://content.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1916544_1921860,00.html | archive-date = 18 September 2013 | url-status = live }}</ref>

After playing in a number of different local bands, Clapton joined [[the Yardbirds]] from 1963 to 1965, and [[John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers]] from 1965 to 1966. After leaving Mayall, he formed the [[power trio]] [[Cream (band)|Cream]] with drummer [[Ginger Baker]] and bassist/vocalist [[Jack Bruce]], in which Clapton played sustained blues improvisations and "arty, blues-based [[psychedelic pop]]".<ref name="Rock Hall"/> After four successful albums, Cream broke up in November 1968. Clapton then formed the [[blues rock]] band [[Blind Faith]] with Baker, [[Steve Winwood]], and [[Ric Grech]], recording [[Blind Faith (Blind Faith album)|one album]] and performing on one tour before they broke up. Clapton then toured with [[Delaney & Bonnie]] and recorded his [[Eric Clapton (album)|first solo album]] in 1970, before forming [[Derek and the Dominos]] with [[Bobby Whitlock]], [[Carl Radle]] and [[Jim Gordon (musician)|Jim Gordon]]. Like Blind Faith, the band only lasted one album, ''[[Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs]]'', which includes "[[Layla]]", one of Clapton's [[signature songs]].

Clapton continued to record a number of successful solo albums and songs over the next several decades, including a 1974 cover of [[Bob Marley]]'s "[[I Shot the Sheriff]]" (which helped reggae reach a mass market),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rockhall.com/inductees/eric-clapton|title=Inductee: Eric Clapton|publisher=Rockhall.com|access-date=22 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141012231539/http://www.rockhall.com/inductees/eric-clapton/|archive-date=12 October 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> the [[Country music|country]]-infused ''[[Slowhand]]'' album (1977) and the pop rock of 1986's ''[[August (album)|August]]''. Following the death of his son Conor in 1991, Clapton's grief was expressed in the song "[[Tears in Heaven]]", which peaked at number two on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] and appeared on his ''[[Unplugged (Eric Clapton album)|Unplugged]]'' album. In 1996 he had another top-40 hit with the R&B crossover "[[Change the World]]". In 1998, he released the Grammy award-winning "[[My Father's Eyes (song)|My Father's Eyes]]". Since 1999, he has recorded a number of traditional blues and blues rock albums and hosted the periodic [[Crossroads Guitar Festival]]. His latest studio album, [[Meanwhile (Eric Clapton album)|''Meanwhile'']], was released in 2024.

Clapton has received 18 [[Grammy Award]]s as well as the [[Brit Award]] for Outstanding Contribution to Music.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/eric-clapton-p64692/charts-awards/grammy-awards|title=Eric Clapton, All Music: Grammy Awards|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=22 September 2014|archive-date=10 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810043620/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/eric-clapton-mn0000187478|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=Brits/> In 2004, he was awarded a [[CBE]] for services to music.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1475787/Ex-rebel-Clapton-receives-his-CBE.html|title=Ex-rebel Clapton receives his CBE|date=4 November 2004|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=22 September 2014|location=London|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205052136/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1475787/Ex-rebel-Clapton-receives-his-CBE.html|archive-date=5 December 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> He has received four [[Ivor Novello Awards]] from the [[British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors]], including the Lifetime Achievement Award. He is the only [[List of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees#Multiple inductees|three-time inductee]] to the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]]: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of the Yardbirds and of Cream. In his solo career, he has sold 100 million records worldwide, making him one of the [[List of best-selling music artists|best-selling musicians of all time]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/entertainment/music/guitar-great-eric-clapton-returns-to-las-vegas-1846914/|title=Guitar great Eric Clapton returns to Las Vegas|first=Jason|last=Bracelin|newspaper=[[Las Vegas Review-Journal]]|date=12 September 2019|access-date=12 September 2019|archive-date=26 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191226103646/https://www.reviewjournal.com/entertainment/music/guitar-great-eric-clapton-returns-to-las-vegas-1846914/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1998, Clapton, a recovering alcoholic and [[drug addict]], founded the [[Crossroads Centre]] on [[Antigua]], a medical facility for those recovering from substance abuse.<ref name=":1">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/eric-clapton/biography|title=Eric Clapton Biography|last=Kemp|first=Mark|year=2001|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=23 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110919145624/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/eric-clapton/biography|archive-date=19 September 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Early life==
Clapton was born on 30 March 1945 in [[Ripley, Surrey]], England, to 16-year-old Patricia Molly Clapton (1929–1999) and Edward Walter Fryer (1920–1985), a 25-year-old soldier from [[Montreal]], Quebec.<ref>Harry Shapiro (1992) ''Eric Clapton: Lost in the Blues'' pg. 29. Guinness, 1992</ref> Fryer was drafted to war before Clapton's birth and then returned to Canada. Clapton grew up believing that his grandmother, Rose, and her second husband, Jack Clapp, Patricia's stepfather, were his parents, and that his mother was actually his older sister. The similarity in surnames gave rise to the erroneous belief that Clapton's real surname is Clapp (Reginald Cecil Clapton was the name of Rose's first husband, Eric Clapton's maternal grandfather).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna21196319|title=Ladies and gentlemen, Eric Clapton|work=TODAY.com|date=8 October 2007 |access-date=22 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121003191356/http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/21196319/ns/today-books/|archive-date=3 October 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> Years later, his mother married another Canadian soldier and moved to Germany,<ref name=CND>{{cite book|author=Vinita|title=Profiles in Popular Music|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=obs89cWwqZoC&pg=PA71|year=2005|publisher=Sura Books|isbn=978-81-7478-638-8|page=71|access-date=30 August 2016|archive-date=10 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810043552/https://books.google.com/books?id=obs89cWwqZoC&pg=PA71|url-status=live}}</ref> leaving Eric with his grandparents in Surrey.<ref name=GUI/>

Clapton received an acoustic [[Hoyer Guitars|Hoyer guitar]], made in Germany, for his thirteenth birthday, but the inexpensive steel-stringed instrument was difficult to play and he briefly lost interest.<ref name="GUI">{{Cite book |last=Gulla |first=Bob |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DL3I9qQWdeAC&q=eric+clapton+hoyer&pg=PA40 |title=Guitar Gods: The 25 Players Who Made Rock History |date=2009 |publisher=Bloomsbury Academic |isbn=978-0-313-35806-7 |pages=40-41 |language=en}}</ref> Two years later he picked it up again and started playing consistently.<ref name=GUI/> He was influenced by [[blues music]] from an early age, and practised long hours learning the [[chord (music)|chords]] of blues music by playing along to the records.<ref name=clap/> He preserved his practice sessions using his portable [[Grundig]] reel-to-reel tape recorder, listening to them over and over until he was satisfied.<ref name=clap>Clapton, Eric (2007) ''Eric Clapton: The Autobiography'', pg. 22. Century, 2007</ref><ref name=thomp/>

In 1961, after leaving [[Hollyfield School]] in [[Surbiton]], he studied at the [[Kingston College of Art]] but was expelled at the end of the academic year because his focus had remained on music rather than art. His guitar playing was sufficiently advanced that, by the age of 16, he was getting noticed.<ref name=thomp/> Around this time, he began [[busking]] around [[Kingston upon Thames|Kingston]], [[Richmond, London|Richmond]], and the [[West End of London|West End]].<ref>Welch, Chris (1994) [http://www.cream2005.com/theband_ericclapton.lasso Extract] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120918215814/http://www.cream2005.com/theband_ericclapton.lasso |date=18 September 2012 }}</ref>
In 1962, he started performing as a duo with fellow blues enthusiast [[Dave Brock]] in pubs around Surrey.<ref name=thomp>{{cite book |last=Thompson |first=Dave |date=2006 |title=Cream: How Eric Clapton Took the World by Storm |location=London |publisher=Virgin Books |pages=31–32 |author-link=Dave Thompson (author)}}</ref> When he was 17, he joined his first band, an early British [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]] group, the Roosters, whose other guitarist was [[Tom McGuinness (musician)|Tom McGuinness]]. He stayed with them from January until August 1963.<ref name=":1"/> In October of that year, he performed a seven-gig stint with [[Brian Cassar|Casey Jones and the Engineers]].<ref name=":1" />

== Career ==
=== The Yardbirds and the Bluesbreakers ===
{{Main|The Yardbirds|John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers}}
[[File:The Yardbirds on ad 1965.jpg|thumb|Clapton (second from left) with The Yardbirds in 1965.]]
In October 1963, Clapton joined the Yardbirds, a [[British rhythm and blues|rhythm and blues]] band, and stayed with them until March 1965. Synthesising influences from [[Chicago blues]] and leading blues guitarists such as [[Buddy Guy]], [[Freddie King]], and [[B.B. King]], Clapton forged a distinctive style and rapidly became one of the most talked-about guitarists in the British music scene.<ref name="unuhsh">Romanowski, Patricia (2003)</ref> The band initially played [[Chess Records|Chess]]/[[Checker Records|Checker]]/[[Vee-Jay]] blues numbers and began to attract a large [[cult following]] when they took over [[the Rolling Stones]]' residency at the [[Crawdaddy Club]] in [[Richmond, London|Richmond]], London. They toured England with American bluesman [[Sonny Boy Williamson II]]; a joint LP album, recorded in December 1963, was issued in 1965.

[[File:Royal Albert Hall.001 - London.JPG|thumb|left|upright=1.1|Clapton has appeared at the [[Royal Albert Hall]] in London over 200 times since his first appearance there in 1964..<ref name="Royal Albert Hall">{{cite news|title=Exclusive pictures: Eric Clapton hits 200 Royal Albert Hall shows|url=http://www.royalalberthall.com/about-the-hall/news/2015/may/exclusive-pictures-eric-clapton-hits-200-royal-albert-hall-shows/|issue=24 May 2015|publisher=Royal Albert Hall.com|date=12 July 2015|access-date=12 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150909172857/http://www.royalalberthall.com/about-the-hall/news/2015/may/exclusive-pictures-eric-clapton-hits-200-royal-albert-hall-shows/|archive-date=9 September 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>]]

Yardbirds' rhythm guitarist, [[Chris Dreja]], recalled that whenever Clapton broke a guitar string during a concert, he would stay on stage and replace it. The English audiences would wait out the delay by doing what is called a "slow handclap". Clapton's nickname of "Slowhand" came from [[Giorgio Gomelsky]], a pun on the slow handclapping that ensued when Clapton stopped playing while he replaced a string.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Welch|first1=Chris|title=Clapton|publisher=Voyageur Press|page=38}}</ref> In December 1964, Clapton made his first appearance at the [[Royal Albert Hall]] in London, with the Yardbirds.<ref name="Royal Albert Hall"/> Since then, Clapton has performed at the Hall over 200 times, and has stated that performing at the venue is like "playing in my front room".<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/eric-clapton-starts-royal-albert-hall-run-with-classics-and-covers-20090518|title=Eric Clapton Starts Royal Albert Hall Run With Classics and Covers|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=18 May 2009|access-date=22 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180109235404/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/eric-clapton-starts-royal-albert-hall-run-with-classics-and-covers-20090518#ixzz2HFkFECoM|archive-date=9 January 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://life.royalalberthall.com/2012/09/eric-clapton-celebrates-50-years-as-a-professional-musician/ |title=Eric Clapton celebrates 50 years as a professional musician |publisher=Life.royalalberthall.com |access-date=22 September 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131010062802/http://life.royalalberthall.com/2012/09/eric-clapton-celebrates-50-years-as-a-professional-musician/ |archive-date=10 October 2013 }}</ref>

In March 1965, Clapton and the Yardbirds had their first major hit, "[[For Your Love]]", written by songwriter [[Graham Gouldman]], who also wrote hit songs for [[Herman's Hermits]] and [[the Hollies]] (and later achieved success of his own as a member of [[10cc]]). In part because of its success, the Yardbirds elected to move toward a pop-orientated sound, much to the annoyance of Clapton, who was devoted to the blues and not commercial success. He left the Yardbirds on the day that "For Your Love" went public, a move that left the band without its lead guitarist and most accomplished member. Clapton suggested fellow guitarist [[Jimmy Page]] as his replacement, but Page declined out of loyalty to Clapton,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iem.ac.ru/zeppelin/docs/interviews/page_77.trp |title=Trouser Press : Jimmy Page interview transcript |publisher=Iem.ac.ru |access-date=17 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110820054853/http://www.iem.ac.ru/zeppelin/docs/interviews/page_77.trp |archive-date=20 August 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> putting [[Jeff Beck]] forward.<ref name="unuhsh"/> Beck and Page played together in the Yardbirds for a while, but Beck, Page, and Clapton were never in the group together. They first appeared together in 1983 on the 12-date benefit tour for Action for Research into [[multiple sclerosis]] with the first date on 23 September at the Royal Albert Hall.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Greene |first=Andy |date=16 January 2017 |title=Jeff Beck Opens Up About Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Gigs with Clapton Jeff Beck Group Reunion Prospects |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/01/16/jeff-beck-opens-up-about-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-gigs-with-clapton-jeff-beck-group-reunion-prospects/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090719164046/http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/01/16/jeff-beck-opens-up-about-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-gigs-with-clapton-jeff-beck-group-reunion-prospects/ |archive-date=19 July 2009 |access-date=5 December 2017 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]}}</ref>

Clapton joined [[John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers]] in April 1965, only to quit a few months later. In June, Clapton was invited to jam with Jimmy Page, recording a number of tracks that were retroactively credited to [[All-Stars (band)|The Immediate All-Stars]]. In the summer of 1965 he left for Greece with a band called the Glands, which included his old friend Ben Palmer on piano. After a car crash that killed the bassist and injured the guitarist of the Greek band the Juniors, on 17 October 1965 the surviving members played memorial shows in which Clapton played with the band.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.mixanitouxronou.com.cy/stiles/rok-istories/to-kalokeri-pou-o-erik-klapton-epexe-rok-stin-athina-itan-apentaros-ke-antikatestise-ton-kitharista-sto-elliniko-sigkrotima-juniors-to-sigkrotima-iche-apodekatisti-prin-apo-liges-meres-se-ena-t/|title = Το καλοκαίρι που ο Έρικ Κλάπτον έπαιξε ροκ στην Αθήνα. Ήταν απένταρος και αντικατέστησε τον κιθαρίστα στο ελληνικό συγκρότημα "Juniors". Το συγκρότημα είχε αποδεκατιστεί πριν από λίγες μέρες σε ένα τρομερό τροχαίο (βίντεο)|date = 30 March 2015|access-date = 5 April 2021|archive-date = 16 August 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210816163727/https://www.mixanitouxronou.com.cy/stiles/rok-istories/to-kalokeri-pou-o-erik-klapton-epexe-rok-stin-athina-itan-apentaros-ke-antikatestise-ton-kitharista-sto-elliniko-sigkrotima-juniors-to-sigkrotima-iche-apodekatisti-prin-apo-liges-meres-se-ena-t/|url-status = live}}</ref> In October 1965 he rejoined John Mayall. In March 1966, while still a member of the Bluesbreakers, Clapton briefly collaborated on a [[side project]] with [[Jack Bruce]] and [[Steve Winwood]] among others, recording only a few tracks under the name [[Eric Clapton and the Powerhouse]]. During his second Bluesbreakers stint, Clapton gained a reputation as the best blues guitarist on the club circuit. Although Clapton gained fame for playing on the influential album, ''[[Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton|Blues Breakers – John Mayall – With Eric Clapton]]'', this album was not released until he had left the band for the last time in July 1966. The album itself is often called ''The Beano Album'' by fans because of its cover photograph showing Clapton reading the British children's comic ''[[The Beano]]''.<ref>Clapton, Eric (2007). Clapton: The Autobiography. New York City: Broadway Books. pp. 72, 73</ref>

Having swapped his [[Fender Telecaster]] and [[Vox AC30]] amplifier for a 1960 [[Gibson Les Paul Standard]] guitar and [[Marshall amplifier]], Clapton's sound and playing inspired the famous slogan "[[Clapton is God]]", spray-painted by an unknown admirer on a wall in [[London Borough of Islington|Islington]], North London in 1967.<ref>{{cite news| first= Neil| last= McCormick| title= Just how good is Eric Clapton?| date= 24 July 2015| work= The Telegraph| location= London| url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandpopfeatures/11501274/Just-how-good-is-Eric-Clapton.html| access-date= 3 April 2018| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20171124071909/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandpopfeatures/11501274/Just-how-good-is-Eric-Clapton.html| archive-date= 24 November 2017| url-status= live}}</ref> The [[graffiti|graffito]] was captured in a now-famous photograph, in which a dog is urinating on the wall. Clapton is reported to have been embarrassed by the slogan, saying in his ''[[The South Bank Show]]'' profile in 1987, "I never accepted that I was the greatest guitar player in the world. I always ''wanted'' to be the greatest guitar player in the world, but that's an ideal, and I accept it as an ideal".<ref>Clapton Documentary (1987). ''South Bank Show''. ITV.</ref>

===Cream===
{{Main|Cream (band)}}
[[File:Cream Clapton Bruce Baker 1960s.jpg|thumb|Clapton (right) as a member of Cream]]
Clapton left the Bluesbreakers in July 1966 (replaced by [[Peter Green (musician)|Peter Green]]) and was invited by drummer [[Ginger Baker]] to play in his newly formed band [[Cream (band)|Cream]], one of the earliest [[Supergroup (bands)|supergroups]], with [[Jack Bruce]] on bass (Bruce was previously of the Bluesbreakers, the [[Graham Bond Organisation]] and [[Manfred Mann]]).<ref>{{Pop Chronicles|53}}</ref> Before the formation of Cream, Clapton was not well known in the United States; he left [[the Yardbirds]] before "For Your Love" hit the US top ten, and had yet to perform there.<ref>{{cite web |last=Unterberger |first=Richie |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/p3983 |title=Cream |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=22 August 2010 |archive-date=29 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101029043512/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p3983 |url-status=live }}</ref> During his time with Cream, Clapton began to develop as a singer, songwriter and guitarist, though Bruce took most of the lead vocals and wrote the majority of the material with lyricist [[Pete Brown]].<ref name="unuhsh"/> Cream's first gig was an unofficial performance at the [[Twisted Wheel Club]] in Manchester on {{nowrap|29 July}} 1966 before their full debut two nights later at the [[National Jazz and Blues Festival]] in [[Windsor, Berkshire|Windsor]]. Cream established its enduring legend with the high-volume blues jamming and extended solos of their live shows.

By early 1967, fans of the emerging blues-rock sound in the UK had begun to portray Clapton as Britain's top guitarist; however, he found himself rivalled by the emergence of [[Jimi Hendrix]], an [[acid rock]]-infused guitarist who used wailing [[Audio feedback|feedback]] and [[effects pedals]] to create new sounds for the instrument.<ref name="Jam"/> Hendrix attended a performance of the newly formed Cream at the [[University of Westminster|Central London Polytechnic]] on {{nowrap|1 October}} 1966, during which he sat in on a double-timed version of "[[Killing Floor (Howlin' Wolf song)|Killing Floor]]".<ref name="Jam">{{cite news|title=Hendrix jams with Cream|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/sevenages/events/blues-based-rock/hendrix-jams-with-cream/|publisher=BBC|date=24 April 2016|access-date=13 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171220045148/http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/sevenages/events/blues-based-rock/hendrix-jams-with-cream/|archive-date=20 December 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Top UK stars, including Clapton, [[Pete Townshend]] and members of [[the Rolling Stones]] and [[the Beatles]], avidly attended Hendrix's early club performances. Hendrix's arrival had an immediate and major effect on the next phase of Clapton's career.<ref>Shadwick, Keith (2003). Jimi Hendrix: Musician. P. 84. Backbeat Books</ref>
[[File:The Fool guitar (replica).jpg|thumb|upright=.65|Clapton's [[The Fool (guitar)|The Fool guitar]] (replica shown), with its bright artwork and famous "woman tone", was symbolic of the 1960s psychedelic rock era.]]
Clapton first visited the United States while touring with Cream. In March 1967, Cream performed a nine-show stand at the RKO Theater in New York. Clapton's 1964 painted [[Gibson SG]] guitar – [[The Fool (guitar)|The Fool]] – a "psychedelic fantasy", according to Clapton,<ref>{{cite book|last=Welch|first=Chris|title=Clapton: The Ultimate Illustrated History|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M-BMCFL_c3AC&pg=PA87|access-date=2 January 2012|year=2011|publisher=Voyageur|isbn=978-0-7603-4046-2|page=87}}</ref> made its debut at the RKO Theater. Clapton used the guitar for most of Cream's recordings after ''[[Fresh Cream]]'', particularly on ''[[Disraeli Gears]]'', until the band broke up in 1968.<ref name="fool">{{cite news|title=Clapton's Fool: History's Greatest Guitar?|last=Oxman|first=J. Craig|date=December 2011|work=[[Vintage Guitar (magazine)|Vintage Guitar]]|pages=62–66}}</ref> One of the world's best-known guitars, it symbolises the [[Psychedelia|psychedelic era]].<ref name="fool"/> They recorded ''Disraeli Gears'' in New York from 11 to 15 May 1967. Cream's repertoire varied from hard rock ("[[I Feel Free]]") to lengthy blues-based instrumental jams ("[[Spoonful]]"). ''Disraeli Gears'' contained Clapton's searing guitar lines, Bruce's soaring vocals and prominent, fluid bass playing, and Baker's powerful, polyrhythmic jazz-influenced drumming. Together, Cream's talents secured them as an influential [[power trio]]. Clapton's voice can be heard on [[Frank Zappa]]'s album ''[[We're Only in It for the Money]]'', on the tracks "[[Are You Hung Up?]]" and "Nasal Retentive Calliope Music".

