“Clapton Is God”: Were the three words that were spray painted by an admirer on the tiny Islington Underground Station during the autumn of 1967, and these three words would soon start to appear around Islington as a cult of graffiti in tribute to one of the greatest guitarists that we musicians and music lovers have ever had the privilege of devoting our ears to. And yet Clapton is reported to have said that he was quite embarrassed by slogan, and is quoted as saying that “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.” But as a man ranked as both #4 on Rolling Stone Magazine’s list of the ‘100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time’, and as the 53^rd on their list of ‘100 Greatest Artists of All Time’, to us here at The Backdoor there is no doubt that Clapton, indeed Is God!

Today The Backdoor brings you some of the lesser known facts about this real life Guitar God.

He was born an illegitimate child

On the 30^th of March 1945, Eric Patrick Clapton was born to 16 year old Patricia Molly Clapton, and 24 year old Edward Walter Fryer; a Canadian soldier of World War II stationed in England. Just before Eric’s birth his father returned to Canada leaving the 16 year old Patricia to raise her child alone. Eric was eventually raised by his grandparents Rose and Jack Clapp, and he was led to believe that they were his biological parents and that his mother Patricia, who moved to Germany after marrying another military man by the name of Frank McDonald, was his sister. Although he realized at an early age that his surname of Clapton did not tally with his “parents” name of Clapp, it was not until he was 9 years old did little Eric find out the truth about his parentage, and he has said that his troubled and confusing childhood was the main reason he was drawn to the Blues. A music style he saw as the most powerful way to overcome his grief and sorrow, with the attraction the Blues had to him with its ‘one man and his guitar against the world’ undertone.

He was expelled from the Kingston College of Art

Eric or ‘Ricky’ as his grandparents called him was an above average student with a keen interest in art, but soon after he learnt the truth about his parentage Eric turned moody and distant and his grades began to suffer.  Although his grandparents did their best to provide a loving home for him, and brought him his first guitar at the age of 13, which he gave up on playing because he found the German made ‘Hoyler’s strings too tough to play. However, Eric would soon get hooked on the electric guitar after watching a soulful performance by Jerry Lee Lewis. His infatuation with his guitar and the Blues would also lead to him being expelled from the Kingston College of Art after it was deemed that he spent more time playing guitar in class than on his study of Stained Glass Design.

Clapton Trivia – His nick name of ‘Slowhand’ is a play of words. During his days with the Yardbirds he would sometimes break guitar strings with his forceful string bending, and would replace his strings while on stage, during which time the crowd would engage in a slow hand clap, hence the name “Slowhand.”

He was a fifth Beatle

Clapton over the length of his career has been a part of some incredibly talented acts including the Yardbirds, John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers, Derek and the Dominoes and Cream. He has also collaborated with some of Rock’s greatest musicians including John Lennon, Jimmie Vaughan, B.B King, and Buddy Guy. He also had a close relationship with Gorge Harrison of The Beatles and provided lead guitar work on the track “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” on the infamous “White Album.”

He is the only triple inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Over his illustrious career with over 10 bands, his various collaborations with famous artists and his solo records, Eric Clapton has earned for himself a numerous number of awards and distinctions; including an incredible 18 Grammy Awards, of which three were for his famous song “Tears In Heaven,” which he wrote for his 4 year old son Conor who died after falling from a 53^rd story balcony. He is also the only person to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame thrice; once as a solo artist and both with The Yardbirds and Cream. He has said that receiving his CBE award in 2004- a British order of chivalry- was the “icing on the cake” of his career and is quoted as saying “To say, ‘I did this all my life because I loved it’ and to be recognized for that is good.”

Clapton Trivia – He is famous for popularizing a guitar lead tone setting called “The Woman Tone,” which is now also used by guitar great Slash.

He wrote ‘Lyla’ to steal Gorge Harrison’s wife

Pattie Boyd was a model and wife of Gorge Harrison, whom he had met on a set for the video of “A Hard Days Night.” And while Gorge and Clapton were firm friends, both regarded as the top two guitarists in England in the day, and both providing work for each others musical pieces, during his marital troubles and struggles with heroin addiction, Clapton would fall madly in love with Pattie who would come to provide him with aid and consolation. He would go on to write one of Rock n Roll’s most famous songs ‘Lyla’ which was inspired by a poem by the Persian classical Poet Nezami. He eventually succeeded in winning over Pattie Boyd and the two married in 1979. Gorge Harrison is said to not have been bitter over the incident and he even attended the couples wedding with fellow Beatle Ringo Starr. While Clapton later wrote one of his most famous songs “Wonderful Tonight” for Boyd, the couple would later split in 1988 due to Clapton’s growing alcohol addiction.

Eric Clapton has led a life full of stigma, grief and shattering loss. He has also suffered through periods of intense drug and alcohol addiction. But with his music and his guitar he has managed to stand up to his demons and has been sober for over 20 years. He has also started a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center called “The Crossroads Center,” and has raised over 12 million dollars for the foundation by auctioning some of his guitars. And in our minds he has rightfully earned a place in all our hearts as one of Rock n Roll’s most resilient and talented musicians of all time.

Lord, how long have I got to keep on running,
Seven hours, seven days or seven years?
All I know is, since you’ve been gone
I feel like I’m drowning in a river,
Drowning in a river of tears.

-  River of Tears – Eric Clapton