Eric Clapton reveals this week of his declining health


The King of Electric Guitar this week, Eric Clapton, announced to the news media that he is just about completely deaf from severe tinnitus and is suffering nerve damage to his hands that will in just a matter of time compromise his ability to play. When Clapton goes it will be the end of the Rock era as we know it.

Years ago, B.B.King was asked at a press conference who he thought was the greatest rock guitarist of all time, he replied,
"My personal opinion?..."Eric Clapton is the greatest rock and roll guitar player of all time." 1986


                                                 
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It must be very frustrating to feel one's facility slipping away due to aging. 

Clapton's career has been very mixed, to say the least. Arguably his best material was the Derek and the Dominos stuff co-credited to him and Bobby Whitlock, even if Whitlock was the dominant partner in that collaboration.

The tunes EC's come up with since that period have been pretty bland but then he once characterized his musical taste as "schmaltzy", so at least he's honest. Most of his career has been spent smack dab in the middle of the road. That's apparently where's he's felt most comfortable and after all, you can't legitimately criticize someone for being true to themselves. 

 

Clapton is still the "Man". One of my fave live moments is during The Last Waltz.

During his performance, the guitar strap broke and EC never lost a lick.

 

Happy Listening!

As someone who still listens to Cream discs on a regular basis, I believe that the energy of youth and the influence a Jack Bruce's genius were responsible from the great music they created together. Derek and the Dominos, which I know note for note, is still very enjoyable but not what I'd call transcendent like much of Cream's  material was.

Like Paul McCartney, most of his output since then has been boring, and sometimes vapid. (Tears in Heaven)

@jafant :

Funny, I remember that incident differently-- as I recall. Robbie Robertson jumped in at that point and took over.  But having just turned 66, I'm not about to claim my memory's better than yours!