In 28 months, Cream had become a commercial success, selling millions of records and playing throughout the US and Europe. They redefined the instrumentalist's role in rock and were one of the first blues-rock bands to emphasise musical virtuosity and lengthy jazz-style improvisation sessions. Their US hit singles include "[[Sunshine of Your Love]]" (No. 5, 1968), "[[White Room]]" (No. 6, 1968) and "[[Cross Road Blues|Crossroads]]" (No. 28, 1969) – a live version of [[Robert Johnson]]'s "Cross Road Blues". Though Cream were hailed as one of the greatest groups of its day, and the adulation of Clapton as a guitar legend reached new heights, the [[supergroup (music)|supergroup]] was short-lived. Drug and alcohol use escalated tension between the three members, and conflicts between Bruce and Baker eventually led to Cream's demise. A strongly critical ''Rolling Stone'' review of a concert of the group's second headlining US tour was another significant factor in the trio's demise, and it affected Clapton profoundly.<ref>Welch, Chris: "Cream" (2000), page 131</ref> Clapton has also credited ''[[Music from Big Pink]]'', the debut album of [[The Band]], and its revolutionary [[Americana (music)|Americana]] sound as influencing his decision to leave Cream.<ref>Runtagh, J. (1 July 2018) {{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/the-bands-music-from-big-pink-10-things-you-didnt-know-666161/|title=The Band's 'Music From Big Pink': 10 Things You Didn't Know|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|access-date=15 April 2020}}</ref><ref>Erlewine, S.T. (1 September 2018) {{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/the-band-music-from-big-pink/|title=Music from Big Pink|publisher=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|access-date=15 April 2020|archive-date=20 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200220225710/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/the-band-music-from-big-pink/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Cream's farewell album, ''[[Goodbye (Cream album)|Goodbye]]'', comprising live performances recorded at [[The Forum (Inglewood, California)|The Forum]], Los Angeles, on {{nowrap|19 October}} 1968, was released shortly after Cream disbanded. It also spawned the studio single "[[Badge (song)|Badge]]", co-written by Clapton and [[George Harrison]] (Clapton had met and become close friends with Harrison after the Beatles shared a bill with the Clapton-era Yardbirds at the [[London Palladium]]). In 1968, Clapton played the lead guitar solo on Harrison's "[[While My Guitar Gently Weeps]]", from the Beatles' [[The Beatles (album)|self-titled double album]] (also known as the "White Album"). Harrison's debut solo album, ''[[Wonderwall Music]]'' (1968), became the first of many Harrison solo records to include Clapton on guitar. Clapton went largely uncredited for his contributions to Harrison's albums due to contractual restraints, and Harrison was credited as "L'Angelo Misterioso" for his contributions to the song "Badge" on ''Goodbye''. The pair often played live together as each other's guest. A year after Harrison's death in 2001, Clapton was musical director for the [[Concert for George]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/3138096.stm|title=Ex-Beatles at Harrison film tribute|publisher=BBC|access-date=22 September 2014|date=25 September 2003|archive-date=25 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200825230635/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3138096.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>

In January 1969, when the Beatles were recording and filming what became ''[[Let It Be (1970 film)|Let It Be]]'', tensions became so acute that Harrison quit the group for several days, prompting [[John Lennon]] to suggest they complete the project with Clapton if Harrison did not return.<ref>Elliot J. Huntley (2004). ''Mystical One: George Harrison – After the Break-up of the Beatles''. p. 25. Guernica Editions, 2004.</ref> [[Michael Lindsay-Hogg]], television director of the recording sessions for ''Let It Be'', later recalled: "I was there when John mentioned Clapton – but that wasn't going to happen. Would Eric have become a Beatle? No. Paul [McCartney] didn't want to go there. He didn't want them to break up. Then George came back."<ref>{{cite magazine|title=That Time Eric Clapton Almost Became a Beatle|url=http://www.esquire.com/entertainment/news/a39896/beatles-eric-clapton-last-days/|magazine=Esquire|date=23 April 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160426004245/http://www.esquire.com/entertainment/news/a39896/beatles-eric-clapton-last-days/|archive-date=26 April 2016}}</ref> Clapton was on good terms with all four of the Beatles; in December 1968 he had played with Lennon at ''[[The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus]]'' as part of the one-off group [[the Dirty Mac]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Urish|first1=Ben|title=The Words and Music of John Lennon|date=2007|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|page=7}}</ref>

Cream briefly reunited in 1993 to perform at the ceremony inducting them into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]]. A full reunion took place in May 2005, with Clapton, Bruce and Baker playing four sold-out concerts at London's [[Royal Albert Hall]],<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Billboard|first=Michael|last=Paoletta|title=Inside Track|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rRQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA62|date=23 July 2005|page=62}}</ref> and three shows at New York's [[Madison Square Garden]] that October.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/25/AR2005102501667.html|title=Cream, Rising to the Occasion at Madison Square Garden|publisher=Washingpost.com|access-date=22 September 2014|first=Peter|last=Eisner|date=26 October 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140406213420/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/25/AR2005102501667.html|archive-date=6 April 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> Recordings from the London shows, ''[[Royal Albert Hall London May 2-3-5-6, 2005]]'', were released on CD, LP and DVD in late 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=royal-albert-hall-london-may-2-3-5-6-2005-main-entry-r794100|pure_url=yes}} |title=Royal Albert Hall: London May&nbsp;2–3–5–6 2005 |author=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=30 December 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/628q51XQN?url=http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/Rihanna/chart-history/658897?f=793&g=Singles |archive-date= 2 October 2011 }}</ref>

===Blind Faith===
{{Main|Blind Faith}}
[[File:Blind Faith (1969).jpg|thumb|right|Blind Faith in 1969, with Clapton standing far right]]
Clapton's next group, [[Blind Faith]], formed in 1969, was composed of Cream drummer [[Ginger Baker]], [[Steve Winwood]] of [[Traffic (band)|Traffic]], and [[Ric Grech]] of [[Family (band)|Family]], and yielded one LP and one arena-circuit tour. The [[Supergroup (music)|supergroup]] debuted before 100,000 fans in London's [[Hyde Park, London|Hyde Park]] on {{nowrap|7 June}} 1969.<ref>Welch, Chris (2016). Clapton – Updated Edition: The Ultimate Illustrated History. p. 12. Voyageur Press.</ref> They performed several dates in Scandinavia and began a sold-out American tour in July before their only album was released. The LP ''[[Blind Faith (Blind Faith album)|Blind Faith]]'' consisted of just six songs, one of them the hit "[[Can't Find My Way Home]]". Another, "Presence of the Lord", is the first song credited solely to Clapton.<ref>{{cite book| last = Turner| first = Steve| author-link = Steve Turner (writer)| year = 1976| title = Conversations with Eric Clapton| location = New York City| publisher = [[Abacus (publishers)|Abacus]]| isbn = 978-0349134024| page = 94}}</ref> The album's jacket image of a topless pubescent girl was deemed controversial in the US and was replaced by a photograph of the band. Blind Faith dissolved after less than seven months.<ref>{{cite news |title=Dylan Jones: 'In the film of 'London Hyde Park 1969', Steve Winwood is a revelation; a genuine pop icon |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/columnists/dylan-jones/dylan-jones-in-the-film-of-london-hyde-park-1969-steve-winwood-is-a-revelation-a-genuine-pop-icon-1219611.html |access-date=24 October 2018 |work=The Independent |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181024195144/https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/columnists/dylan-jones/dylan-jones-in-the-film-of-london-hyde-park-1969-steve-winwood-is-a-revelation-a-genuine-pop-icon-1219611.html |archive-date=24 October 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Delaney & Bonnie and first solo album===
{{Main|Delaney & Bonnie}}
Clapton subsequently toured as a sideman for an act that had opened for Blind Faith, [[Delaney and Bonnie and Friends]]. He also performed as a member of Lennon's [[Plastic Ono Band]] at the [[Toronto Rock and Roll Revival]] in September 1969, a recording from which was released as the album ''[[Live Peace in Toronto 1969]]''.<ref name=lenn>{{cite book|first1=Ben|last1=Urish|first2=Kenneth G.|last2=Bielen|title=The Words and Music of John Lennon|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LJ9Y0YgSE1oC&pg=PA15|year=2007|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-275-99180-7|page=15|access-date=12 March 2016|archive-date=10 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810043553/https://books.google.com/books?id=LJ9Y0YgSE1oC&pg=PA15|url-status=live}}</ref> On 30 September, Clapton played lead guitar on Lennon's second solo single, "[[Cold Turkey]]".<ref>{{cite book|last=Noyer|first=Paul Du|title=John Lennon: The Stories Behind Every Song 1970–1980|year=2010|publisher=Carlton Books Ltd.|location=London|isbn=978-1-84732-665-2|edition=Rev.|pages=25–26|chapter=John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band}}</ref> On 15 December that year, Clapton performed with Lennon, Harrison and others as the Plastic Ono Supergroup at a fundraiser for [[UNICEF]] in London.<ref name=lenn/>

[[Delaney Bramlett]] encouraged Clapton in his singing and writing. Using the Bramletts' backing group and an all-star cast of session players (including [[Leon Russell]] and [[Stephen Stills]]), Clapton recorded his first solo album during two brief tour hiatuses, titled ''[[Eric Clapton (album)|Eric Clapton]]''. Delaney Bramlett co-wrote six of the songs with Clapton, also producing the LP,<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/r4028| title=allmusic ((( Eric Clapton > Overview )))| website=[[AllMusic]]| access-date=5 December 2009| archive-date=10 August 2023| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810043554/https://www.allmusic.com/album/eric-clapton-mw0000624369| url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Bonnie Bramlett]] co-wrote "Let It Rain".<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/t2546826| title=allmusic ((( Let It Rain )))| website=[[AllMusic]]| access-date=5 December 2009| archive-date=4 March 2012| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304171712/http://www.allmusic.com/song/t2546826| url-status=live}}</ref> The album yielded the unexpected US No.&nbsp;18 hit, [[J. J. Cale]]'s "After Midnight". Clapton also worked with much of Delaney and Bonnie's band to record George Harrison's ''[[All Things Must Pass]]'' in spring 1970.

During this period, Clapton also recorded with artists such as [[Dr. John]], [[Leon Russell]], [[Billy Preston]], [[Ringo Starr]] and [[Dave Mason]]. With Chicago blues artist [[Howlin' Wolf]], he recorded ''[[The London Howlin' Wolf Sessions]]'', that also included long-time Wolf guitarist [[Hubert Sumlin]] and members of the [[Rolling Stones]], Winwood and Starr.<ref name="Koda">{{cite web
| url = https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-london-howlin-wolf-sessions-mw0000200293
| title = The London Howlin' Wolf Sessions – Review
| last = Koda
| first = Cub
| author-link = Cub Koda
| publisher = [[AllMusic]]
| access-date = 23 July 2018
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180723003650/https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-london-howlin-wolf-sessions-mw0000200293
| archive-date = 23 July 2018
| url-status = live
}}</ref> Despite the superstar line-up, critic [[Cub Koda]] noted: "Even Eric Clapton, who usually welcomes any chance to play with one of his idols, has criticized this album repeatedly in interviews, which speaks volumes in and of itself."<ref name="Koda"/> Other noted recordings from this period include Clapton's guitar work on "Go Back Home" from Stephen Stills' [[Stephen Stills (album)|self-titled first solo album]].<ref>{{cite web |publisher=[[Robert Christgau]] |first=Robert |last=Christgau |title=Stephen Stills > Consumer Guide Reviews |url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?id=3819&name=Stephen+Stills |access-date=16 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180713073931/http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?id=3819&name=Stephen+Stills |archive-date=13 July 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Derek and the Dominos===
{{Main|Derek and the Dominos}}

With the intention of counteracting the "star" cult faction that had begun to form around him, Clapton assembled a new band composed of Delaney and Bonnie's former [[rhythm section]], [[Bobby Whitlock]] as keyboardist and vocalist, [[Carl Radle]] as the bassist, and drummer [[Jim Gordon (musician)|Jim Gordon]], with Clapton playing guitar. It was his intention to show that he need not fill a starring role, and functioned well as a member of an ensemble.<ref>''[[The Layla Sessions]]'' liner notes, page 4.</ref> During this period, Clapton was increasingly influenced by [[The Band]] and their 1968 album ''[[Music from Big Pink]]'', saying: "What I appreciated about the Band was that they were more concerned with songs and singing. They would have three- and four-part harmonies, and the guitar was put back into perspective as being accompaniment. That suited me well, because I had gotten so tired of the virtuosity – or ''pseudo''-virtuosity – thing of long, boring guitar solos just because they were expected. The Band brought things back into perspective. The priority was the song."<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Fox|first=Darrin|title=Eric Clapton: Right here, right now |magazine=Guitar Player |volume= 35 |issue= 377 |date=June 2001|page=108}}</ref>

[[File:Derek and the Dominos.png|thumb|left|Clapton (right) with Derek and the Dominos]]
The band was originally called "Eric Clapton and Friends". The eventual name was a fluke that occurred when the band's provisional name of "Del and the Dynamos" was misread as Derek and the Dominos.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.artistfacts.com/detail.php?id=100|work=Artistfacts|title=Derek And The Dominoes|access-date=17 February 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070202112652/http://www.artistfacts.com/detail.php?id=100|archive-date=2 February 2007|url-status=live}}</ref> Clapton's biography states that Tony Ashton of [[Ashton, Gardner and Dyke]] told Clapton to call the band "Del and the Dominos", since "Del" was his nickname for Eric Clapton. Del and Eric were combined and the final name became "Derek and the Dominos".<ref name = "nxfddy">Schumacher, Michael (1992)</ref>

Clapton's close friendship with George Harrison brought him into contact with Harrison's wife, [[Pattie Boyd]], with whom he became deeply infatuated. When she spurned his advances, Clapton's unrequited affections prompted most of the material for the Dominos' album ''[[Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs]]'' (1970). Heavily blues-influenced, the album features the twin lead guitars of Clapton and Duane Allman, with Allman's [[slide guitar]] as a key ingredient of the sound. Working at [[Criteria Studios]] in Miami with [[Atlantic Records]] producer [[Tom Dowd]], who had worked with Clapton on Cream's ''Disraeli Gears'', the band recorded a double album.

[[File:Eric clapton pelo 1971.jpg|thumb|230px|Clapton in 1971]]
The album contained the hit love song "[[Layla]]", inspired by the classical poet of [[Persian literature]], [[Nizami Ganjavi]]'s ''[[Layla and Majnun|The Story of Layla and Majnun]]'', a copy of which [[Ian Dallas]] had given to Clapton. The book moved Clapton profoundly, as it was the tale of a young man who fell hopelessly in love with a beautiful, unavailable woman and went crazy because he could not marry her.<ref>{{Cite book|first=William |last=McKeen |title=Rock and roll is here to stay: an anthology |publisher=W. W. Norton & Company |year=2000 |page=127 |quote=Clapton poured all he had into Layla's title track, which was inspired by the Persian love story he had read, the story of Layla and Majnun.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |first=Gene |last=Santoro |title=Dancing in Your Head: Jazz, Blues, Rock, and Beyond |publisher=Oxford University Press US |year=1995 |page=62 |quote=At the time, he started to read ''The story of Layla and Majnun'' by the Persian poet [[Nizami Ganjavi]]}}</ref> The two parts of "Layla" were recorded in separate sessions: the opening guitar section was recorded first, and for the second section, laid down a few weeks later, drummer Jim Gordon played the piano part for the melody, which he claimed to have written (though Bobby Whitlock stated that Rita Coolidge wrote it).<ref name="nxfddy"/>

The ''Layla'' LP was actually recorded by a five-piece version of the group, thanks to the unforeseen inclusion of guitarist [[Duane Allman]] of [[the Allman Brothers Band]]. A few days into the Layla sessions, Dowd – who was also producing the Allmans – invited Clapton to an Allman Brothers outdoor concert in Miami. The two guitarists met first on stage, then played all night in the studio, and became friends. Duane first added his slide guitar to "[[Tell the Truth (Derek and the Dominos song)|Tell the Truth]]" and "[[Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out]]". In four days, the five-piece Dominos recorded "[[Key to the Highway]]", "[[Have You Ever Loved a Woman]]" (a [[blues standard]] popularised by [[Freddie King]] and others) and "Why Does Love Got to be So Sad?" In September, Duane briefly left the sessions for gigs with his own band, and the four-piece Dominos recorded "I Looked Away", "[[Bell Bottom Blues (Derek and the Dominos song)|Bell Bottom Blues]]" and "Keep on Growing". Allman returned to record "I Am Yours", "[[Anyday (Derek and the Dominos song)|Anyday]]" and "It's Too Late". On 9 September, they recorded Hendrix's "[[Little Wing]]" and the title track. The following day, the final track, "It's Too Late", was recorded.<ref>"[[The Layla Sessions]]" CD liner notes.</ref>

[[File:Eric "slowhand" Clapton.jpg|thumb|left|Eric Clapton in Barcelona, 1974]]
Tragedy dogged the group throughout its brief career. During the sessions, Clapton was devastated by news of the death of Jimi Hendrix; eight days previously the band had cut a cover of "Little Wing" as a tribute. On {{nowrap|17 September}} 1970, one day before Hendrix's death, Clapton had purchased a [[left-handed]] [[Fender Stratocaster]] that he had planned to give to Hendrix as a birthday gift. Adding to Clapton's woes, ''Layla'' received only lukewarm reviews upon release. The shaken group undertook a US tour without Allman, who had returned to the Allman Brothers Band. Despite Clapton's later admission that the tour took place amid a blizzard of drugs and alcohol, it resulted in the live double album ''[[In Concert (Derek and the Dominos album)|In Concert]]''.<ref>''[[The Layla Sessions]]'' liner notes, page 12.</ref>

Recording of a second Dominos studio album was underway when a clash of egos took place and Clapton walked out, thus disbanding the group. Allman was killed in a motorcycle accident on {{nowrap|29 October}} 1971. Clapton wrote later in his autobiography that he and Allman were inseparable during the ''Layla'' sessions in Florida; he talked about Allman as the "musical brother I'd never had but wished I did".<ref>Clapton, ''The Autobiography'', 128.</ref> Although Radle remained Clapton's bass player until the summer of 1979 (Radle died in May 1980 from the effects of alcohol and narcotics), it was not until 2003 that Clapton and Whitlock appeared together again; Clapton guested on Whitlock's appearance on the ''[[Later with Jools Holland]]'' show. Another tragic footnote to the Dominos story was the fate of drummer [[Jim Gordon (musician)|Jim Gordon]], who had undiagnosed [[schizophrenia]] and years later murdered his mother during a [[psychotic episode]]. Gordon was confined to 16-years-to-life imprisonment, later being moved to a mental institution, where he remained for the rest of his life.<ref name="unuhsh"/>

===Personal problems and early solo success===
Clapton's career successes in the 1970s were in stark contrast with the struggles he coped with in his personal life, which was troubled by romantic longings and drug and alcohol addiction.<ref>Marc Roberty, Chris Charlesworth (1995) [https://books.google.com/books?id=qpvlUrpH_xoC&pg=PA67 The complete guide to the music of Eric Clapton] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810043553/https://books.google.com/books?id=qpvlUrpH_xoC&pg=PA67 |date=10 August 2023 }} p.67. Omnibus Press, 1995</ref> Still infatuated with Boyd and torn by his friendship with Harrison, he withdrew from recording and touring to isolation in his Surrey residence as the Dominos broke up. He nursed a [[Substance abuse|heroin addiction]], which resulted in a lengthy career hiatus interrupted only by performing at Harrison's [[Concert for Bangladesh]] benefit shows in New York in August 1971; there, he passed out on stage, was revived, and managed to finish his performance.<ref name="unuhsh"/> In January 1973, [[the Who]]'s [[Pete Townshend]] organised a comeback concert for Clapton at London's [[Rainbow Theatre]], titled the "[[Rainbow Concert]]", to help Clapton kick his addiction. Clapton returned the favour by playing "The Preacher" in [[Tommy (1975 film)|Ken Russell's film version]] of the Who's ''[[Tommy (rock opera)|Tommy]]'' in 1975. His appearance in the film (performing "Eyesight to the Blind") is notable as he is clearly wearing a fake beard in some shots, the result of deciding to shave off his real beard after the initial takes in an attempt to force the director to remove his earlier scene from the film and leave the set.<ref name="nxfddy"/>

[[File:Clapton and Elliman.jpg|thumb|[[Yvonne Elliman]] with Clapton promoting ''[[461 Ocean Boulevard]]'' in 1974]]
In 1974, Clapton started living with Boyd (they would not marry until 1979) and was no longer using heroin (although he gradually began to drink heavily). He assembled a low-key touring band that included Radle, Miami guitarist [[George Terry (musician)|George Terry]], keyboardist Dick Sims (who died in 2011),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/News/dick-sims-death-1209-2011/ |title=Longtime Eric Clapton Keyboardist Dick Sims Dies |publisher=Gibson.com |date=24 June 2008 |access-date=30 December 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120113052349/http://www.gibson.com/en%2Dus/Lifestyle/News/dick%2Dsims%2Ddeath%2D1209%2D2011/ |archive-date=13 January 2012 }}</ref> drummer [[Jamie Oldaker]], and vocalists [[Yvonne Elliman]] and [[Marcy Levy]] (also known as Marcella Detroit). With this band Clapton recorded ''[[461 Ocean Boulevard]]'' (1974), an album with an emphasis on more compact songs and fewer guitar solos; the cover version of "[[I Shot the Sheriff]]" was Clapton's first number one hit. The 1975 album ''[[There's One in Every Crowd]]'' continued this trend. The album's original title, ''The World's Greatest Guitar Player (There's One in Every Crowd)'', was changed before pressing, as it was felt its ironic intention would be misunderstood. The band toured the world and subsequently released the 1975 live LP ''[[E. C. Was Here]]''.<ref>{{cite book|first1=Pete|last1=Prown|first2=Harvey P.|last2=Newquist|title=Legends of Rock Guitar: The Essential Reference of Rock's Greatest Guitarists|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=60Jde3l7WNwC&pg=PA70|year=1997|publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation|isbn=978-0-7935-4042-6|page=70|access-date=12 March 2016|archive-date=10 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810043553/https://books.google.com/books?id=60Jde3l7WNwC&pg=PA70|url-status=live}}</ref> Clapton continued to release albums and toured regularly. Highlights of the period include ''[[No Reason to Cry]]'' (a collaboration with [[Bob Dylan]] and [[The Band]]); ''[[Slowhand]]'', which contained "[[Wonderful Tonight]]" and a second J. J. Cale cover, "[[Cocaine (song)|Cocaine]]". In 1976, he performed as one of a string of notable guests at the farewell performance of The Band, filmed in a [[Martin Scorsese]] documentary titled ''[[The Last Waltz]]''.<ref>{{cite web | last = Christgau | first = Robert | author-link = Robert Christgau | title = Robert Christgau Consumer Guide: The Band | url = http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=The+Band | access-date = 7 January 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071001000639/http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=The+Band | archive-date = 1 October 2007 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

