Clapton: The Autobiography

London

Eric Clapton's new biography is an engaging, honest and ultimately redemptive read, although downright depressing at times. I first saw him perform with Yvonne Elliman on the 461 Ocean Boulevard tour in 1974 and knew, even then from the audience, that he was a severe alcoholic or drug addict. At times, of course, he was both. I recall Elliman gently placing her hand on his back that night just to keep him from falling. For those of us who adore Eric Clapton, it is wonderful to learn that he has been sober and drug-free for 20 years.

For an English lad, Clapton's most delicious moments reported in the book came in the U.S. Imagine Al Kooper taking him to Cafe Au Go Go on Bleeker Street in New York's West Village to see his new band, Blood, Sweat and Tears? Or how about Clapton returning there several nights later to meet B.B. King for the first time? He returned to New York in 1967 and 1968 to roam the Village with Jimi Hendrix, moving from club to club to jam with whomever was on stage at the time. Then there was the story Tom Dowd told so well in the documentary, Tom Dowd and the Language of Music, about introducing Clapton to Duane Allman. As a result of this mutual admiration society, Duane briefly became the second guitarist in Derek and the Dominos and his soaring, weeping guitar licks seered Layla into our collective memory.