===Continued success===
[[File:RIAAEric ClaptonTimepiecesTheBestOfEricClapton7xPlatinum.jpg|thumb|A seven-times Platinum [[RIAA]] certification for the album ''[[Timepieces: The Best of Eric Clapton]]'' (1982)]]
In 1981, Clapton was invited by producer [[Martin Lewis (humorist)|Martin Lewis]] to appear at the [[Amnesty International]] benefit [[The Secret Policeman's Other Ball]] in London. Clapton accepted the invitation and teamed up with Jeff Beck to perform a series of duets – reportedly their first ever billed stage collaboration. Three of the performances were released on the album of the show, and one of the songs appeared in the film. The performances at London's [[Drury Lane theatre]] heralded a return to form and prominence for Clapton in the new decade. Many factors had influenced Clapton's comeback, including his "deepening commitment to Christianity", to which he had converted prior to his heroin addiction.<ref>Conversations with Eric Clapton, Steve Turner</ref><ref>{{cite book |editor-last= Moritz |editor-first= Charles |year= 1987 |title= Current Biography Yearbook 1987 |publisher= H. W. Wilson |location= New York |isbn= 978-9-9973-7702-9 |page= 100 }}</ref><ref name="amg">{{cite web | url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/p64692 | publisher=AllMusic | access-date=17 February 2007 | title=Eric Clapton | first=William | last=Ruhlmann | archive-date=13 October 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101013094312/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p64692 | url-status=live }}</ref>

After calling his manager and admitting he was an alcoholic, Clapton flew to [[Minneapolis–Saint Paul]] in January 1982 and checked in at [[Hazelden Foundation|Hazelden Treatment Center]], located in [[Center City, Minnesota]]. On the flight over, Clapton indulged in a large number of drinks, for fear he would never be able to drink again. Clapton wrote in his autobiography:<ref>{{cite book|author = Clapton, Eric|title = Clapton, The Autobiography|url = https://archive.org/details/claptonautobiogr00clap|url-access = registration|date = 2007|publisher = Broadway Books|page = [https://archive.org/details/claptonautobiogr00clap/page/198 198]|isbn = 9780385518512}}</ref>

{{Blockquote|In the lowest moments of my life, the only reason I didn't commit suicide was that I knew I wouldn't be able to drink any more if I was dead. It was the only thing I thought was worth living for, and the idea that people were about to try and remove me from alcohol was so terrible that I drank and drank and drank, and they had to practically carry me into the clinic.}}

After being discharged, it was recommended by doctors of Hazelden that Clapton not partake in any activities that would act as triggers for his alcoholism or stress. Nonetheless, Clapton would go back to the Hazelden Treatment Center in November 1987. He has stayed sober ever since. A few months after his discharge from his first rehab, Clapton began working on his next album, against doctors' orders. Working with Tom Dowd, he produced what he thought as his "most forced" album to date, ''[[Money and Cigarettes]]''. Clapton chose the name of the album "because that's all I saw myself having left" after his first rehabilitation from alcoholism.<ref>{{cite book|title=Clapton: The Autobiography|url=https://archive.org/details/claptonautobiogr00clap|url-access=registration|first=Eric|last=Clapton|year=2007|publisher=Broadway Books |isbn=978-0-385-51851-2}}</ref>

In 1984, he performed on former [[Pink Floyd]] member [[Roger Waters]]' solo album ''[[The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking]]'', and participated in the supporting tour. Since then Waters and Clapton have had a close relationship. In 2005, they performed together for the Tsunami Relief Fund. In 2006, they performed at the Highclere Castle in aid of the Countryside Alliance and played two set pieces of "[[Wish You Were Here (Pink Floyd song)|Wish You Were Here]]" and "[[Comfortably Numb]]". Clapton, now a regular charity performer, played at the [[Live Aid]] concert at [[John F. Kennedy Stadium]] in Philadelphia on 13 July 1985, playing with [[Phil Collins]], [[Tim Renwick]], [[Chris Stainton]], [[Jamie Oldaker]], [[Marcy Levy]], [[Shaun Murphy (singer)|Shaun Murphy]] and [[Donald 'Duck' Dunn]].<ref>{{cite book|first1=Pete|last1=Prown|first2=Harvey P.|last2=Newquist|title=Legends of Rock Guitar: The Essential Reference of Rock's Greatest Guitarists|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=60Jde3l7WNwC&pg=PA69|year=1997|publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation|isbn=978-0-7935-4042-6|page=69|access-date=12 March 2016|archive-date=10 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810044612/https://books.google.com/books?id=60Jde3l7WNwC&pg=PA69|url-status=live}}</ref> When offered a slot close to peak viewing hours, he was apparently flattered. His album output continued in the 1980s, including two produced with Phil Collins, 1985's ''[[Behind the Sun (Eric Clapton album)|Behind the Sun]]'', which produced the hits "Forever Man" and "She's Waiting", and 1986's ''[[August (Eric Clapton album)|August]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine | url = https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/august-19870212 | title = Eric Clapton August | access-date = 15 August 2017 | last = DeCurtis | first = Anthony | date = 12 February 1987 | magazine = [[Rolling Stone]] | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170829190802/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/august-19870212 | archive-date = 29 August 2017 | url-status = live }}</ref>

''August'' was suffused with Collins's trademark drum and horn sound, and became Clapton's biggest seller in the UK to date, matching his highest chart position, number 3. The album's first track, the hit "[[It's in the Way That You Use It]]", appeared in the [[Tom Cruise]]–[[Paul Newman]] film ''[[The Color of Money]]''. The songs "Tearing Us Apart" (with [[Tina Turner]]) and "Miss You" continued Clapton's more angry sound. This rebound kicked off Clapton's two-year period of touring with Collins and their ''August'' collaborators, bassist [[Nathan East]] and keyboard player/songwriter [[Greg Phillinganes]]. While on tour for ''August'', two concert videos were recorded of the four-man band: ''Eric Clapton Live from Montreux'' and ''Eric Clapton and Friends''. Clapton later remade "After Midnight" as a single and a promotional track for the [[Michelob]] beer brand, which had also used earlier songs by Collins and [[Steve Winwood]]. Clapton won a [[British Academy Television Award]] for his collaboration with [[Michael Kamen]] on the score for the 1985 [[BBC]] television thriller series ''[[Edge of Darkness]]''. At the [[1987 Brit Awards]] in London, Clapton was awarded the prize for Outstanding Contribution to Music.<ref name=Brits>{{cite web|url=http://www.brits.co.uk/history/shows/1987|title=Brit Awards 1987|publisher=Brit Awards|access-date=22 September 2014|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140317150236/http://www.brits.co.uk/history/shows/1987|archive-date=17 March 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1987, he played on [[George Harrison]]'s album ''[[Cloud Nine (George Harrison album)|Cloud Nine]]'', contributing guitar to "Cloud 9", "That's What It Takes", "Devil's Radio" and "Wreck of the Hesperus".<ref>Huntley, Elliot J. (2006). Mystical One: George Harrison – After the Break-up of the Beatles. Toronto, ON: Guernica Editions. p. 205. {{ISBN|1-55071-197-0}}.</ref>

Clapton also got together with the [[Bee Gees]] for charity. The supergroup called itself [[the Bunburys]], and recorded a charity album with the proceeds going to the [[Bunbury, Cheshire|Bunbury Cricket Club]] in Cheshire, which plays exhibition cricket matches to raise money for nonprofit organisations in England. The Bunburys recorded three songs for ''[[The Bunbury Tails]]'': "We're the Bunburys", "Bunbury Afternoon" and "Fight (No Matter How Long)". The last song also appeared on ''[[The 1988 Summer Olympics Album]]'' and went to No. 8 on the rock music chart.<ref name="Bunburys">{{cite web | url=https://www.bathroomreader.com/2014/06/bee-gees-meet-eric-clapton-bunbury-tails/ | title=The Bee Gees Meet Eric Clapton | work=Uncle John's Bathroom Reader | date=27 June 2014 | access-date=29 July 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729221353/https://www.bathroomreader.com/2014/06/bee-gees-meet-eric-clapton-bunbury-tails/ | archive-date=29 July 2017 | url-status=dead }}</ref> Clapton played at the cricket club's 25th anniversary celebrations in 2011, which were held at London's Grosvenor House Hotel.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ericclapton.com/news/eric-clapton-helps-celebrate-bunbury-cricket-clubs-25th-birthday-24056|title=Clapton Helps Celebrate Bunbury Cricket Club's 25th Birthday|agency=EricClapton.com.|date=4 December 2017|access-date=4 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171205042351/http://www.ericclapton.com/news/eric-clapton-helps-celebrate-bunbury-cricket-clubs-25th-birthday-24056|archive-date=5 December 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1988, he played with [[Dire Straits]] and [[Elton John]] at the [[Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute]] at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]] and the [[Prince's Trust]] rock gala at the [[Royal Albert Hall]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Eric Clapton on stage at Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute ..|url=http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/eric-clapton-on-stage-at-nelson-mandela-70th-birthday-news-photo/639741272?#eric-clapton-on-stage-at-nelson-mandela-70th-birthday-tribute-concert-picture-id639741272|agency=Getty Images|date=17 December 2017|access-date=17 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171221224336/http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/eric-clapton-on-stage-at-nelson-mandela-70th-birthday-news-photo/639741272#eric-clapton-on-stage-at-nelson-mandela-70th-birthday-tribute-concert-picture-id639741272|archive-date=21 December 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1989, Clapton released ''[[Journeyman (album)|Journeyman]]'', an album that covered a wide range of styles, including blues, jazz, soul and pop. Collaborators included George Harrison, Phil Collins, [[Daryl Hall]], [[Chaka Khan]], [[Mick Jones (Foreigner)|Mick Jones]], [[David Sanborn]] and [[Robert Cray]]. The song "[[Bad Love (Eric Clapton song)|Bad Love]]" was released as a single and later won the [[Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.grammy.com/nominees/search?artist=&title=&year=1990&genre=All|title=Past Winners Search &#124; GRAMMY.com|publisher=Grammy Awards|access-date=22 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130730052705/http://www.grammy.com/nominees/search?artist=&title=&year=1990&genre=All|archive-date=30 July 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Son's death, "Tears in Heaven"===
{{Main article|Tears in Heaven}}
{{Quotebox
| quote = I remember putting the phone down and calmly walking from my hotel [in N.Y.C.] to that place as if nothing happened. And I walked past the street and, this is a terrible thing of shame for me, which I’ll never, ever perhaps recover from and seeing that, seeing a crowd of people and a paramedic van and knowing that he was there [trying to be resuscitated] and walking by, I’ll punish myself forever about why didn’t I run? Why didn’t I go to see him? … the truth is I couldn’t. I was so frightened.
| source = Eric Clapton, as quoted by Emma Kershaw of ''[[People (magazine)|People]]'' (3 February 2025)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://people.com/all-about-eric-clapton-kids-8387107 |title=Eric Clapton's 5 Children: All About His 4 Daughters and Late Son |work=People |last=Kershaw |first=Emma |date=3 February 2025 |access-date=21 March 2025}}</ref>
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The 1990s brought a series of 32 concerts to the Royal Albert Hall, such as the [[24 Nights]] series of concerts that took place around January through February 1990, and February to March 1991. On {{nowrap|30 June}} 1990, Dire Straits, Clapton and Elton John made a guest appearance in the [[Nordoff-Robbins]] charity show held at [[Concerts at Knebworth House|Knebworth]] in England.<ref>Tobler, John: ''Who's who in rock & roll'' p.1988. Crescent Books, 1991</ref> On {{nowrap|27 August}} 1990, fellow blues guitarist [[Stevie Ray Vaughan]], who was touring with Clapton, and three members of their road crew were [[Death of Stevie Ray Vaughan|killed in a helicopter crash]] between concerts. Then, on {{nowrap|20 March}} 1991, Clapton's four-year-old son, Conor, died after falling from the 53rd-floor window of his mother's friend's New York City apartment at 117 East 57th Street. Clapton was staying at a nearby hotel at the time of his son's death, and was preparing to pick him up for lunch and a visit to the [[Central Park Zoo]]. He was informed of the incident through a hysterical phone call by [[Lory Del Santo]], Conor's mother. Once comprehending what was happening, he described feeling like he "went off the edge of the world," and promptly arrived at the scene, feeling "like [he] had walked into someone else’s life."<ref>{{Cite web |date=6 May 2020 |title=Eric Clapton: The Unthinkable Tragedy That Inspired "Tears in Heaven" |url=https://www.biography.com/musicians/eric-clapton-tears-in-heaven-son |access-date=17 March 2025 |website=Biography |language=en-US}}</ref> The first person to offer condolences towards Clapton was friend and fellow guitarist [[Keith Richards]], who himself had lost his young son [[Tara Richards|Tara]] in 1976.<ref name=RS2>{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/eric-clapton-the-rolling-stone-interview-2-100276/2/ |title=Eric Clapton: The Rolling Stone Interview. Part 2 |date=17 October 1991 |access-date=13 July 2024 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |last=Henke |first=James |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230527235713/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/eric-clapton-the-rolling-stone-interview-2-100276/2/ |archive-date=27 May 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref> Conor's funeral took place on 28 March at St Mary Magdalene's Church in Clapton's home village in [[Ripley, Surrey]], with Conor buried in the church graveyard.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20114903,00.html|title=In An English Country Churchyard, Eric Clapton and Friends Mourn the Death of His Son, Conor, 4|magazine=People|access-date=22 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141020170345/http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20114903,00.html|archive-date=20 October 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> After his son's death Clapton began attending [[AA meeting]]s.<ref name=RS2/> In 1991, Clapton appeared on [[Richie Sambora]]'s album, ''[[Stranger in This Town]]'', in a song dedicated to him, called "Mr. Bluesman". He contributed guitar and vocals to "Runaway Train", a duet with Elton John on the latter's ''[[The One (Elton John album)|The One]]'' album the following year.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-07-12-ca-4218-story.html |last=Boehm |first=Mike |work=Los Angeles Times |title=ELTON JOHN "The One" MCA |date=12 July 1992 |access-date=18 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150427143652/http://articles.latimes.com/1992-07-12/entertainment/ca-4218_1_elton-john |archive-date=27 April 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Clapton's grief was expressed in the song "[[Tears in Heaven]]", which was co-written by [[Will Jennings]].<ref>{{cite magazine|date=7 December 2000|title=Eric Clapton: 'Tears In Heaven'|magazine=Rolling Stone|issue=88}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last=Leerhsen|first=Charles|date=22 March 1992|title=His Saddest Song|magazine=Newsweek|volume=119|issue=12|page=52}}</ref> At the [[35th Annual Grammy Awards]], Clapton received six [[Grammys]] for the single "Tears in Heaven" and his ''[[Unplugged (Eric Clapton album)|Unplugged]]'' album,<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Billboard|first=Craig|last=Rosen|title=Clapton Grabs Key Grammys; 'Beauty' is Belle Of The Ball|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rw8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA1|date=6 March 1993|page=1|access-date=12 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140627200627/http://books.google.com/books?id=rw8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA1|archive-date=27 June 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> for which Clapton performed live in front of a small audience on 16 January 1992 at [[Bray Film Studios]] in [[Windsor, Berkshire]], England. The album reached number one on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]], and is certified [[Diamond album|Diamond]] by the [[RIAA]] for selling over 10 million copies in the US.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=ERIC+CLAPTON&ti=UNPLUGGED|title=Eric Clapton – Unplugged (Certifications)|website=RIAA|language=en-US|access-date=10 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624004647/http://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=ERIC+CLAPTON&ti=UNPLUGGED|archive-date=24 June 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> It reached number two in the [[UK Albums Chart]] and is certified four times platinum in the UK.<ref>[https://www.bpi.co.uk/bpi-awards/ "British album certifications – Eric Clapton – Unplugged"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909233259/https://www.bpi.co.uk/bpi-awards/ |date=9 September 2017 }}. [[British Phonographic Industry]]. Retrieved 12 February 2016. Enter Unplugged in the search field and then press Enter</ref> On 9 September 1992, Clapton performed "Tears in Heaven" at the [[1992 MTV Video Music Awards]], and won the award for Best Male Video.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/ontv/vma/1992/|title=1992 MTV Video Music Awards|publisher=MTV|access-date=22 September 2014|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120630111824/http://www.mtv.com/ontv/vma/1992/|archive-date=30 June 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/1992/mtvvmas.htm|title=1992 MTV VMAS|publisher=Rockonthenet.com|access-date=22 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612141932/http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/1992/mtvvmas.htm|archive-date=12 June 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>{{Quote box
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| quote = I almost subconsciously used music for myself as a healing agent, and lo and behold, it worked&nbsp;... I have got a great deal of happiness and a great deal of healing from music.
| source = —Clapton on the healing process in writing "Tears in Heaven".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/2020/Entertainment/story?id=2404474&page=1- |title=Exclusive: Mother of 'Tears in Heaven' Inspiration Shares Story – ABC News |work=ABC News |date=7 September 2006 |access-date=12 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140224003656/http://abcnews.go.com/2020/Entertainment/story?id=2404474&page=1- |archive-date=24 February 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}

In 1992, Clapton received the [[Ivor Novello Award]] for Lifetime Achievement from the [[British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors]].<ref name="Ivors Lifetime">[http://theivors.com/archive/1990-1999/the-ivors-1992/ "1992 Ivor Novello Awards"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180104013937/http://theivors.com/archive/1990-1999/the-ivors-1992/ |date=4 January 2018 }}. The Ivors. Retrieved 3 January 2018</ref> In October 1992 Clapton was among the dozens of artists performing at [[Bob Dylan]]'s [[30th Anniversary Concert Celebration]]. Recorded at [[Madison Square Garden]] in New York City, the live two-disk CD/DVD captured a show full of celebrities performing classic Dylan songs, with Clapton playing the lead on a nearly 7-minute version of Dylan's "[[Knockin' on Heaven's Door]]" as part of the finale.<ref>SPIN magaone. Nov 1993. p. 32</ref> While Clapton played [[Steel-string guitar|acoustic guitar]] on ''Unplugged'', his 1994 album ''[[From the Cradle]]'' contained new versions of old [[blues standards]], highlighted by his electric guitar playing.<ref>D. Dicaire, ''More blues singers: biographies of 50 artists from the later 20th century'' (McFarland, 2001), p. 203.</ref> In 1995, Clapton for the first and only time appeared on a UK No. 1 single, collaborating with [[Cher]], [[Chrissie Hynde]], and [[Neneh Cherry]] on a solo to a cover of "[[Love Can Build a Bridge]]" released in aid of the British charity telethon [[Comic Relief]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Kutner|first1=Jon|title=1000 UK Number One Hits|date=2010|publisher=Omnibus Press|isbn=9780857123602}}</ref>[[File:Photograph of Tracy Chapman and Eric Clapton Performing at a White House Special Olympics Dinner - NARA - 6037507.jpg|thumb|left|Clapton and [[Tracy Chapman]] on stage at a White House Special Olympics dinner, December 1998]]
On 12 September 1996 Clapton played a party for [[Armani]] at New York City's Lexington Armory with [[Greg Phillinganes]], [[Nathan East]] and [[Steve Gadd]]. [[Sheryl Crow]] appeared on one number, performing "[[Tearing Us Apart]]", a track from ''August'', which was first performed by [[Tina Turner]] during the Prince's Trust All-Star Rock show in 1986. It was Clapton's sole US appearance that year, following the [[Live in Hyde Park (Eric Clapton album)|open-air concert]] held at Hyde Park.<ref name="Hyde Park">{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/live-in-hyde-park-videodvd-r420505|title=Live in Hyde Park (Video/DVD)|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=22 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120108101233/http://www.allmusic.com/album/live-in-hyde-park-videodvd-r420505|archive-date=8 January 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> The concert was taped and the footage was released both on VHS video cassette and later, on DVD.<ref name="Hyde Park" /> 
Clapton's 1996 recording of the [[Wayne Kirkpatrick]]/[[Gordon Kennedy (musician)|Gordon Kennedy]]/[[Tommy Sims]] tune "Change the World" (on the soundtrack of the film ''[[Phenomenon (film)|Phenomenon]]'') won the [[Grammy Award for Song of the Year]] in 1997, the same year he recorded ''Retail Therapy'' (an album of [[electronic music]] with [[Simon Climie]] under the pseudonym [[X-sample|TDF]]). On 15 September 1997, Clapton appeared at the ''[[Music for Montserrat]]'' concert at the Royal Albert Hall, London, performing "Layla" and "Same Old Blues" before finishing with "Hey Jude" alongside fellow English artists [[Paul McCartney]], [[Elton John]], Phil Collins, [[Mark Knopfler]] and [[Sting (musician)|Sting]].<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=BwoEAAAAMBAJ&q=Music+for+Montserrat+-+concert&pg=PA59 "Billboard 6 September 1997"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810044555/https://books.google.com/books?id=BwoEAAAAMBAJ&q=Music+for+Montserrat+-+concert&pg=PA59 |date=10 August 2023 }}. p.59. ''Billboard''. Retrieved 12 December 2014</ref> That autumn, Clapton released the album ''[[Pilgrim (Eric Clapton album)|Pilgrim]]'', the first record containing new material for almost a decade.<ref name="amg" />

In 1996, Clapton had a relationship with singer-songwriter [[Sheryl Crow]]. They remain friends, and Clapton appeared as a guest on Crow's Central Park Concert. The duo performed a Cream hit single, "[[White Room]]". Later, Clapton and Crow performed an alternate version of "Tulsa Time" with other guitar legends at the [[Crossroads Guitar Festival]] in June 2007 as well as [[Robert Johnson]]'s blues classic "[[Cross Road Blues|Crossroads]]" at London's [[Hyde Park, London|Hyde Park]] in August 2008 with [[John Mayer]] and [[Robert Randolph and the Family Band|Robert Randolph]].

At the [[41st Annual Grammy Awards]] on 24 February 1999, Clapton received his third [[Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance]], for his song "[[My Father's Eyes (song)|My Father's Eyes]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.grammy.com/nominees/search?artist=eric+clapton|title=Past Winners Search: Eric Clapton|work=The GRAMMYs|access-date=22 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140726101050/http://www.grammy.com/nominees/search?artist=eric+clapton|archive-date=26 July 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> In October 1999, the compilation album, ''[[Clapton Chronicles: The Best of Eric Clapton]]'', was released, which contained a new song, "[[Blue Eyes Blue]]", that also appears in soundtrack for the film, ''[[Runaway Bride (film)|Runaway Bride]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/clapton-chronicles-the-best-of-eric-clapton-r431814/review|title=Clapton Chronicles: The Best of Eric Clapton|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=22 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110424043639/http://allmusic.com/album/clapton-chronicles-the-best-of-eric-clapton-r431814/review|archive-date=24 April 2011|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-runaway-bride-r423753/review|title=The Runaway Bride (Original Soundtrack)|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=22 September 2014|archive-date=10 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810044558/https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-runaway-bride-mw0000243006|url-status=live}}</ref> Clapton finished the twentieth century with collaborations with [[Carlos Santana]] and [[B.B. King]]. Clapton looked up to King and had always wanted to make an album with him, while King said of Clapton, "I admire the man. I think he's No. 1 in rock 'n' roll as a guitarist and No. 1 as a great person."<ref name="SarasotaHerald">{{cite web | url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=r28fAAAAIBAJ&pg=6362,12083 | title = Clapton recruits B.B. King for a vintage blues session | work = [[Sarasota Herald-Tribune]] | date = 1 June 2000 | access-date = 22 May 2020 | archive-date = 21 July 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220721133957/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=r28fAAAAIBAJ&pg=6362,12083 | url-status = live }}</ref>

===Collaboration albums===
[[File:Eclapton cardiff.jpg|thumb|upright|Clapton performing for [[Tsunami Relief Cardiff]] at the [[Millennium Stadium]] in Cardiff, Wales, on 22 January 2005]]
Clapton released the album  ''[[Reptile (album)|Reptile]]'' in March 2001. One month after the [[11 September attacks]], Clapton appeared at [[the Concert for New York City]], performing alongside [[Buddy Guy]].<ref>{{cite news |last= Watson |first= Guy |date= 7 December 2012 |title= The Night The Who Saved New York |work= Forbes |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/tomwatson/2012/12/07/the-night-the-who-saved-new-york/?sh=7ac6eadb28c3 |access-date= 30 April 2024 }}</ref><ref>[https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-concert-for-new-york-city-mw0000213296 "Concert for New York City – Various Artists"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820211416/http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-concert-for-new-york-city-mw0000213296 |date=20 August 2016 }}. AllMusic. Retrieved 28 May 2019</ref> An event marking the [[Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II]] in June 2002, Clapton performed "Layla" and "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" at the [[Party at the Palace]] concert in the grounds of [[Buckingham Palace]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2024971.stm|title=Palace party draws 15m viewers|work=BBC News|access-date=22 September 2014|date=4 June 2002|archive-date=25 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200825230704/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2024971.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> On 29 November 2002, the [[Concert for George]] was held at the [[Royal Albert Hall]], a tribute to George Harrison, who had died a year earlier of lung cancer.<ref name="2002concert">Stephen Thomas Erlewine. [https://www.allmusic.com/album/concert-for-george-r669282 "Concert for George"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111218233039/http://www.allmusic.com/album/concert-for-george-r669282 |date=18 December 2011 }}. AllMusic. Retrieved 15 May 2012</ref> Clapton was a performer and the musical director. The concert included Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, [[Jeff Lynne]], [[Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers]], [[Ravi Shankar]], [[Gary Brooker]], Billy Preston, [[Joe Brown (singer)|Joe Brown]] and [[Dhani Harrison]].<ref name="2002concert"/> In 2004, Clapton released two albums of covers of songs by bluesman [[Robert Johnson]], ''[[Me and Mr. Johnson]]'' and ''[[Me and Mr. Johnson#Sessions for Robert J|Sessions for Robert J]]''. Guitarist [[Doyle Bramhall II]] worked on the album with Clapton (after opening Clapton's 2001 tour with his band Smokestack) and joined him on his 2004 tour. In 2004, ''Rolling Stone'' ranked Clapton No.&nbsp;53 on their [[Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Artists of All Time|list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time"]].<ref>{{cite magazine| title = The Immortals| magazine=Rolling Stone |issue=946 | url =https://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/the_immortals | url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061017054537/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/the_immortals | archive-date = 17 October 2006 }}</ref> Other media appearances include the [[Toots & the Maytals]] Grammy award-winning album ''[[True Love (Toots & the Maytals album)|True Love]]'', where he played guitar on the track "[[Pressure Drop (song)|Pressure Drop]]".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.biography.com/people/frederick-toots-hibbert-10673303#acclaimed-musician |title=Frederick "Toots" Hibbert Biography |publisher=biography.com |access-date=2 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160809204903/http://www.biography.com/people/frederick-toots-hibbert-10673303#acclaimed-musician |archive-date=9 August 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Clapton2342.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Clapton performing at the [[Rotterdam Ahoy|Ahoy Arena]] of Rotterdam on 1 June 2006]]
On 22 January 2005, Clapton performed in the [[Tsunami Relief Cardiff|Tsunami Relief Concert]] held at the [[Millennium Stadium]] in [[Cardiff]], in aid of the victims of the [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake]]. In May 2005, Clapton, Jack Bruce, and Ginger Baker reunited as Cream for a series of concerts at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Concert recordings were released on CD and DVD. Later, Cream performed in New York at [[Madison Square Garden]]. Clapton's first album of new original material in nearly five years, ''[[Back Home (Eric Clapton album)|Back Home]]'', was released on [[Reprise Records]] on {{nowrap|30 August}}.

A collaboration with guitarist J. J. Cale, ''[[The Road to Escondido]]'', was released on {{nowrap|7 November}} 2006, featuring [[Derek Trucks]] and Billy Preston (Preston had also been a part of Clapton's 2004 touring band). He invited Trucks to join his band for his 2006–2007 world tour. Bramhall remained, giving Clapton three elite guitarists in his band, allowing him to revisit many Derek and the Dominos songs that he hadn't played in decades. Trucks became the third member of the Allman Brothers Band to tour supporting Clapton, the second being pianist/keyboardist [[Chuck Leavell]], who appeared on the ''[[MTV Unplugged]]'' album and the ''[[24 Nights]]'' performances at the Royal Albert Hall, London in 1990 and 1991, as well as Clapton's 1992 US tour.<ref name="Music Legends">{{cite web|publisher=Music Legends|url=http://musiclegends.ca/interviews/chuck-leavell-interview-rolling-stones/|title=Chuck Leavell Interview|access-date=6 May 2013|date=8 April 2010|last=Saulnier|first=Jason|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131216075205/http://musiclegends.ca/interviews/chuck-leavell-interview-rolling-stones/|archive-date=16 December 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On 20 May 2006, Clapton performed with [[Queen (band)|Queen]] drummer [[Roger Taylor (Queen drummer)|Roger Taylor]] and former [[Pink Floyd]] bassist/songwriter [[Roger Waters]] at [[Highclere Castle]], Hampshire, in support of the [[Countryside Alliance]], which promotes issues relating to the British countryside.<ref>Glenn Povey (2007). [https://books.google.com/books?id=qnnl3FnO-B4C&q=countryside+alliance+20+may+2006+-+clapton%2C+waters&pg=RA4-PT52 Echoes: the complete history of Pink Floyd] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230415015309/https://books.google.com/books?id=qnnl3FnO-B4C&q=countryside+alliance+20+may+2006+-+clapton,+waters&pg=RA4-PT52 |date=15 April 2023 }} Mind Head Publishing. Retrieved 29 December 2011</ref> On {{nowrap|13 August}} 2006, Clapton made a guest appearance at the Bob Dylan concert in [[Columbus, Ohio]], playing guitar on three songs in [[Jimmie Vaughan]]'s opening act.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uweekly.com/cowtown/?p=121 |title=God has a summer home in Columbus |work=[[UWeekly]] |date=15 August 2005 |access-date=30 March 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927042854/http://uweekly.com/cowtown/?p=121 |archive-date=27 September 2007 }}</ref> The chemistry between Trucks and Clapton convinced him to invite [[the Derek Trucks Band]] to open for Clapton's set at his 2007 [[Crossroads Guitar Festival]]. Trucks remained on set and performed with Clapton's band throughout his performances. The rights to Clapton's official memoirs, written by Christopher Simon Sykes and published in 2007, were sold at the 2005 [[Frankfurt Book Fair]] for {{nowrap|US$4 million}}.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.theguardian.com/books/2005/oct/22/featuresreviews.guardianreview33 | title = Joel Rickett on the latest news from the publishing industry | work = The Guardian | location = London | date = 22 October 2005 | access-date = 17 February 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071227170810/http://books.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1597895,00.html | archive-date = 27 December 2007 | url-status = live }}</ref>

[[File:CrossroadsGuitarFestival2007.jpg|thumb|right|upright=0.95|Clapton (left) and actor [[Bill Murray]] kicking off the [[Crossroads Guitar Festival]], Illinois, on 27 July 2007]]
In 2007, Clapton learned more about his father, a Canadian soldier who left the UK after the war. Although Clapton's grandparents eventually told him the truth about his parentage, he only knew that his father's name was Edward Fryer. This was a source of disquiet for Clapton, as witnessed by his 1998 song "[[My Father's Eyes (song)|My Father's Eyes]]". A [[Montreal]] journalist named Michael Woloschuk researched Canadian Armed Forces service records and tracked down members of Fryer's family, and finally pieced together the story. He learned that Clapton's father was Edward Walter Fryer, born {{nowrap|21 March}} 1920, in [[Montreal]] and died {{nowrap|15 May 1985}} in [[Newmarket, Ontario]]. Fryer was a musician (piano and saxophone) and a lifelong drifter who was married several times, had several children, and apparently never knew that he was the father of Eric Clapton.<ref>{{cite news | work = [[Ottawa Citizen]] | url = http://www.eric-clapton.co.uk/interviewsandarticles/hisfatherseyes.htm | title = His Father's Eyes | first = Michael | last = Woloschuk |date= 26 March 1998 |page= A1 | access-date = 17 February 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070129210214/http://www.eric-clapton.co.uk/interviewsandarticles/hisfatherseyes.htm | archive-date = 29 January 2007 | url-status = dead }}</ref> Clapton thanked Woloschuk in an encounter at [[Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport|Macdonald–Cartier Airport]], in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.<ref>{{cite news | work = Canoe Jam | url = http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/C/Clapton_Eric/1998/09/16/743979.html | title = Clapton Thanks Reporter | first = Michael | last = Woloschuk | access-date = 17 February 2007 | url-status=usurped | archive-url = https://archive.today/20120712085125/http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/C/Clapton_Eric/1998/09/16/743979.html | archive-date = 12 July 2012}}</ref>

On 26 February 2008, it was reported that Clapton had been invited to play a concert in North Korea by government officials.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Music/02/26/clapton.northkorea.ap/index.html |title=Eric Clapton 'receives North Korean invite' |work=CNN|date=26 February 2008 |access-date=26 February 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080303060303/http://edition.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Music/02/26/clapton.northkorea.ap/index.html |archive-date=3 March 2008 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> Clapton agreed in principle and suggested it take place in 2009.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7265467.stm | title = Clapton asked to play in North Korea | work = BBC News | date = 26 February 2008 | access-date = 26 February 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080302045018/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7265467.stm | archive-date = 2 March 2008 | url-status = live }}</ref> Kristen Foster, a spokesperson for Clapton, said that he regularly received offers to play abroad and that there had been no agreement for him to play in North Korea.<ref>{{cite news |date=27 February 2008 |title=North Korea Seeks A Clapton Concert |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=980DE2DE113FF934A15751C0A96E9C8B63 |url-status=live |access-date=7 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120312082500/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=980DE2DE113FF934A15751C0A96E9C8B63 |archive-date=12 March 2012}}</ref> In February 2008, Clapton performed with his long-time friend [[Steve Winwood]] at Madison Square Garden and guested on his recorded single, "Dirty City", on Winwood's album ''[[Nine Lives (Steve Winwood album)|Nine Lives]]''. The two former Blind Faith bandmates met again for a series of 14 concerts throughout the United States in June 2009. Clapton's 2008 Summer Tour began on {{nowrap|3 May}} at the [[Ford Amphitheatre (Tampa)|Ford Amphitheatre]], [[Tampa, Florida]], and then moved to Canada, Ireland, England, Norway, Iceland, Denmark, Poland, Germany, and Monaco. On {{nowrap|28 June}} 2008, he headlined Saturday night for [[Hard Rock Calling]] 2008 in London's Hyde Park (previously Hyde Park Calling) with support from [[Sheryl Crow]] and [[John Mayer]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://2008.hardrockcalling.co.uk/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100316200910/http://2008.hardrockcalling.co.uk/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 March 2010 |title=Hard Rock Calling |work=Live Nation (Music) UK Limited |publisher=Hard Rock Calling |access-date=7 May 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ericclapton-online.com/2008-summer-tour/hard-rock-calling-hyde-park-london-saturday-28-june-2008.html |title=Hard Rock Calling, Hyde Park, London Saturday 28&nbsp;June 2008 |publisher=Eric Clapton Online |access-date=7 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710195435/http://www.ericclapton-online.com/2008-summer-tour/hard-rock-calling-hyde-park-london-saturday-28-june-2008.html |archive-date=10 July 2011 }}</ref>

[[File:Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs.jpg|thumb|left|Clapton (right) performing with [[the Allman Brothers Band]] at the [[Beacon Theatre (New York City)|Beacon Theatre]], New York City, in March 2009]]
In March 2009, the Allman Brothers Band (amongst many notable guests) celebrated their 40th year, dedicating their string of concerts to the late Duane Allman on their annual run at the [[Beacon Theatre (New York City)|Beacon Theatre]]. Eric Clapton was one of the performers, with drummer [[Butch Trucks]] remarking that the performance was not the typical Allman Brothers experience, given the number and musical styles of the guests who were invited to perform. Songs like "[[In Memory of Elizabeth Reed]]" were punctuated with others, including "[[The Weight]]", with [[Levon Helm]]; [[Johnny Winter]] sitting in on Hendrix's "[[Red House (song)|Red House]]"; and "Layla". On {{nowrap|4 May}} 2009 Clapton appeared at the Royal Albert Hall, playing "[[Further on Up the Road]]" with [[Joe Bonamassa]].

Clapton was scheduled to perform at the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]]'s 25th anniversary concert in Madison Square Garden on {{nowrap|30 October}} 2009, but cancelled due to [[gallstone]] surgery.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://entertainment.oneindia.in/music/international/2009/eric-out-rocknroll-hall-gig-281009.html|title=Eric Clapton pulls out of rock and roll gig|date=28 October 2009|publisher=entertainment.oneindia.in|access-date=30 October 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515171531/http://entertainment.oneindia.in/music/international/2009/eric-out-rocknroll-hall-gig-281009.html|archive-date=15 May 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Van Morrison]] (who also cancelled)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2009/10/leonard_cohen_a_2.html|title=Leonard Cohen and Van Morrison at MSG this weekend but Van will not be back for Rock Hall of Fame|publisher=brooklynvegan.com|access-date=30 October 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091028132710/http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2009/10/leonard_cohen_a_2.html|archive-date=28 October 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> said in an interview that he and Clapton were to do a "couple of songs", but that they would do something else together at "some other stage of the game".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wabcradio.com/sectional.asp?id=22807|title=Imus in the morning: highlights and interviews|publisher=wabcradio.com|access-date=30 October 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090516023944/http://www.wabcradio.com/sectional.asp?id=22807|archive-date=16 May 2009}}</ref>

===''Clapton'', ''Old Sock'', ''I Still Do'', and ''Happy Xmas''===
Clapton performed a two-night show with [[Jeff Beck]] at [[The O2 Arena|the O<sub>2</sub> Arena]] in London on {{nowrap|13–14 February}} 2010.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/live-music-reviews/7238056/Eric-Clapton-and-Jeff-Beck-at-the-O2-Arena-review.html | work=The Daily Telegraph | location=London | title=Eric Clapton & Jeff Beck at the O2 Arena, review | first=Neil | last=McCormick | date=14 February 2010 | access-date=2 May 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100217050705/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/live-music-reviews/7238056/Eric-Clapton-and-Jeff-Beck-at-the-O2-Arena-review.html | archive-date=17 February 2010 | url-status=live }}</ref> The two former Yardbirds extended their 2010 tour with stops at Madison Square Garden,<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/20/arts/music/20clapton.html | work=The New York Times | title=Yes, Two Guitar Idols Are Better Than One | first=Ben | last=Ratliff | date=20 February 2010 | access-date=2 May 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100225041133/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/20/arts/music/20clapton.html | archive-date=25 February 2010 | url-status=live }}</ref> the [[Air Canada Centre]] in Toronto, and the [[Bell Centre]] in Montreal.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/eric-clapton/47471|title=Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck announce London O2 Arena gig|work=NME|location=UK|date=23 November 2009|access-date=21 October 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090927145303/http://www.nme.com/news/eric-clapton/47471|archive-date=27 September 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> Clapton performed a series of concerts in 11 cities throughout the United States from {{nowrap|25 February}} to {{nowrap|13 March}} 2010, including [[Roger Daltrey]] as opening act. His third European tour with [[Steve Winwood]] began on {{nowrap|18 May}} and ended {{nowrap|13 June}}, including [[Tom Norris (musician)|Tom Norris]] as opening act. He then began a short North American tour lasting from {{nowrap|26 June}} to {{nowrap|3 July}}, starting with his third Crossroads Guitar Festival on {{nowrap|26 June}} at [[Toyota Park]] in [[Bridgeview, Illinois]]. Clapton released a new studio album, ''[[Clapton (2010 album)|Clapton]]'', on {{nowrap|27 September}} 2010 in the United Kingdom and 28 September 2010 in the United States. On {{nowrap|17 November}} 2010, Clapton performed as guest on the [[Prince's Trust]] rock gala held at the Royal Albert Hall, supported by the house band for the evening, which included [[Jools Holland]], [[Midge Ure]] and [[Mark King (musician)|Mark King]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/celebritynews/8142012/In-pictures-The-Princes-Trust-Rock-Gala-2010.html?image=9|title=In pictures: The Prince's Trust Rock Gala 2010|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=22 September 2014|location=London|date=18 November 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150715075902/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/celebritynews/8142012/In-pictures-The-Princes-Trust-Rock-Gala-2010.html?image=9|archive-date=15 July 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Eric Clapton, Keb Mo and Buddy Guy 26Jun2010.jpg|thumb|Clapton, [[Keb' Mo']] and [[Buddy Guy]] at the [[Crossroads Guitar Festival]] on 26 June 2010]]
On 24 June 2011, Clapton was in concert with [[Pino Daniele]] in [[Cava de' Tirreni]] stadium before performing a series of concerts in South America from 6 to 16 October 2011. He spent November and December 2011 touring Japan with [[Steve Winwood]], playing 13 shows in various cities throughout the country. On 24 February 2012 Clapton, [[Keith Richards]], [[Gary Clark Jr.]], Derek Trucks, [[Doyle Bramhall II]], [[Kim Wilson]] and other artists performed together in the Howlin' For Hubert Tribute concert held at the [[Apollo Theater]] of New York City honouring blues guitarist [[Hubert Sumlin]] who died at age 80 on 4 December 2011. On 29 November 2012, Clapton joined [[the Rolling Stones]] at London's O2 Arena during the band's second of five arena dates celebrating their 50th anniversary.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rolling-stones/9735166/Rolling-Stones-to-perform-with-Lady-Gaga-and-Bruce-Springsteen.html|title=Rolling Stones to perform with Lady Gaga and Bruce Springsteen|work=The Telegraph|date=10 December 2012|access-date=22 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121211085124/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rolling-stones/9735166/Rolling-Stones-to-perform-with-Lady-Gaga-and-Bruce-Springsteen.html|archive-date=11 December 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> On 12 December, Clapton performed [[The Concert for Sandy Relief]] at Madison Square Garden, broadcast live via television, radio, cinemas and the Internet across six continents.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://entertainment.time.com/2012/12/13/sprinsteen-jagger-clapton-sandy-concert/|title=12 Unforgettable Photos from the Epic 12–12–12 Sandy Benefit Concert|magazine=Time|access-date=22 September 2014|date=13 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814133024/http://entertainment.time.com/2012/12/13/sprinsteen-jagger-clapton-sandy-concert/|archive-date=14 August 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> In January 2013, Surfdog Records announced a signed deal with Clapton for the release of his forthcoming album ''[[Old Sock]]'' on 12 March. On 8 April 2013, Eric and Hard Rock International launched the limited-edition Eric Clapton Artist Spotlight merchandise programme benefiting Crossroads Centre Antigua.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ticodo.com/blog/eric-claptons-t-shirt-hit-a-crossroads/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214073311/http://www.ticodo.com/blog/eric-claptons-t-shirt-hit-a-crossroads/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 December 2013 |title=Eric Clapton's T-Shirt Hit A Crossroad(s) |publisher=Ticodo |date=17 June 2013 |access-date=27 June 2013 }}</ref> Clapton toured the US and Europe from 14 March to 19 June 2013 to celebrate 50 years as a professional musician.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://coolalbumreview.com/?p=28839 |title=Eric Clapton Kicks Off 50th Anniversary Tour With Killer Setlist |publisher=Coolalbumreview.com |date=15 March 2013 |access-date=9 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130525030223/http://coolalbumreview.com/?p=28839 |archive-date=25 May 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> On 28 February 2013, Clapton announced his intention to stop touring in 2015 due to hassles with travel.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Eric Clapton: 'When I'm 70, I'll Stop Touring'|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/eric-clapton-when-im-70-ill-stop-touring-20130228|access-date=11 June 2014|magazine=Rolling Stone|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715031757/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/eric-clapton-when-im-70-ill-stop-touring-20130228|archive-date=15 July 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=More Signs Point Towards Eric Clapton Touring Retirement|url=http://www.jambase.com/articles/120902/more-signs-point-towards-eric-clapton-touring-retirement|publisher=JamBase|access-date=11 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611050117/http://www.jambase.com/Articles/120902/More-Signs-Point-Towards-Eric-Clapton-Touring-Retirement|archive-date=11 June 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:ECPrague2013.jpg|thumb|left|Clapton in Prague, June 2013, during his 50th Celebration World Tour]]
On 15 October 2013, Clapton's popular ''[[Unplugged (Eric Clapton album)|Unplugged]]'' album and concert DVD were re-released, titled ''Unplugged: Expanded & Remastered.''  The album includes the original 14 tracks, remastered, as well as 6 additional tracks, including 2 versions of "[[My Father's Eyes (song)|My Father's Eyes]]". The DVD includes a restored version of the concert, as well as over 60 minutes of unseen footage from the rehearsal. On 13 and 14 November 2013, Clapton headlined the final two evenings of the "[[Baloise Session]]", an annual indoor music festival in [[Basel]], Switzerland. On 20 November 2013, Warner Bros released [[Crossroads Guitar Festival]] 2013 in CD/DVD/Blu-ray. On 30 April 2014, Clapton announced the release of ''[[The Breeze: An Appreciation of JJ Cale]]'' as an homage to [[J. J. Cale]] who died on 26 July 2013. This tribute album is named after the 1972 single "[[Call Me the Breeze]]" and comprises 16 Cale songs performed by Clapton, [[Mark Knopfler]], John Mayer, [[Willie Nelson]], [[Tom Petty]] and others.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Eric Clapton and Friends Honor JJ Cale With New Tribute LP|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/eric-clapton-and-friends-honor-jj-cale-with-new-tribute-lp-20140430|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=30 April 2014|access-date=11 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140622012700/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/eric-clapton-and-friends-honor-jj-cale-with-new-tribute-lp-20140430|archive-date=22 June 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> 

On 21 June 2014, Clapton abruptly walked off stage during a concert at the [[Glasgow Hydro]]. Although he did return to perform one final song, thousands of fans were upset by the lack of explanation from Clapton or the venue and booed after the concert ended around 40 minutes before advertised to finish. Both Clapton and the venue apologised the next day, blaming 'technical difficulties' for making sound conditions 'unbearable' for Clapton on stage.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/arts-ents/music/review-eric-clapton-strops-off-stage-at-the-sse-hydro.1403387960|title=Fans' anger as Eric Clapton strops off stage at SSE Hydro|date=21 June 2014|work=The Herald|location=Glasgow|access-date=22 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140625025210/http://www.heraldscotland.com/arts-ents/music/review-eric-clapton-strops-off-stage-at-the-sse-hydro.1403387960|archive-date=25 June 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-27962617|title=Eric Clapton cuts short concert after 'technical issue'|date=22 June 2014|work=BBC News|access-date=22 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140624063428/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-27962617|archive-date=24 June 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/clapton-apologises-for-concert-exit.24556350|title=Clapton apologises for concert exit|date=23 June 2014|work=The Herald|location=Glasgow|access-date=23 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140625032330/http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/clapton-apologises-for-concert-exit.24556350|archive-date=25 June 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> A week later he confirmed his retirement plans, attributing his decision to the road being "unbearable" in addition to "odd ailments" that may force him to put down his guitar permanently.<ref>{{cite web|title=Eric Clapton Says Touring Has Become 'Unbearable,' Confirms Retirement Plans|date=27 June 2014 |url=http://ultimateclassicrock.com/eric-clapton-retire/|work=Ultimate Classic Rock|access-date=27 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140630011725/http://ultimateclassicrock.com/eric-clapton-retire/|archive-date=30 June 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> In a 2016 interview with ''[[Classic Rock (magazine)|Classic Rock]]'' magazine, Clapton said that he had been diagnosed with [[peripheral neuropathy]] in 2013, a condition involving damage to peripheral nerves that typically causes stabbing, burning, or tingling pain in the arms and legs.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/06/13/eric-clapton-reveals-nerve-damage-that-makes-playing-guitar-hard-work/ "Eric Clapton reveals nerve damage that makes playing guitar 'hard work'"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160621163134/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/06/13/eric-clapton-reveals-nerve-damage-that-makes-playing-guitar-hard-work/ |date=21 June 2016 }}. Washington Post.</ref>

[[File:Eric Clapton - Royal Albert Hall - Wednesday 24th May 2017 EricClaptonRAH240517-23 (34823535392).jpg|thumb|Clapton at the [[Royal Albert Hall]] in 2017 during his ''A Celebration of 50 Years of Music'' tour]]
Clapton performed two shows at [[Madison Square Garden]] in New York on 1 and 3 May 2015 followed by a 7-night residency at London's [[Royal Albert Hall]] from 14 to 23 May 2015 to celebrate his 70th birthday on 30 March.<ref name="Royal Albert Hall"/> The shows also mark 50 years since Clapton first played at the Royal Albert Hall – his debut was on 7 December 1964 when he performed as part of [[the Yardbirds]] for the [[BBC]]'s  ''Top Beat Show''.<ref name="Royal Albert Hall"/> The concert film, ''[[Slowhand at 70 – Live at the Royal Albert Hall]]'', was released by [[Eagle Rock Entertainment]] on 13 November 2015 on DVD, CD, [[Blu-ray]] and [[grammophone record|LP]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Eric Clapton "Slowhand at 70 – Live at the Royal Albert Hall"|url=http://www.eagle-rock.com/2015/09/eric-clapton-slowhand-at-70-live-at-the-royal-albert-hall/|access-date=17 November 2015|ref=Eagle Rock|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151118171608/http://www.eagle-rock.com/2015/09/eric-clapton-slowhand-at-70-live-at-the-royal-albert-hall/|archive-date=18 November 2015|url-status=usurped}}</ref> The 2-night concerts in the US marked the 46th anniversary since Clapton, with Cream, opened the "new" Madison Square Garden on 2 November 1968. Clapton has performed more times at Madison Square Garden than any other US venue, a total of 45 times.<ref name="MSG">{{cite magazine|title=Eric Clapton to Celebrate 70th Birthday With Two Shows at Madison Square Garden|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/eric-clapton-70-birthday-madison-square-garden-shows-6501911/|magazine=Billboard|date=23 April 2016|access-date=23 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160513101700/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/6501911/eric-clapton-70-birthday-madison-square-garden-shows|archive-date=13 May 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> On 20 May 2016, Clapton released his twenty-third studio album ''[[I Still Do]]''. On 30 September 2016 the live-album ''[[Live in San Diego (Eric Clapton album)|Live in San Diego]]'' was released.<ref>{{cite web|first=George|last=Varga|url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2016/aug/05/eric-clapton-jj-cale-live-album|title=Eric Clapton & JJ Cale's 'Live in San Diego' album announced|work=[[U-T San Diego]]|date=5 August 2016|access-date=5 August 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160806170101/http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2016/aug/05/eric-clapton-jj-cale-live-album/|archive-date=6 August 2016}}</ref> 

In August 2018, Clapton announced that he had recorded his twenty-fourth studio album, ''[[Happy Xmas (Eric Clapton album)|Happy Xmas]]'', which consists of blues-tinged interpretations of [[Christmas songs]], with the album released on 12 October.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Eric Clapton Readies First Christmas Album 'Happy Xmas'|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/eric-clapton-readies-first-christmas-album-happy-xmas-713027/|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=18 August 2018|access-date=18 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818110429/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/eric-clapton-readies-first-christmas-album-happy-xmas-713027/|archive-date=18 August 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Between April and September 2019, he played 17 concerts in Japan, Europe and the Southwestern United States. He returned to the road in September 2021, playing eight shows in the southern United States.<ref>{{cite web |last1=DeRiso |first1=Nick |title=Eric Clapton Sets Only 2021 North American Shows |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/eric-clapton-2021-american-tour/ |website=ultimateclassicrock.com |date=14 June 2021 |access-date=9 June 2022 |archive-date=9 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220609033051/https://ultimateclassicrock.com/eric-clapton-2021-american-tour/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In May 2022, Clapton announced a run of seven US concerts in September with [[Jimmie Vaughan]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Levy |first1=Matt |title=Eric Clapton mini-tour 2022: How to buy tickets, schedule, dates |url=https://www.nj.com/live-entertainment/2022/05/eric-clapton-mini-tour-2022-how-to-buy-tickets-schedule-dates.html |website=nj.com |date=22 May 2022 |publisher=Advance Local Media, LLC. |access-date=9 June 2022 |archive-date=31 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531163644/https://www.nj.com/live-entertainment/2022/05/eric-clapton-mini-tour-2022-how-to-buy-tickets-schedule-dates.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In May 2023, Clapton performed at the Jeff Beck tribute concerts held at the Royal Albert Hall, sharing the stage with [[Rod Stewart]], [[Ronnie Wood]], [[Kirk Hammett]] and [[Johnny Depp]] among others.<ref>{{cite news |title=Eric Clapton Leads Jeff Beck Tribute Concerts in London |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/eric-clapton-jeff-beck-tribute-concerts-london-2023/ |access-date=23 May 2023 |work=Ultimate Classic Rock |archive-date=23 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230523161340/https://ultimateclassicrock.com/eric-clapton-jeff-beck-tribute-concerts-london-2023/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2024, Clapton contributed guitar to a re-release of Mark Knopfler's "[[Going Home: Theme of the Local Hero]]" in aid of the [[Teenage Cancer Trust]].<ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.nme.com/news/music/mark-knopfler-recruits-bruce-springsteen-brian-may-ronnie-wood-teenage-cancer-trust-single-3584338 | title= Mark Knopfler recruits Bruce Springsteen, Brian May, Ronnie Wood and more for Teenage Cancer Trust single | work=NME | first=Liberty | last=Dunworth | date=8 February 2024 | access-date=4 March 2024}}</ref>

===''Meanwhile''===
{{Main|Meanwhile (Eric Clapton album)|l1=''Meanwhile'' (Eric Clapton album)}}
In May 2024, Clapton revealed in an interview with ''The Real Music Observer'' that he was working on a new studio album, titled [[Meanwhile (Eric Clapton album)|''Meanwhile'']], with the hopes of releasing it in the fall of that year.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://bluesrockreview.com/2024/05/eric-clapton-reveals-title-of-expected-2024-studio-album.html?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3c04JPdt0iJln1nXmWL7FmJQqLDREnsHqmY92rWVGkwmwV0PfsA357OWU_aem_AbxPSkEmZkxuyKFG-4HFAfuVFgSP18BCHScDHGMp4VUSZcZlVQ2nyC0YYOfEGzz4Swr9AVl8inctP72-eQrmOZ38 | title=Eric Clapton reveals title of expected 2024 studio album | date=24 May 2024 }}</ref>

==Influences==
[[File:Eric Clapton & B.B. King (4776991214).jpg|thumb|right|Clapton and [[B. B. King]] in 2010]]
Clapton cites [[Muddy Waters]], [[Freddie King]], [[B.B. King]], [[Albert King]], [[Buddy Guy]], and [[Hubert Sumlin]] as guitar-playing influences. In his 2007 autobiography, Clapton refers to Muddy Waters as "the father figure I never really had". Until his death in 1983, Waters was a part of Clapton's life. "When I got to know Muddy, unfortunately, my drinking career was in full sway."<ref>{{cite news |title=Eric Clapton Looks Back at His Blues Roots |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15333469 |access-date=23 May 2020 |publisher=NPR |archive-date=3 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200403104401/https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15333469 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2000, Clapton collaborated with B.B. King on their album ''[[Riding with the King (B.B. King and Eric Clapton album)|Riding with the King]]''. The music video for the title track shows Clapton as the [[chauffeur]], with one of his idols in the back seat.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Dean |first1=Maury |title=Rock N Roll Gold Rush: A Singles Un-Cyclopedia |date=2003 |publisher=Algora Publishing |page=239}}</ref>

Clapton has said that blues musician [[Robert Johnson]] is his single most important influence. In 2004, Clapton released ''[[Me and Mr. Johnson#Sessions for Robert J|Sessions for Robert Johnson]]'', containing covers of Johnson's songs using electric and acoustic guitars.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/me-and-mr-johnson-r682466/review|title=Eric Clapton: Me and Mr. Johnson|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=22 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110816035036/http://www.allmusic.com/album/me-and-mr-johnson-r682466/review|archive-date=16 August 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> In an essay for the [[The Complete Recordings (Robert Johnson album)|1990 boxed set of Johnson's recordings]], Clapton wrote:
{{blockquote|''Robert Johnson to me is the most important blues musician who ever lived''. He was true, absolutely, to his own vision, and as deep as I have gotten into the music over the last 30 years, ''I have never found anything more deeply soulful than Robert Johnson. His music remains the most powerful cry that I think you can find in the human voice, really'' ... it seemed to echo something I had always felt. [italics in original]<ref>{{Cite AV media notes| title = [[The Complete Recordings (Robert Johnson album)|The Complete Recordings]]| others = [[Robert Johnson]]| section = Discovering Robert Johnson| first = Eric| last = Clapton| type = Boxed set booklet| year = 1990| location = New York City| publisher = [[Columbia Records]]| id  = C2K 46222| oclc = 24547399}}</ref>}}

Clapton also singled out [[Buddy Holly]] as an influence. ''[[The "Chirping" Crickets]]'' was the first album Clapton ever bought; he later saw Holly on ''[[Sunday Night at the London Palladium]]''.<ref name="Holly"/> In his autobiography, Clapton recounts the first time he saw Holly and his Fender, saying, "I thought I'd died and gone to heaven&nbsp;... it was like seeing an instrument from outer space and I said to myself: 'That's the future – that's what I want.{{'"}}<ref name="Holly">Clapton, Eric (2010). ''Eric Clapton: The Autobiography''. p. 19. Random House.</ref> In the 2017 documentary film, ''[[Eric Clapton: Life in 12 Bars]]'', Clapton cites [[Bismillah Khan]] as an influence, adding that "I wanted my guitar to sound like his reed instrument."<ref name="RollingStone 2017"/> In the same documentary he also cited harmonica player [[Little Walter]] as an influence: "The sound he made with the harmonica playing through an amplifier. It was thick and fat and very melodic."<ref name="RollingStone 2017">{{cite magazine |title=10 Things We Learned From 'Eric Clapton: Life in 12 Bars' Doc |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/10-things-we-learned-from-eric-clapton-life-in-12-bars-doc-127351/ |access-date=14 April 2019 |magazine=Rolling Stone |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414212223/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/10-things-we-learned-from-eric-clapton-life-in-12-bars-doc-127351/ |archive-date=14 April 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Legacy==
[[File:The Yardbirds (1998) - Rock and Roll Hall of Fame handprints (2014 photograph).jpg|thumb|right|Clapton's handprints (far right) with other members of [[the Yardbirds]] at the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]]]]
Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and influential guitarists of all time.<ref name=AST/><ref name=Meisel>[[Perry Meisel|Meisel, Perry]] (2010) [https://books.google.com/books?id=igLwTjrIpMEC&pg=PA143 The myth of popular culture from Dante to Dylan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810044804/https://books.google.com/books?id=igLwTjrIpMEC&pg=PA143 |date=10 August 2023 }} p.143. Retrieved 30 December 2010</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3356959.stm|title=Eric Clapton: Blues guitar legend|publisher=BBC|access-date=22 September 2014|date=31 December 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809002346/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/3356959.stm|archive-date=9 August 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wPmuwEWoqyMC&q=Eric+Clapton+important+guitarist&pg=PA58 |title=Real Blues Guitar |first=Kenn |last=Chipkin |page=58 |publisher=Alfred Music Publishing, 1998 |access-date=15 January 2011 |isbn=978-0-89898-579-5 |date=March 1998 |archive-date=10 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810044804/https://books.google.com/books?id=wPmuwEWoqyMC&q=Eric+Clapton+important+guitarist&pg=PA58 |url-status=live }}</ref> Clapton is the only [[List of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees#Multiple inductees|three-time inductee]] to the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]]: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of [[the Yardbirds]] and [[Cream (band)|Cream]].<ref name="Rock Hall">{{cite web|url=http://rockhall.com/inductees/eric-clapton/|title=Eric Clapton Biography – The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum|publisher=Rockhall.com|access-date=22 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141012231539/http://www.rockhall.com/inductees/eric-clapton/|archive-date=12 October 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> He ranked second in ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' magazine's list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time"<ref name="RS">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-greatest-guitarists-20111123/eric-clapton-20111122|title=100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time – 2. Eric Clapton|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=30 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021001507/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-greatest-guitarists-20111123/eric-clapton-20111122|archive-date=21 October 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> and fourth in ''[[Gibson Guitar Corporation|Gibson's]]'' Top 50 Guitarists of All Time.<ref name="Gibson">{{cite web|url=http://www.gibson.com/en-us/lifestyle/Features/Top-50-Guitarists-528/|title=Top 50 Guitarists of All Time – 10 to 1|publisher=Gibson Guitar Company|access-date=22 July 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708022758/http://www.gibson.com/en%2Dus/Lifestyle/Features/Top%2D50%2DGuitarists%2D528/|archive-date=8 July 2011}}</ref>

In 2011, ''[[The Guardian]]'' attributed the creation of the cult of the guitar hero to Clapton, ranking it number seven on their list of the 50 key events in rock music history;

{{blockquote|Nothing is more central to rock mythology than the cult of the lead guitarist. And no one did more to create that cult than Eric Clapton. He had already been a member of the Yardbirds before joining John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, the clearing house for guitarists, in April 1965. His two stints with Mayall saw his reputation grow to the extent that a famous graffito captured the popular appraisal of him among rock fans: "[[Clapton is God]]".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hann|first1=Michael|title=Eric Clapton creates the cult of the guitar hero|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/jun/12/eric-clapton|work=The Guardian|date=12 June 2011|access-date=16 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170311172627/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/jun/12/eric-clapton|archive-date=11 March 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>}}

Elias Leight of ''Rolling Stone'' writes that Clapton "influenced recording techniques as well as guitar-playing technique".<ref name="RollingStone 2017"/> During recording sessions with John Mayall's group, Clapton was frustrated by technicians "that just came up to your amp with the microphone and just stuck it two inches away from the front of the amplifier. It seemed to me that if you wanted to get the atmosphere we were getting in the clubs, you needed it to sound like you were in the audience 10 feet away, not three inches". Clapton then moved the microphones, with Pink Floyd's [[Roger Waters]] stating, "That changed everything. Before Eric, guitar playing in England had been [[Hank Marvin]] of the Shadows, very simple, not much technique. Suddenly we heard something completely different. The records sounded unlike anything we had heard before."<ref name="RollingStone 2017"/>

In 2012, Clapton was among the British cultural icons selected by artist Sir [[Peter Blake (artist)|Peter Blake]] to appear in a new version of his artwork – the Beatles' ''[[Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band]]'' album cover – to celebrate the British cultural figures of his life that he most admires to mark his 80th birthday.<ref>{{cite news|title=New faces on Sgt Pepper album cover for artist Peter Blake's 80th birthday|url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2012/apr/02/peter-blake-sgt-pepper-cover-revisited|work=The Guardian|date=5 October 2016|access-date=5 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161105095109/https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2012/apr/02/peter-blake-sgt-pepper-cover-revisited|archive-date=5 November 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Indelibly linked to the [[Royal Albert Hall]] in London, a venue he has played at more than any other in his 50-year plus career, Clapton was inducted into the Royal Albert Hall's Walk of Fame in 2018, making him one of the first eleven recipients of a star on the walk, thus joining [[Muhammad Ali]], [[Winston Churchill]], the [[Suffragette]]s, and [[Albert Einstein]], among others who were viewed as "key players" in the building's history.<ref>{{cite news |title=Clapton, Churchill among those honoured by Royal Albert Hall 'Walk of Fame' |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/clapton-churchill-among-those-honoured-royal-albert-hall-125347984.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvLnVrLw&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAFXXAI6ns0rFC_N5Rnbz0xyc68toy51NbA9yIj6objCSzY0jcnG-4vj3QTFr9k8gnFzmddMw87WXrLtLoWMTNJH2wPaQCmSPX_J86MUPpvJOV1i9Q4JX-ZftpO0irhEwrveNh1KZA6n7o87jXG5OsCPxYphrDqzGBjkyNg4NXEZR |access-date=20 June 2022 |work=Yahoo |archive-date=7 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407115635/https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/clapton-churchill-among-those-honoured-royal-albert-hall-125347984.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvLnVrLw&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAFXXAI6ns0rFC_N5Rnbz0xyc68toy51NbA9yIj6objCSzY0jcnG-4vj3QTFr9k8gnFzmddMw87WXrLtLoWMTNJH2wPaQCmSPX_J86MUPpvJOV1i9Q4JX-ZftpO0irhEwrveNh1KZA6n7o87jXG5OsCPxYphrDqzGBjkyNg4NXEZR |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Robert Christgau]], in a dissenting appraisal of Clapton's legacy, writes:
{{blockquote|A promiscuous sideman whose monklike aura has never diminished his extravagant appetites, Clapton likes to get paid, and he's amassed a discography that for an artist of his caliber is remarkably undistinguished. In his self-protective self-deprecation he often attributes this to his own laziness or his need for a catalyst, but it's also guitar hero's disease: like many other guys whose hand-ear coordination is off the curve, he's a casual tunesmith and a corny lyricist, and his band concepts are chronically hit-or-miss.<ref>{{cite web|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|date=15 April 2020|url=https://robertchristgau.substack.com/p/xgau-sez-a49|title=Xgau Sez|website=And It Don't Stop|publisher=[[Substack]]|access-date=17 April 2020|archive-date=13 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200513061546/https://robertchristgau.substack.com/p/xgau-sez-a49|url-status=live}}</ref>}}Due to Clapton's impact in the music industry, he has also been mentioned in several songs. In "[[She's Leaving You]]", [[MJ Lenderman]] sings, "Believe that Clapton is the [[Second Coming|second coming]]", a reference to "[[Clapton is God]]".<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 June 2024 |title=MJ Lenderman Announces New Album 'Manning Fireworks': Hear "She's Leaving You" |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2269295/mj-lenderman-shes-leaving-you/music/ |access-date=6 December 2024 |website=Stereogum |language=en}}</ref> [[Phoebe Bridgers]] mentions Clapton in "[[Moon Song (Phoebe Bridgers song)|Moon Song]]", with the lyrics "We hate '[[Tears in Heaven]]' / But it's sad that his baby died", a reference to the death of Clapton's child, Conor. However, the original lyric, which she sometimes performs live, is "We hate Eric Clapton" instead of "We hate 'Tears in Heaven'."<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Lavin |first=Will |date=13 August 2020 |title=Phoebe Bridgers says Eric Clapton makes "extremely mediocre music" |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/phoebe-bridgers-says-eric-clapton-makes-extremely-mediocre-music-2727105 |access-date=6 December 2024 |website=NME |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Phoebe Bridgers – Moon Song (Live at Electric Lady) |url=https://genius.com/Phoebe-bridgers-moon-song-live-at-electric-lady-lyrics |access-date=6 December 2024}}</ref> She has said the lyric is because he is "a famous racist" and makes "extremely mediocre music".<ref name=":2" />

==Guitars==
[[File:Eric Clapton 1978.jpg|thumb|upright|Clapton with "[[Blackie (guitar)|Blackie]]" in 1978. He recorded hits such as "Cocaine", "I Shot the Sheriff", "Wonderful Tonight", "Further On Up the Road" and "Lay Down Sally" on Blackie.]]
Like [[Hank Marvin]], [[the Beatles]] and Jimi Hendrix, Clapton exerted a crucial and widespread influence in popularising particular models of electric guitar.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.legendarytones.com/claptonearly1.html |title=Clapton – The early years |publisher=Legendarytones.com |date=31 July 1966 |access-date=22 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091213035059/http://www.legendarytones.com/claptonearly1.html |archive-date=13 December 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> With the Yardbirds, Clapton played a Fender Telecaster, a [[Fender Jazzmaster]], a double-cutaway [[Gretsch 6120]], and a 1964 Cherry-Red Gibson ES-335. He became exclusively a Gibson player for a period beginning in mid-1965, when he purchased a used sunburst [[Gibson Les Paul]] guitar from a guitar store in London. Clapton commented on the slim profile of the neck, which would indicate it was a 1960 model.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.xs4all.nl/~slowhand/ecfaq/Le%20Paul.htm |title=Clapton's Bluesbreakers Guitar Was A 1960 Gibson Les Paul Standard |publisher=Xs4all.nl |access-date=22 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090716053139/http://www.xs4all.nl/~slowhand/ecfaq/Le%20Paul.htm |archive-date=16 July 2009 }}</ref>

Early during his stint in Cream, Clapton's first Les Paul Standard was stolen. He continued to play Les Pauls exclusively with Cream (one bought from [[Andy Summers]] was almost identical to the stolen guitar)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.guitarplayer.com/article/andy-summers/apr-07/27240 |title=Andy Summers |publisher=Guitarplayer.com |access-date=23 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090508121213/http://guitarplayer.com/article/andy-summers/apr-07/27240 |archive-date=8 May 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> until 1967, when he acquired his most famous guitar in this period, a 1964 [[Gibson SG]], dubbed "[[The Fool (guitar)|the Fool]]".<ref name=GIBS>Bob Gulla (2008) ''Guitar Gods: The 25 Players Who Made Rock History'' p.45. Retrieved 30 December 2010</ref> Clapton used both the Les Paul and the SG to create his self-described "woman tone".<ref name="Oxman">{{cite magazine
| last = Oxman
| first = J. Craig
| date = December 2011
| title = Clapton's Fool: History's Greatest Guitar?
| magazine = [[Vintage Guitar (magazine)|Vintage Guitar]]
| publisher = Alan Greenwood
| access-date = 8 May 2015
| url = http://www.vintageguitar.com/12684/claptons-fool/
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150419065246/http://www.vintageguitar.com/12684/claptons-fool/
| archive-date = 19 April 2015
| url-status = dead
}}</ref> He explained in a 1967 interview, "I am playing more smoothly now. I'm developing what I call my 'woman tone.' It's a sweet sound, something like the solo on 'I Feel Free'."<ref name="Oxman"/> Writer Michael Dregni describes it as "thick yet piercing, overdriven yet smooth, distorted yet creamy".<ref name="Dregni">{{cite news|title=The Dallas Rangemaster|last=Dregni|first=Michael|date=September 2014|work=[[Vintage Guitar (magazine)|Vintage Guitar]]|pages=46–49}}</ref> The tone is achieved by a combination of tone control settings on the guitars and Clapton's [[Marshall Amplifiers|Marshall]] JTM45 amplifier.<ref>{{cite web|title=How to Get Clapton's Classic 'Woman Tone'|first=Ted|last=Drozdowski|date=9 January 2009|work=Lifestyle|publisher=Gibson.com|access-date=6 August 2010|url=http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/ProductSpotlight/Tone-Tips/how-to-get-claptons-classic/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101202054456/http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/ProductSpotlight/Tone-Tips/how-to-get-claptons-classic/|archive-date=2 December 2010}}</ref>  ''[[Vintage Guitar (magazine)|Vintage Guitar]]'' magazine identifies "the opening riff and solo of 'Sunshine of Your Love' are arguably the best illustrations of full-blown woman tone".<ref name="Oxman"/> Clapton's "Fool" acquired its name from its distinctive psychedelic paint job, created by the visual art collective also known as [[The Fool (design collective)|the Fool]] (just before Cream's first US appearance in 1967, [[Gibson SG#Unique SGs|Clapton's SG]], Bruce's [[Fender VI]], and Baker's drum head were all repainted in psychedelic designs).

[[File:Eric Clapton 1.jpg|thumb|left|Clapton playing an [[Fender Eric Clapton Stratocaster|Eric Clapton Stratocaster]] at the Hard Rock Calling concert in Hyde Park, London, in 2008]]
In 1968, Clapton bought a [[Gibson Firebird]] and started using the 1964 Cherry-Red Gibson ES-335 again.<ref name=GIBS/> The aforementioned 1964 ES-335 had a storied career. Clapton used it at the last Cream show in November 1968 as well as with Blind Faith, played it sparingly for slide pieces in the 1970s, used it on "Hard Times" from ''[[Journeyman (album)|Journeyman]]'', the [[Live in Hyde Park (Eric Clapton album)|Hyde Park]] live concert of 1996, and the ''[[From the Cradle]]'' sessions and tour of 1994–95. It was sold for US$847,500 at a 2004 auction.<ref name="cdqimo">{{cite web |url=http://www.stratcollector.com/newsdesk/archives/000180.html |title=Eric Clapton Guitar Auction, 24&nbsp;June&nbsp;2004: More Information and Images |publisher=Stratcollector.com |date=18 March 2004 |access-date=22 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090219104222/http://www.stratcollector.com/newsdesk/archives/000180.html |archive-date=19 February 2009 }}</ref> Gibson produced a limited run of 250 "Crossroads 335" replicas. The 335 was only the second electric guitar Clapton bought.<ref>{{cite web |last=Ochoa |first=Hugh |url=http://www.stratcollector.com/newsdesk/archives/000257.html |title=2004 Eric Clapton Crossroads Guitar Auction: the Auction, the Burst Brothers, and Lee Dickson |publisher=Stratcollector.com |date=27 June 2004 |access-date=22 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090215035939/http://www.stratcollector.com/newsdesk/archives/000257.html |archive-date=15 February 2009 }}</ref>

In July 1968 Clapton gave George Harrison a 1957 'goldtop' Gibson Les Paul that been refinished with a red colour, nicknamed [[Lucy (George Harrison guitar)|Lucy]]. The following September, Clapton played the guitar on the Beatles' recording of "[[While My Guitar Gently Weeps]]". Lucy was stolen from Harrison, though later tracked down and returned to him – he lent it to Clapton for his 1973 comeback [[Eric Clapton's Rainbow Concert|concert at the Rainbow]]. His SG "The Fool" found its way into the hands of George Harrison's friend [[Jackie Lomax]], who subsequently sold it to musician [[Todd Rundgren]] for US$500 in 1972. Rundgren restored the guitar and nicknamed it "Sunny", after "Sunshine of Your Love". He retained it until 2000, when he sold it at an auction for US$150,000.<ref name =GIBS/> At the 1969 Blind Faith concert in [[Hyde Park, London|Hyde Park]], London Clapton played a [[Fender Musical Instruments Corporation|Fender]] Custom [[Telecaster]], which was fitted with "[[Brownie (guitar)|Brownie]]"{{'}}s neck.

[[File:Hard Rock Cafe London Clapton's guitar Fender.JPG|thumb|right|Clapton's Lead II Fender, the first ever piece of memorabilia donated to the [[Hard Rock Cafe]], London, in 1979]]
In late 1969 Clapton made the switch to the [[Fender Stratocaster]]. "I had a lot of influences when I took up the Strat. First there was [[Buddy Holly]], and [[Buddy Guy]]. [[Hank Marvin]] was the first well known person over here in England who was using one, but that wasn't really my kind of music. [[Steve Winwood]] had so much credibility, and when he started playing one, I thought, oh, if he can do it, I can do it".<ref>{{cite book|first=Tom|last=Wheeler|title=The Stratocaster Chronicles: Celebrating 50 Years of the Fender Strat|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=za1MQ9gITagC&pg=PA8|year=2004|publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation|isbn=978-0-634-05678-9|page=8|access-date=12 March 2016|archive-date=10 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810044803/https://books.google.com/books?id=za1MQ9gITagC&pg=PA8|url-status=live}}</ref> The first—used during the recording of ''[[Eric Clapton (album)|Eric Clapton]]''—was "Brownie", which in 1973 became the backup to the most famous of all Clapton's guitars, "[[Blackie (guitar)|Blackie]]". In November 1970 Eric bought six Fender Stratocasters from the Sho-bud guitar shop in [[Nashville, Tennessee]] while on tour with the Dominos. He gave one each to George Harrison, Steve Winwood, and Pete Townshend. His first Stratocaster, Brownie, was purchased on 7 May 1967<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.groundguitar.com/eric-clapton-gear/eric-claptons-1956-fender-stratocaster-brownie/|title=Eric Clapton's 1956 Fender Stratocaster "Brownie"|first=Dan|last=Kopilovic|date=16 July 2018|website=Ground Guitar}}</ref> and made its debut in 1970 on his first solo album, in concert with Derek and the Dominos as well on the album Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs. 
<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.guitarplayer.com/gear/the-guitar-gear-behind-derek-and-the-dominos-layla/|title=The Guitar Gear Behind Derek & the Dominos' 'Layla'|author1=Christopher Scapelliti|date=22 July 2020|website=Guitar Player}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite book|author = Clapton, Eric|title = Clapton, The Autobiography|url = https://archive.org/details/claptonautobiogr00clap|url-access = registration|date = 2007|publisher = Broadway Books|page = [https://archive.org/details/claptonautobiogr00clap/page/544 544]|isbn = 9780385518512}}</ref>

Clapton assembled the best components of the remaining three to create "Blackie", which was his favourite stage guitar until its retirement in 1985. It was first played live {{nowrap|13 January}} 1973 at the [[Rainbow Concert]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Landers |first=Rick |url=http://www.stratcollector.com/newsdesk/archives/000259.html |title=Strat Collector News Desk: An Interview with Eric Clapton Guitar Technician Lee Dickson |publisher=Stratcollector.com |date=28 June 2004 |access-date=22 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090327094222/http://www.stratcollector.com/newsdesk/archives/000259.html |archive-date=27 March 2009 }}</ref> Clapton called the 1956/57 Strat a "mongrel".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.xs4all.nl/~slowhand/ecfaq/guitars.html |title=The Eric Clapton FAQ – Guitars |publisher=Xs4all.nl |date=3 September 2001 |access-date=22 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090823121845/http://www.xs4all.nl/~slowhand/ecfaq/guitars.html |archive-date=23 August 2009 }}</ref> On {{nowrap|24 June}} 2004, Clapton sold "Blackie" at [[Christie's]] Auction House, New York, for US$959,500 to raise funds for his [[Crossroads Centre]] for drug and alcohol addictions.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://www.christies.com/promos/jun04/claptonGuitars/overview.asp |title=Christie's – Eric Clapton Guitars |date=14 June 2004 |access-date=30 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040614191019/http://www.christies.com/promos/jun04/claptonGuitars/overview.asp |archive-date=14 June 2004 }}</ref> "Brownie" is now on display at the [[Experience Music Project]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/ericclapton/articles/story/8928554/rock_memorabilia_market_booms |title=Rock Memorabilia Market Booms: Eric Clapton |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=22 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090715090305/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/ericclapton/articles/story/8928554/rock_memorabilia_market_booms |archive-date=15 July 2009 }}</ref> The [[Fender Custom Shop]] has since produced a limited run of 275 'Blackie' replicas, correct in every detail right down to the 'Duck Brothers' flight case, and artificially aged using Fender's "[[Relic'ing|Relic]]" process to simulate years of hard wear. One was presented to Clapton upon the model's release and was used for three numbers during a concert at the Royal Albert Hall on {{nowrap|17 May}} 2006.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://gc.guitarcenter.com/clapton/detail.cfm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071023062709/http://gc.guitarcenter.com/clapton/detail.cfm |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 October 2007 |title=Eric Clapton's Blackie – Guitar Center |publisher=Gc.guitarcenter.com |access-date=22 August 2010 }}</ref> In 1979, Clapton gave his signed Fender Lead II guitar to the [[Hard Rock Cafe]] in London to designate his favourite bar stool. Pete Townshend also donated his own Gibson Les Paul guitar, with a note attached: "Mine's as good as his! Love, Pete".<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SDJitKagniUC&pg=PA164|title=Clapton's guitar: watching Wayne Henderson build the perfect instrument|isbn=9780743281980|last1=John|first1=Allen St|date=2005|publisher=Simon and Schuster |access-date=12 March 2016|archive-date=10 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810044804/https://books.google.com/books?id=SDJitKagniUC&pg=PA164|url-status=live}}</ref>

Signature guitars in Clapton's honour are made by Fender and [[C.F. Martin & Company]]. In 1988, Fender introduced his signature [[Eric Clapton Stratocaster]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Heritage Music and Entertainment Dallas Signature Auction Catalog #634|date=2006|publisher=Ivy Press Heritage Capital Corporation|page=181}}</ref> Several signature-model 000-sized acoustic guitars made by Martin. The first, of these, introduced in 1995, was a limited edition 000-42EC Eric Clapton signature model with a production run of 461. For the single "[[Change the World]]" (1996) and the album ''[[Pilgrim (Eric Clapton album)|Pilgrim]]'' (1998) he used a Martin 000-28 EC Eric Clapton signature model, which he subsequently gave to guitarist [[Paul Wassif]].<ref name="Bonhams Auction Clapton Guitar">{{cite web|url=https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/19037/lot/269/|title=Bonhams Auction|publisher=Bonhams.com|access-date=22 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141119042846/https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/19037/lot/269/|archive-date=19 November 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> His 1939 000-42 Martin that he played on the ''Unplugged'' album sold for US$791,500 at auction.<ref name = "cdqimo"/> Clapton uses [[Ernie Ball]] Slinky and Super Slinky strings, gauge .10 to.46.<ref>{{cite web
 |title=Ernie Ball – Artists 
 |publisher=Ernie Ball 
 |url=http://www.ernieball.com/artists.php 
 |access-date=21 August 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080805040814/http://www.ernieball.com/artists.php 
 |archive-date=5 August 2008 |url-status=live
}}</ref> His guitar technician for over thirty years was Lee Dickson.<ref>{{cite news|title=Lee Dickson: Three Decades with Clapton|pages=44–48|last=Kelly|first=Will|newspaper=[[Vintage Guitar (magazine)|Vintage Guitar]]}}</ref>

== Other media appearances ==
[[File:EricClaptonRockWalkHollywood.jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|Clapton's handprints in Hollywood, California]]
Clapton appeared in the movie version of ''Tommy'', the first full-length [[rock opera]], written by the Who. In the movie version, Clapton appeared as the Preacher, performing [[Sonny Boy Williamson II|Sonny Boy Williamson's]] song, "Eyesight to the Blind". He appeared in ''[[Blues Brothers 2000]]'' as one of the Louisiana Gator Boys. In addition to being in the band, he had a small speaking role. Clapton has appeared in an advertisement for the [[Mercedes-Benz G-Class|Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen]]. In March 2007 Clapton appeared in an advertisement<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://play.rbn.com/?url=realguide/music/ads/clapton.smi 
 |title=Rhapsody.com Eric Clapton advert 
 |access-date=23 March 2007 |year=2007 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130814134552/http://play.rbn.com/?url=realguide%2Fmusic%2Fads%2Fclapton.smi 
 |archive-date=14 August 2013 }}</ref> for [[RealNetworks|RealNetwork's]] [[Rhapsody (online music service)|Rhapsody online music service]]. In 2010, Clapton started appearing as a spokesman for [[T-Mobile International AG|T-Mobile]], advertising their [[HTC Magic|MyTouch]] Fender cell phone. Clapton also appeared in the 2011 BBC documentary ''Reggae Got Soul: The Story of [[Toots and the Maytals]]'', which was described as "The untold story of one of the most influential artists ever to come out of Jamaica."<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00ymljb "Toots and the Maytals: Reggae Got Soul"] . BBC Four (documentary). Directed by George Scott. UK. 2011. 59 min. Retrieved 15 December 2016.</ref>

When asked to describe God by their minister, the characters [[Eric Forman (That '70s Show)|Eric Forman]] and [[Steven Hyde]] both drew an image of Clapton in the episode "[[Holy Crap!]]" of season two of ''[[That '70s Show]]''.<ref>{{cite news|title=That '70s Show. Series 2. Episode "Holy Crap"|url=http://iview.abc.net.au/programs/that-70s-show/ZW0132A023S00|agency=ABC|date=17 December 2017|access-date=17 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122212435/http://iview.abc.net.au/programs/that-70s-show/ZW0132A023S00|archive-date=22 January 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Clapton appeared on the BBC's ''[[Top Gear (2002 TV series)|Top Gear]]'' in 2013, during [[Top Gear (series 19)|Series 19 Episode 4]] and was involved in testing the new [[Kia Ceed]]. He was called upon to test the Ceed's auxiliary input, which he tested by plugging in one of his guitars and playing several bars of his most famous hits. He was introduced by ''Top Gear'' host [[Jeremy Clarkson]] as a "local guitarist".<ref>{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGgP6-0yGJc|title=Eric Clapton plays guitar on a KIA Cee'd|date=18 February 2013|via=YouTube|access-date=27 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015223238/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGgP6-0yGJc|archive-date=15 October 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2017, a documentary film titled ''Eric Clapton: Life in 12 Bars'' was directed by [[Lili Fini Zanuck]].<ref name="Jones">{{cite news|title=Lili Fini Zanuck: Director says 2017 'wasn't a turning point' for Hollywood|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-42554177|last=Jones|first=Emma|author-link=Emma Jones (journalist)|access-date=6 January 2018|work=[[BBC News]]|date=4 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180105130621/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-42554177|archive-date=5 January 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Clapton wrote the film score for Zanuck's 1991 film ''[[Rush (1991 film)|Rush]]'' and the two remained friends.<ref name="Jones"/> In an interview for BBC News, Zanuck said that Clapton only agreed to participate if she directed it:
{{blockquote|I think this got made because Eric was in the right mood. He's an incredibly private man and despite his immense success, he's never cared if he got any publicity at all, he just loves his music{{nbsp}}... I think it might be something to do with his age, as he turned 70 a couple of years ago. He said to me, "I didn't want it to be done after I was dead and for it to be wrong." Maybe he thought his time had come to lay it all out on the table.<ref name="Jones"/>}}''[[Nothing but the Blues (film)|Nothing but the Blues]]'' is a 1995 documentary film about Clapton's musical journey and his love for the blues. [[Martin Scorsese]] was one of the executive producers.

==Personal life==
===Relationships===
Clapton's partner from the late 1960s to 1974 was [[Alice Ormsby-Gore]], a British aristocrat. They were together for three years and were both addicted to heroin.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Coleman |first1=Ray |title=Survivor: The Authorised Biography of Eric Clapton |date=1986 |publisher=Sphere Books |location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Neal |first1=Toby |title=How Shropshire aristocrat kept Eric Clapton company during his darkest days |url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/features/2021/09/01/how-love-made-peers-daughter-a-rock-casualty/ |access-date=7 September 2022 |work=Shropshire Star |date=1 September 2021 |language=en |archive-date=4 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220904175551/https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/features/2021/09/01/how-love-made-peers-daughter-a-rock-casualty/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He briefly dated [[funk]] singer [[Betty Davis]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://jazztimes.com/features/eric-clapton-extra-cream/|title=Eric Clapton: Extra Cream|last=Varga|first=George|date=1 July 2006|website=JazzTimes|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225175555/https://jazztimes.com/features/eric-clapton-extra-cream/|archive-date=25 December 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/20269/1/nasty-gal-betty-davis|title=The singer, whose sexually potent 70s funk blueprint virtually created its own genre, talks about her personal soul revolution|last=Hundley|first=Jessica|date=15 June 2014|website=Dazed|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225175240/http://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/20269/1/nasty-gal-betty-davis|archive-date=25 December 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> 

Clapton became friends with George Harrison in the late 1960s and they began writing and recording music together. Clapton fell in love with [[Pattie Boyd]], who was married to Harrison at this time.<ref>Tillery, Gary (2011). Working Class Mystic: A Spiritual Biography of George Harrison. p.92. Wheaton, IL: Quest Books. </ref> Harrison and Boyd divorced in 1977 and she married Clapton on 27 March 1979, in Tucson, Arizona.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Brean |first1=Henry |title=Get back, Jo Jo: New documentary captures moment Tucson landed in Beatles hit song |url=https://tucson.com/news/local/get-back-jo-jo-new-documentary-captures-moment-tucson-landed-in-beatles-hit-song/article_9c89c8f0-53e8-11ec-9485-fb56fd5479b1.html |access-date=26 December 2021 |date=24 December 2021 |archive-date=26 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211226133926/https://tucson.com/news/local/get-back-jo-jo-new-documentary-captures-moment-tucson-landed-in-beatles-hit-song/article_9c89c8f0-53e8-11ec-9485-fb56fd5479b1.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Their marriage was marred by his infidelities and [[domestic violence]]. During a 1999 interview with ''[[The Sunday Times]]'', Clapton admitted to raping and abusing her when they were married and he was a "full-blown" alcoholic who felt entitled to sex.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://apnews.com/article/314a3a689dd3e15ebbc8d567dfadb06f|title=Clapton Admits Abusing Wife|date=27 June 1999|publisher=Associated Press|access-date=26 July 2021|archive-date=14 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614121203/https://apnews.com/article/314a3a689dd3e15ebbc8d567dfadb06f|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1984, while recording ''Behind the Sun'', Clapton began a relationship with Yvonne Kelly, the manager of [[AIR Montserrat|AIR Studios Montserrat]]. Although both were married to other partners at the time, they had a daughter named Ruth Kelly Clapton in January 1985. Ruth's existence was kept from the public until the media realised she was his child in 1991.<ref>Schumacher, Michael (1992), p. 263.</ref><ref>Sandford, Christopher (1994). ''Clapton: Edge of Darkness'', Victor Gollancz, p. 210.</ref>

Clapton and Boyd tried unsuccessfully to have children, even trying [[in vitro fertilisation]] in 1984, but were faced instead with miscarriages.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Boyd |first1=Pattie |last2=Junor |first2=Penny |title=Wonderful Tonight: George Harrison, Eric Clapton, and Me |publisher=Random House |year=2008 |page=233 |isbn=978-0307450227}}</ref> He had an affair with Italian model [[Lory Del Santo]], who gave birth to their son, Conor, on 21 August 1986. Clapton and Boyd later divorced in 1989 after she was "utterly devastated" by his confession to impregnating Del Santo during this affair. Conor died on 20 March 1991 at the age of four after falling out of an open bedroom window on the 53rd floor of [[the Galleria (Manhattan)|the Galleria]] apartment building in Manhattan.<ref>Details on Del Santo and their son:
*{{cite news|first=Steve|last=Halvonik|url=https://www.post-gazette.com/ae/books/2018/12/21/Slowhand-Life-Music-Eric-Clapton-Philip-Norman/stories/201812230009|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|title='Slowhand' uncovers the traumas, tragedies and triumphs of Eric Clapton|date=21 December 2018|access-date=28 August 2021|archive-date=28 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210828235204/https://www.post-gazette.com/ae/books/2018/12/21/Slowhand-Life-Music-Eric-Clapton-Philip-Norman/stories/201812230009|url-status=live}}
*{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/article/b8f92979f389bfe3421c68fc2d35966b|work=Associated Press News|title=Eric Clapton's Son Killed in Fall from 53rd Floor Window|first=Rick|last=Hampson|date=20 March 1991|access-date=28 August 2021|archive-date=23 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723131011/https://apnews.com/article/b8f92979f389bfe3421c68fc2d35966b|url-status=live}}
*{{cite magazine|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2007/11/clapton200711|title=Eric Clapton's Salvation Road|first=Eric|last=Clapton|magazine=Vanity Fair|date=22 October 2007|access-date=28 August 2021}}</ref>

In 1998, Clapton, then 53, met 22-year-old administrative assistant Melia McEnery in [[Columbus, Ohio]], at a party given for him after a performance. He quietly dated her for a year, and went public with the relationship in 1999. They married on {{nowrap|1 January}} 2002 at St Mary Magdalene Church in Clapton's birthplace, [[Ripley, Surrey|Ripley]]. They have three daughters.

===Health===
Clapton gave up  alcohol and other recreational drugs in 1982, after a period of addiction.<ref>{{cite news|title=Eric Clapton: Blues guitar legend|website=[[BBC News]]|date=3 November 2004|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3978109.stm|access-date=5 June 2024|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170314084724/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3978109.stm|archive-date=14 March 2017}}</ref> A former heavy cigarette smoker, Clapton quit smoking in 1994.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.eric-clapton.co.uk/interviewsandarticles/frostinterview.htm | title=David Frost Interviews Eric Clapton }}</ref>

== Political opinions ==

=== "Keep Britain White" ===
On 5 August 1976, Clapton spoke out against increasing immigration during a concert in [[Birmingham]].<ref>{{cite web|first=David|last=Stubbs|url=https://thequietus.com/articles/20701-eric-clapton-racism-morrissey|title=Eric Clapton & Enoch Powell to Morrissey: Race in British Music Since '76|website=[[The Quietus]]|date=9 August 2016|access-date=3 July 2021|archive-date=19 April 2017|archive-url=https://archive.today/20170419140952/http://thequietus.com/articles/20701-eric-clapton-racism-morrissey|url-status=live}}</ref> Visibly intoxicated on stage, Clapton voiced his support for the right-wing British politician [[Enoch Powell]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://microsites.virgin.net/music/pictures/profiles/when-popstars-get-political.php?ssid=6 |title=When popstars talk politics: Clapton's shocking rant |publisher=[[Virgin Media]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090218181949/http://microsites.virgin.net/music/pictures/profiles/when-popstars-get-political.php?ssid=6 |archive-date=18 February 2009 |access-date=6 June 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2007/oct/14/popandrock2 |work=[[The Guardian]] |title=The ten right-wing rockers |first=Luke |last=Bainbridge |date=14 October 2007 |access-date=7 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818152641/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2007/oct/14/popandrock2 |archive-date=18 August 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|first=Barry|last=Miles|title=London Calling: A Countercultural History of London since 1945|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gYn87V36p5AC&pg=PT238|publisher=Atlantic Books|location=London|year=2010|isbn=978-1-848875548|page=|access-date=21 July 2022|archive-date=10 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810045109/https://books.google.com/books?id=gYn87V36p5AC&pg=PT238|url-status=live}}</ref> He addressed the audience as follows:
{{blockquote| Do we have any foreigners in the audience tonight? If so, please put up your hands. So where are you? Well wherever you all are, I think you should all just leave. Not just leave the hall, leave our country. I don't want you here, in the room or in my country. Listen to me, man! I think we should vote for Enoch Powell. Enoch's our man. I think Enoch's right, I think we should send them all back. Stop Britain from becoming a black colony. Get the foreigners out. Get the [[wogs]] out. Get the [[wikt:coon|coons]] out. Keep Britain white. I used to be into dope, now I'm into racism. It's much heavier, man. Fucking wogs, man. Fucking [[Saudis]] taking over London. Bastard wogs. Britain is becoming overcrowded and Enoch will stop it and send them all back. The black wogs and coons and Arabs and fucking Jamaicans don't belong here, we don't want them here. This is England, this is a white country, we don't want any black wogs and coons living here. We need to make clear to them they are not welcome. England is for white people, man. This is Great Britain, a white country, what is happening to us, for fuck's sake? Throw the wogs out! Keep Britain white!<ref>{{cite web|first=Andrew|last=Marzoni|url=https://thebaffler.com/latest/the-fairest-soul-brother-in-england-marzoni|title=The Fairest Soul Brother in England|website=[[The Baffler]]|date=26 February 2019|access-date=3 July 2021|archive-date=22 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722100602/https://thebaffler.com/latest/the-fairest-soul-brother-in-england-marzoni|url-status=live}}</ref>}}

"Keep Britain White" was, at the time, a slogan of the far-right [[National Front (UK)|National Front]] (NF).<ref>{{cite news |work=The Independent |location=London |access-date=18 January 2010 |title=Dabbling in right wing politics – David Bowie, Brian Ferry and Eric Clapton |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/the-ten-worst-rocknroll-career-moves-1774270.html?action=Popup&ino=3 |first=John |last=Hall |date=19 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090827082948/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/the-ten-worst-rocknroll-career-moves-1774270.html?action=Popup&ino=3 |archive-date=27 August 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>''Rebel Rock'' by J. Street. First Edition (1986). Oxford Press Basil Blackwell.pp.74–75.</ref> This incident, along with some controversial remarks made around the same time by [[David Bowie]],<ref name=TW/> were the main catalysts for the creation of [[Rock Against Racism]], with a concert on 30 April 1978.<ref name=racism>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/apr/20/popandrock.race |first=Sarfraz |last=Manzoor |author-link=Sarfraz Manzoor |date=20 April 2008 |access-date=18 January 2010 |work=[[The Observer]] |title=The year rock found the power to unite |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150227033900/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/apr/20/popandrock.race |archive-date=27 February 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In an interview from October 1976 with ''[[Sounds (magazine)|Sounds]]'' magazine, Clapton said that he did not "know much about politics" and said of his immigration speech that "I just don't know what came over me that night. It must have been something that happened in the day but it came out in this garbled thing."<ref name="Farther On">{{cite web|url=http://theband.hiof.no/articles/clapton_interview_sounds_oct_1976.html|title = Eric Clapton: Farther On Up The Road|last=Charone|first=Barbara|date=October 1976|work = Reprint for the web, article from Sounds Magazine|access-date = 19 October 2009|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091016235550/http://theband.hiof.no/articles/clapton_interview_sounds_oct_1976.html|archive-date = 16 October 2009|url-status = dead}}</ref> In a 2004 interview with ''[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]]'', Clapton referred to Enoch Powell as "outrageously brave."<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2007/dec/01/ericclaptonisnotgod | title=Eric Clapton is not God | work=[[The Guardian]] | location=London | first=Kieron | last=Tyler | date=1 December 2007 | access-date=24 July 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150725013657/http://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2007/dec/01/ericclaptonisnotgod | archive-date=25 July 2015 | url-status=live }}</ref> He said that the UK was "inviting people in as cheap labour and then putting them in ghettos."<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/eric-s-old-post-colonial-blues-1.426495 | title=Eric's old post-colonial blues | newspaper=The Irish Times | first=Brian | last=Boyd | date=25 March 2005 | access-date=24 July 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150725013723/http://www.irishtimes.com/culture/eric-s-old-post-colonial-blues-1.426495 | archive-date=25 July 2015 | url-status=live }}</ref> In 2004, Clapton told an interviewer for ''[[Scotland on Sunday]]'', "There's no way I could be a racist. It would make no sense."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/review.cfm?id=408192004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071104143944/http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/review.cfm?id=408192004 |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 November 2007 |title=A sentimental journey |work=The Scotsman |access-date=22 August 2010 }}</ref> In his 2007 autobiography, Clapton said he was "deliberately oblivious" to racial conflict.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2007/oct/21/biography.ericclapton|work=The Guardian|location=London|title=The gospel according to God|date=21 October 2007|access-date=2 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080127022130/http://observer.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0,,2195792,00.html|archive-date=27 January 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> In a December 2007 interview with [[Melvyn Bragg]] on ''[[The South Bank Show]]'', Clapton said he was not a racist but still believed Powell's comments were relevant.<ref name=TW>{{cite web|work=[[The Week]]|url=http://www.theweek.co.uk/people/37315/night-eric-wasn%E2%80%99t-so-wonderful|title=The night Eric wasn't so wonderful|date=10 March 2008|access-date=10 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180810204925/http://www.theweek.co.uk/people/37315/night-eric-wasn%E2%80%99t-so-wonderful|archive-date=10 August 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2018 Clapton stated he was "disgusted" with himself for his "[[cultural chauvinism|chauvinistic]]" and "[[fascistic]]" comments on stage. He added: "I sabotaged everything I got involved with. I was so ashamed of who I was, a kind of semi-racist, which didn't make sense. Half of my friends were black, I dated a black woman, and I championed black music."<ref>{{cite web|first=Tom|last=Sykes|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/eric-clapton-apologizes-for-racist-past-i-sabotaged-everything|title=Eric Clapton Apologizes for Racist Past: 'I Sabotaged Everything'|website=[[The Daily Beast]]|date=12 January 2018|access-date=3 July 2021|archive-date=19 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210619011314/https://www.thedailybeast.com/eric-clapton-apologizes-for-racist-past-i-sabotaged-everything|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Opposition to fox-hunting ban ===
Clapton supports the [[Countryside Alliance]], which promotes [[field sports]] and issues relating to the British countryside. He has played in concerts to raise funds for the organisation and publicly opposed the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]]'s ban on [[fox hunting]] with the [[Hunting Act 2004]]. A spokesperson for Clapton said, "Eric supports the Countryside Alliance. He does not hunt himself, but does enjoy rural pursuits such as fishing and shooting. He supports the Alliance's pursuit to scrap the ban on the basis that he disagrees with the state's interference with people's private pursuits."<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/story/clapton-headlines-pro-hunt-concert_30_04_2006 | title= Clapton Headlines Pro-Hunt Concert | work= Contact Music | date= 30 April 2006 | access-date= 9 June 2014 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110111075203/http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/story/clapton-headlines-pro-hunt-concert_30_04_2006 | archive-date= 11 January 2011 | url-status= live }}</ref>

=== COVID-19 ===
In November 2020, during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], Clapton and [[Van Morrison]] collaborated on an anti-[[Face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic|mask]], anti-[[COVID-19 lockdowns|lockdown]] single entitled "Stand and Deliver", the profits from which were donated to Morrison's Lockdown Financial Hardship Fund.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Eric Clapton, Van Morrison to release new single Dec. 4|url=https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/Music/2020/11/28/Eric-Clapton-Van-Morrison-to-release-new-single-Dec-4/8641606569592/|access-date=3 December 2020|work=United Press International|language=en|archive-date=2 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201202204630/https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/Music/2020/11/28/Eric-Clapton-Van-Morrison-to-release-new-single-Dec-4/8641606569592/|url-status=live}}</ref> Morrison's stance was criticised by Northern Ireland Health Minister [[Robin Swann]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=22 September 2020|title=Northern Ireland health minister criticises Van Morrison anti-lockdown songs|url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/sep/22/northern-ireland-health-minister-criticises-van-morrison-anti-lockdown-songs|access-date=27 May 2021|website=The Guardian|language=en|archive-date=9 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210609011654/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/sep/22/northern-ireland-health-minister-criticises-van-morrison-anti-lockdown-songs|url-status=live}}</ref> In July 2021, Clapton wrote that he would "not perform on any stage where there is a discriminated audience present", in response to [[Boris Johnson]] mandating that concert attendees be vaccinated.<ref>{{cite news|last=Tsioulcas|first=Anastasia|title=Eric Clapton Says He Won't Play Venues That Require COVID Vaccines|url=https://www.npr.org/2021/07/22/1019210021/eric-clapton-covid-vaccine-requirement-shows|access-date=22 July 2021|work=[[NPR]]|archive-date=22 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722124913/https://www.npr.org/2021/07/22/1019210021/eric-clapton-covid-vaccine-requirement-shows|url-status=live}}</ref> Clapton had by then taken both doses of the [[Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine|AstraZeneca vaccine]] and said he had had severe reactions to both injections.<ref>{{cite news|last=Hernandez|first=Angie Orellana|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2021-05-17/eric-clapton-astrazeneca-vaccine|title=Eric Clapton feared he would 'never play again after 'disastrous' time with vaccine|work=Los Angeles Times|date=17 May 2021|access-date=18 May 2022|archive-date=18 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220518023905/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2021-05-17/eric-clapton-astrazeneca-vaccine|url-status=live}}</ref> Whether the symptoms he reported were actually vaccine-related was called into question by an [[NBC News]] editorial, given that Clapton previously reported suffering the same symptoms as early as 2013 due to nerve damage.<ref>{{cite news|last=Slate|first=Jeff|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/eric-clapton-s-covid-vaccine-conspiracies-mark-sad-final-act-ncna1281619|title=Eric Clapton's Covid vaccine conspiracies mark a sad final act|work=NBC News|date=15 October 2021|access-date=13 March 2023|archive-date=13 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230313152121/https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/eric-clapton-s-covid-vaccine-conspiracies-mark-sad-final-act-ncna1281619|url-status=live}}</ref>

In August 2021, Clapton released the single "This Has Gotta Stop" and an accompanying music video. It was described as a protest song against [[COVID-19]] lockdowns, vaccinations, and contains  lyrical and visual statements against what Clapton sees as the erosion of civil liberties as the result of lockdown policies.<ref>{{Cite news|date=27 August 2021|first=Melissa|last=Ruggieri|title=Eric Clapton sings 'enough is enough' on new COVID policy protest song 'This Has Gotta Stop'|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2021/08/27/eric-clapton-releases-covid-policy-protest-song-this-has-gotta-stop/5622559001/|access-date=29 August 2021|newspaper=USA Today|archive-date=28 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210828134314/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2021/08/27/eric-clapton-releases-covid-policy-protest-song-this-has-gotta-stop/5622559001/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|date=27 August 2021|first=David|last=Browne|title=Eric Clapton Appears Frustrated With Covid-19 Vaccine on New Song 'This Has Gotta Stop'|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/eric-clapton-new-song-this-has-gotta-stop-1217935/|access-date=29 August 2021|magazine=Rolling Stone}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=27 August 2021|title=Eric Clapton Releases Politically-Charged "This Has Gotta Stop"|website=Jambands.com|url=https://jambands.com/news/2021/08/27/eric-clapton-releases-new-song-this-has-gotta-stop-accompanying-video/|access-date=29 August 2021|archive-date=28 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210828230413/https://jambands.com/news/2021/08/27/eric-clapton-releases-new-song-this-has-gotta-stop-accompanying-video/|url-status=live}}</ref> Clapton tested positive for COVID-19 in May 2022, causing him to cancel some concerts in his tour schedule.<ref>{{cite news|last=Andrew|first=Scottie|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2022/05/17/entertainment/eric-clapton-covid-tour-postponed-cec/index.html|title=Eric Clapton postpones some concert dates after testing positive for Covid-19|work=CNN|date=17 May 2022|access-date=18 May 2022|archive-date=18 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220518003653/https://edition.cnn.com/2022/05/17/entertainment/eric-clapton-covid-tour-postponed-cec/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Gaza war ===
In November 2023, during the [[Gaza war]], Clapton released a song titled "Voice of a Child," along with a video featuring images of destruction in the [[Gaza Strip]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=18 November 2023|title=Guitar icon Eric Clapton releases new song accompanied by Gaza imagery|newspaper=Ynetnews|url=https://www.ynetnews.com/culture/article/sjoddmle6|access-date=28 November 2023}}</ref> In December 2023, Clapton organized a charity concert to raise funds for children in the Gaza Strip. During the event, he played a guitar painted with the colors of the [[Palestinian flag]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 January 2024 |title=Eric Clapton releases fundraising concert for Gaza kids, ignores hostages |url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-hamas-war/article-782583 |access-date=19 February 2024 |website=[[The Jerusalem Post]] |language=en |issn=0792-822X}}</ref>

== Assets and philanthropy ==

===Wealth and assets===
In 2009, ''Surrey Life Magazine'' ranked Clapton as number 17 in their list of richest [[Surrey]] residents, estimating his fortune at £120&nbsp;million in assets. This was a combination of income, property, a £9&nbsp;million [[yacht]], ''[[Va Bene (yacht)|Va Bene]]'' (previously owned by [[Bernie Ecclestone]]), his back [[music catalogue]], his touring income, and his [[holding company]] Marshbrook Ltd, which had earned him £110&nbsp;million since 1989.<ref name="Clapton's estimated wealth">{{cite web|url=http://surrey.greatbritishlife.co.uk/article/surreys-richest-50-the-top-ten-2497/|title=Surrey's Richest 50; The Top Ten|last=Beresford|first=Philip|date=June 2009|work=Surrey Life Magazine|access-date=27 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120130225722/http://surrey.greatbritishlife.co.uk/article/surreys-richest-50-the-top-ten-2497/|archive-date=30 January 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2003, he purchased a 50% share of gentleman's outfitters Cordings Piccadilly.<ref name="Clapton rescues gentlemen's shop">{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/3528296.stm |title=Clapton rescues gentlemen's shop |publisher=BBC |date=2 August 2004 |access-date=25 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080214225813/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/3528296.stm |archive-date=14 February 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref> At the time, owner Noll Uloth was trying to save the shop from closure and contacted Clapton, his "best client"; within five minutes, Clapton replied with "I can't let this happen".<ref name="Clapton rescues gentlemen's shop"/>

===Car collection===
[[File:FerrariSP12EC.jpg|thumb|right|[[Ferrari SP12 EC]] built for Clapton under [[Ferrari]]'s Special Projects programme<ref>{{cite web|url=http://paultan.org/2012/05/29/ferrari-sp12-ec-eric-claptons-one-off-is-a-458-italia-with-styling-inspired-by-the-512-bb/|title=Ferrari SP12 EC – Eric Clapton's one-off is a 458 Italia with styling inspired by the 512 BB|last=Tan|first=Danny|date=29 May 2012|work=Paul Tan's Automotive News|publisher=Driven Communications Sdn Bhd|access-date=29 May 2012|location=Petaling Jaya, Malaysia|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008080947/http://paultan.org/2012/05/29/ferrari-sp12-ec-eric-claptons-one-off-is-a-458-italia-with-styling-inspired-by-the-512-bb/|archive-date=8 October 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>]]
Since the 1970s, Clapton has considered himself a "car enthusiast" and has often stated his passion for the [[Ferrari]] brand.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thisweekinmotors.com/the-many-cars-of-eric-slowhand-clapton|title=The Many Cars of Eric 'Slowhand' Clapton|publisher=This Week in Motors|access-date=20 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160902014806/http://www.thisweekinmotors.com/the-many-cars-of-eric-slowhand-clapton/|archive-date=2 September 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> Clapton owns or has owned a range of Ferraris, and when asked about his Ferrari collection in 1989, he said he liked the touring cars the company produces for road use and commented "if I had more space and if I had been wise I would have a huge collection by now and I would be a multi-multi-millionaire".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqUH4Ylfkqw| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211027/cqUH4Ylfkqw| archive-date=27 October 2021|title=Desert Island Discs 1989 – Eric Clapton & Sue Lawley| date=23 July 2016|publisher=YouTube Network|access-date=20 August 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In 2010, he explained that for him "Ferrari has always been the number one car" to own and drive, and that he always supported Ferrari on the road and in [[Formula One]] motor racing.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BaJF1ED3XE|title=Eric Clapton interview on Ferrari.com|publisher=YouTube Network|access-date=20 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170101004120/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BaJF1ED3XE|archive-date=1 January 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2012, Ferrari honoured Clapton with the one-off special project car, the [[Ferrari SP12 EC]]. In July 2013 Clapton displayed it at the [[Goodwood Festival of Speed]] in England in the Michelin Supercar Run.<ref>[https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/goodwood-festival-speed/eric-clapton-displays-one-ferrari-sp12-ec-goodwood "Eric Clapton displays one-off Ferrari SP12 EC at Goodwood"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206135755/https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/goodwood-festival-speed/eric-clapton-displays-one-ferrari-sp12-ec-goodwood |date=6 December 2017 }}. Autocar.co.uk. Retrieved 4 December 2017</ref> In 2014, Clapton explained that Ferrari is still his favourite car brand.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTCKlF0Hr64|title=Eric Clapton with his wife Melia – Grid Walk with Martin Brundle F1|date=17 July 2014 |publisher=YouTube Network|access-date=20 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107060516/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTCKlF0Hr64|archive-date=7 January 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Among the other vehicles Clapton owns or has owned are a vintage [[Mini]] Cooper Radford that was a gift from [[George Harrison]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://equipboard.com/items/vintage-mini-cooper-radford-harrison-clapton|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820101701/http://equipboard.com/items/vintage-mini-cooper-radford-harrison-clapton|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 August 2016|title=Vintage Mini Cooper Radford Harrison/Clapton|publisher=Equipboard, Inc.|access-date=20 August 2016}} Archived from the original.</ref>

===Charitable work===
[[File:2005 Fender Stratocaster Eric Clapton Signature Model, Serial No. CN98950 (Bonhams auction 19226, lot 136) & 2005 Gibson ES-335 Crossroads Model Prototype, Serial No. Prototype 3 (lot 116).jpg|thumb|right|Auction of Clapton's guitars and amps in aid of the [[Crossroads Centre]], a substance abuse rehabilitation facility]]
In 1993, Clapton was appointed a director of [[Clouds House]], a UK treatment centre for drug and alcohol dependence, and was a member of the board until 1997.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://companycheck.co.uk/director/906976436/MR-ERIC-PATRICK-CLAPTON#anchor-resigned-02116410|title=Company Check, List of Directors of UK Companies and Organizations: Eric Patrick Clapton, Director, Clouds House|work=Company Check|access-date=22 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150903223202/http://companycheck.co.uk/director/906976436/MR-ERIC-PATRICK-CLAPTON#anchor-resigned-02116410|archive-date=3 September 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> He also served on the board of directors for The Chemical Dependency Centre from 1994 until 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://companycheck.co.uk/director/906976436/MR-ERIC-PATRICK-CLAPTON#anchor-resigned-01880505|title=Company Check, List of Directors of UK Companies and Organizations, Eric Patrick Clapton, Director, The Chemical Dependency Centre|work=Company Check|access-date=22 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150903223202/http://companycheck.co.uk/director/906976436/MR-ERIC-PATRICK-CLAPTON#anchor-resigned-01880505|archive-date=3 September 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> The two charities subsequently merged to become [[Action on Addiction]] in 2007.

In 1998, Clapton established the [[Crossroads Centre]] in Antigua to help others to overcome addiction to drugs and alcohol. He has remained active in its management oversight and fundraising to the present day.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.treatmentalternatives.com/rock-n-roll-doesnt-die-after-kicking-the-habit/ |title=Treatment Alternatives for Addiction |date=27 March 2013 |access-date=30 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130327154748/http://www.treatmentalternatives.com/rock-n-roll-doesnt-die-after-kicking-the-habit/ |archive-date=27 March 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://crossroadsantigua.org/ |title=Crossroads Centre Antigua, Official website |publisher=Crossroadsantigua.org |access-date=3 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110422215845/http://crossroadsantigua.org/ |archive-date=22 April 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He organised the [[Crossroads Guitar Festival]] in 1999, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2019 and 2023 to raise funds for the centre.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://crossroadsguitarfestival.com/ |title=Crossroads Guitar Festival, Official website |publisher=Crossroadsguitarfestival.com |date=8 April 2013 |access-date=3 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708205032/http://www.crossroadsguitarfestival.com/ |archive-date=8 July 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 1999, Clapton auctioned off some of his guitar collection and raised more than US$5&nbsp;million for continued support of the Crossroads Centre.<ref name=":0" /> A second guitar auction, which included the "Cream" of Clapton's collection, as well as guitars donated by famous friends, was held on {{nowrap|24 June}} 2004 at Christie's<ref name=":0" /> and raised US$7,438,624.<ref name="cdqimo" /> His [[George Lowden|Lowden]] acoustic guitar sold for US$41,825. 

In 2011, Clapton sold over 150 items at a New York auction, with the proceeds going to the Crossroads Centre. Items sold included his guitar from the Cream reunion tour in 2005, speaker cabinets used in the early 1970s from his days with Derek and the Dominos, and guitars from Jeff Beck, J. J. Cale, and Joe Bonamassa.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://iknowjack.radio.com/2010/12/10/eric-clapton-will-auction-vintage-guitars-amps-for-his-crossroads-centre/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101213164850/http://iknowjack.radio.com/2010/12/10/eric-clapton-will-auction-vintage-guitars-amps-for-his-crossroads-centre/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 December 2010 |title=Eric Clapton Will Auction Vintage Guitars & Amps For His Crossroads Centre }}</ref> In March 2011, Clapton raised more than £1.3&nbsp;million when he auctioned off 138 lots, consisting of 75 guitars and 55 amps from his personal collection, including a 1948 Gibson [[hollow body guitar]]; a [[Gianni Versace]] suit from his 1990 concert at the Royal Albert Hall; and a replica of his famous Fender Stratocaster known as "Blackie", which fetched more than $30,000. All proceeds went to Crossroads.<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/expat-money/8373815/Eric-Clapton-charity-auction-makes-1.3-million.html "Eric Clapton charity auction makes £1.3 million"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190531092307/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/expat-money/8373815/Eric-Clapton-charity-auction-makes-1.3-million.html |date=31 May 2019 }}. ''The Telegraph''. Retrieved 31 May 2019</ref>

Clapton has performed at ''[[The Secret Policeman's Ball]]'', a benefit show co-founded by [[Monty Python]] member [[John Cleese]] on behalf of [[Amnesty International]]. He made his first appearance at the show, held in London's [[Theatre Royal, Drury Lane]], in 1981, and subsequently became an activist.<ref name="performers">{{cite news |title=Remember the Secret Policeman's Ball? |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0074qw2 |access-date=21 August 2019 |publisher=BBC |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190822115518/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0074qw2 |archive-date=22 August 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Clapton has collaborated with [[The Prince's Trust]], the leading UK youth charity, which provides training, personal development, business start up support, mentoring, and advice. He has performed at the charity's rock concert numerous times since the 1980s, most recently in 2010.<ref>{{cite news|title=Queen rock Prince's Trust charity gala |date= 18 November 2010 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11765976 |work= BBC News |access-date= 30 April 2024 }}</ref> In 2008, he donated a song to [[Aid Still Required]]'s CD to assist with the restoration of Southeast Asia after the devastation inflicted by the [[2004 tsunami]].<ref>[http://www.aidstillrequired.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Exotic_AdventureQ1-2010.pdf "Green and Growing Aid Still Required Helps Darfur Refugees Take Root"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011180547/http://www.aidstillrequired.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Exotic_AdventureQ1-2010.pdf |date=11 October 2017 }}. Aid Still Required.org. Retrieved 4 December 2017</ref>

===Football===
Clapton is a fan of English football club [[West Bromwich Albion]].<ref name="West Brom"/> In 1982, he performed a concert before West Brom player [[John Wile]]'s testimonial game at [[The Hawthorns]]. It has been reported that the club rejected his offer to invest cash in the club around this time. In the late 1970s Clapton positioned a West Brom scarf on the back cover of his album, ''[[Backless]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/revealed-west-bromwich-albions-most-7817282/|title=West Bromwich Albion's famous supporters|work=Birmingham Mail|date=23 June 2015|access-date=26 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170505071908/http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/revealed-west-bromwich-albions-most-7817282|archive-date=5 May 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> In the 1978–79 season Clapton sponsored West Brom's [[UEFA Cup]] home game against Turkish club [[Galatasaray]].<ref name="West Brom">{{cite magazine|title=Throwback Thursday: The West Brom Match Sponsored By Eric Clapton (September 27, 1978)|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2015/10/throwback-thursday-the-west-brom-match-sponsored-b.html|magazine=Paste Magazine|date=26 October 2016|access-date=26 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161026233457/https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2015/10/throwback-thursday-the-west-brom-match-sponsored-b.html|archive-date=26 October 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Awards and honours==
{{main|List of awards and nominations received by Eric Clapton}}

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Award / Recognition
|-
|align=center|'''1983'''
|
Presented the [[Silver Clef Award]] from [[Princess Michael of Kent]] for outstanding contribution to British music.<ref name="crossroads">Michael Schumacher, [https://books.google.com/books?id=rrFJmTceXX4C&pg=PA145 ''Crossroads: The Life and Music of Eric Clapton''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810045109/https://books.google.com/books?id=rrFJmTceXX4C&pg=PA145 |date=10 August 2023 }}. Consulted on 12 August 2007.</ref>
|-
|align=center|'''1985'''
|
Presented the [[BAFTA]] for Best Original Television Music for Score of ''[[Edge of Darkness]]'' with [[Michael Kamen]].<ref>{{cite web
  | title = Awards Database – The BAFTA site
  | work = [[BAFTA]]
  | url = http://www.bafta.org/awards-database.html?year=1985&category=Television&award=Original+Television+Music
  | access-date = 10 October 2009
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120127125152/http://www.bafta.org/awards-database.html?year=1985&category=Television&award=Original+Television+Music
  | archive-date = 27 January 2012
| url-status = live
  }}</ref>
|-
|align=center|'''1992'''
| 
Presented the [[Ivor Novello Award]] for Lifetime Achievement from the [[British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors]].<ref name="Ivors Lifetime"/>
|-
|align=center|'''1993'''
|
"Tears in Heaven" won three Grammy Awards for Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Male Pop Vocal Performance. Clapton also won Album of the Year and Best Rock Vocal Performance for ''Unplugged'' and Best Rock Song for "Layla".<ref>{{cite news
  | title = 1993 Grammy Winners
  | work = The New York Times
  | date = 26 February 1993
| url = https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE3DB133CF935A15751C0A965958260
  | access-date = 20 August 2008
| archive-date = 10 August 2023
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230810045058/https://www.nytimes.com/1993/02/26/arts/1993-grammy-winners.html
  | url-status = live
  }}</ref>
|-
|align=center|'''1995'''
|
Made an [[Officer of the Order of the British Empire]] (OBE) for services to music, as part of the 1995 New Year Honours list.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Supplement to The London Gazette: 1995 New Year Honours list |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/53893/supplement/11 |work=The Gazette |location=London |date=30 December 1994 |access-date=17 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015223238/https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/53893/supplement/11 |archive-date=15 October 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| align=center|'''2000'''
|
Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for the third time, this time as a solo artist. He was earlier inducted as a member of the bands Cream and the Yardbirds.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/555396.stm |title=Clapton's Hall of Fame hat-trick |work=BBC News |date=8 December 1999 |access-date=22 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040326073501/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/555396.stm |archive-date=26 March 2004 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|align=center|'''2004'''
|
Promoted to [[Commander of the Order of the British Empire]] (CBE), receiving the award from the [[Anne, Princess Royal|Princess Royal]] at Buckingham Palace as part of the 2004 New Year Honours list.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3357011.stm |title=CBEs – full list |work=BBC News |date=31 December 2003 |access-date=22 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070124230614/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3357011.stm |archive-date=24 January 2007 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/3977571.stm |title=Musician Clapton delighted by CBE |work=BBC News |date=3 November 2004 |access-date=22 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111105013120/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3977571.stm |archive-date=5 November 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|align=center|'''2006'''
|
Awarded the [[Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award]] as a member of Cream.<ref name="Lifetime Achievement Award1">{{cite web|url=http://www.grammy.org/recording-academy/awards/lifetime-awards|title=Lifetime Achievement Award|year=2012|publisher=The Recording Academy. National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences|access-date=27 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170703201633/https://www.grammy.org/recording-academy/awards/lifetime-awards|archive-date=3 July 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|align=center|'''2015'''
|
An asteroid, [[4305 Clapton]], is named after him.
|-
|align=center|'''2017'''
|
Made a {{lang|fr|Commandeur}} of the {{Lang|fr|[[Ordre des Arts et des Lettres]]|italic=no}} of France<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.whereseric.com/eric-clapton-news/303-france-honors-eric-clapton | title=France Honors Eric Clapton | work=Where's Eric! The Eric Clapton Fan Club Magazine | date=27 May 2017 | access-date=2 June 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170531024401/http://www.whereseric.com/eric-clapton-news/303-france-honors-eric-clapton | archive-date=31 May 2017 | url-status=dead }}</ref>
|}

==Discography==
{{Main|Eric Clapton albums discography|Eric Clapton singles discography}}

===Solo studio albums===
{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
*''[[Eric Clapton (album)|Eric Clapton]]'' (1970)
*''[[461 Ocean Boulevard]]'' (1974)
*''[[There's One in Every Crowd]]'' (1975)
*''[[No Reason to Cry]]'' (1976)
*''[[Slowhand]]'' (1977)
*''[[Backless]]'' (1978)
*''[[Another Ticket]]'' (1981)
*''[[Money and Cigarettes]]'' (1983)
*''[[Behind the Sun (Eric Clapton album)|Behind the Sun]]'' (1985)
*''[[August (album)|August]]'' (1986)
*''[[Journeyman (album)|Journeyman]]'' (1989)
*''[[From the Cradle]]'' (1994)
*''[[Pilgrim (Eric Clapton album)|Pilgrim]]'' (1998)
*''[[Reptile (album)|Reptile]]'' (2001)
*''[[Me and Mr. Johnson]]'' (2004)
*''[[Me and Mr. Johnson#Sessions for Robert J|Sessions for Robert J]]'' (2004)
*''[[Back Home (Eric Clapton album)|Back Home]]'' (2005)
*''[[Clapton (2010 album)|Clapton]]'' (2010)
*''[[Old Sock]]'' (2013)<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/new-eric-clapton-album-old-sock-due-in-march-20130129 |title=New Eric Clapton Album 'Old Sock' Due in March |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=29 January 2013 |access-date=8 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130207071225/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/new-eric-clapton-album-old-sock-due-in-march-20130129 |archive-date=7 February 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>
*''[[I Still Do]]'' (2016)
*''[[Happy Xmas (album)|Happy Xmas]]'' (2018)
*''[[Meanwhile (Eric Clapton album)|Meanwhile]]'' (2024)
}}

===Collaborative studio albums===
*''[[Riding with the King (B.B. King and Eric Clapton album)|Riding with the King]]'' (with [[B.B. King]]) (2000)
*''[[The Road to Escondido]]'' (with [[J. J. Cale]]) (2006)
*''[[The Breeze: An Appreciation of JJ Cale]]'' (by Eric Clapton & Friends) (2014)

== See also ==
* [[List of most valuable celebrity memorabilia]]
* [[Cordings]], a clothing company he has owned

==References==
{{Reflist|25em}}

==Further reading==
; On Clapton's career:
{{Div col|colwidth=40em}}
* Eric Clapton, ''Clapton, The Autobiography'', 2007 and 2008, Broadway Books, 352 pp. / Arrow, 400 pages / Century, 384 pp.
* Eric Clapton, Derek Taylor and Peter Blake, ''24 Nights'', Genesis Publications, 2 volumes, 1992, 198 and 64 pp. <small>Eric Clapton's signed limited edition books, in a Solander box with 2 live CD</small>
* Ray Coleman, ''Clapton!: The Authorized Biography'', Warner Books, 368 pp, or Futura, 336 pages, 1986; originally publ. as "Survivor: The Authorized Biography", Sidgwick & Jackson, 1985, 300 pp.
* Christopher Hjort w/ a foreword by John Mayall, ''Strange brew: Eric Clapton and the British Blues Boom, 1965–1970'', Jawbone, 2007, 352 pp.
* Marc Roberty, ''Eric Clapton: The Complete Recording Sessions 1963–1992'', Blandford or St. Martin's Press, 1993, 192 pp.
* Marc Roberty, ''Slowhand: The Life & Music of Eric Clapton'', Octopus or Harmony, 1991, 176 pp; upd. ed. Crown, 1993, 192 pp.
* Marc Roberty, ''Eric Clapton in His Own Words'', Omnibus Press, 1993, 96 pp.
* Marc Roberty, ''Eric Clapton: The New Visual Documentary'', Omnibus Press, 1990, 128 pp.; rev. ed., 1994, ...pp.; originally publ. as ''Eric Clapton: A Visual Documentary'', 1986, ... pp.
* Marc Roberty, ''Eric Clapton: The Man, the Music and the Memorabilia'', Paper Tiger-Dragon's World, 1994, 226 pp.
* Marc Roberty, ''The Complete Guide to the Music of Eric Clapton'', Omnibus Press, 1995, 152 pp.&nbsp;CD format; rev. ed., 2005, 128 pp.
* Michael Schumacher, ''Crossroads: The Life and Music of Eric Clapton'', Hyperion, 1995, 388 pp.; rev. ed, Time Warner p'backs, 1998, 411 pp.; new ed. titled ''Eric Clapton'', Sphere, 2008, 432 pp.
* Harry Shapiro, ''Eric Clapton: Lost in The Blues'', Guinness Books or Muze, 1992, 256 pp.; rev. ed. Da Capo press, 1193, 225 pp.; originally publ. as ''Slowhand: The Story of Eric Clapton'', Proteus Books, 1985, 160 pp.
* Dave Thompson, ''Cream: The World's First Supergroup'', Virgin Books, 2005, 256 pp.; rev., upd. & illustr. ed. titled ''Cream: How Eric Clapton Took the World By Storm'', 2006, 320 pp.
* Steve Turner, ''Conversations with Eric Clapton'', London: Abacus, 1976, 116 pp.
{{Div col end}}

; About Clapton's playing and sound:
{{Div col|colwidth=40em}}
* {{cite book|title=Introduction to Guitar Tone & Effects|first=David M.|last=Brewster|chapter=Eric Clapton|page=54|publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation|year=2003|isbn=978-0-634-06046-5}}
* {{cite book|title=The Blues-Rock Masters|first1=H. P.|last1=Newquist|first2=Richard|last2=Maloof|page=27|chapter=Eric Clapton|publisher=Backbeat Books|year=2003|isbn=978-0-87930-735-6}}
* {{cite book|title=Gear Secrets of the Guitar Legends|first1=Pete|last1=Prown|first2=Lisa|last2=Sharken|chapter=Eric Clapton|page=6|publisher=Backbeat Books|year=2003|isbn=9780879307516}}
{{Div col end}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
{{commons category}}
* {{Official website}}
* {{Rockhall}}
* {{IMDb name|0002008}}
* [[David Browne (journalist)|David Browne]]: [https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/eric-clapton-vaccine-lockdown-racist-comments-1239027/ ''Eric Clapton Isn't Just Spouting Vaccine Nonsense—He's Bankrolling It.''] In: ''[[Rolling Stone]]'', 10 October 2021.

{{Eric Clapton}}
{{Navboxes
|title = [[List of awards and nominations received by Eric Clapton|Awards for Eric Clapton]]
|list =
{{American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist}}
{{Grammy Award for Album of the Year 1990s}}
{{Grammy Award for Record of the Year 1990s}}
{{Grammy Award for Song of the Year 1990s}}
{{Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance}}
{{Grammy Award for Best Rock Song}}
{{1992 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame}}
{{1993 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame}}
{{2000 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame}}
}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Associated bands
|list =
{{The Yardbirds}}
{{Cream}}
{{Derek and the Dominos}}
{{John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers}}
{{Plastic Ono Band}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Clapton, Eric}}
[[Category:Eric Clapton| ]]
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[[Category:Eric Clapton and the Powerhouse members]]
[[Category:Grammy Award winners]]
[[Category:Ivor Novello Award winners]]
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