Clapton: The Autobiography

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • With striking intimacy and candor, rock icon Eric Clapton tells the story of his eventful and inspiring life in this “absorbing tale of artistry, decadence, and redemption” (Los Angeles Times).

“One of the very best rock autobiographies ever.”—Houston Chronicle

Eric Clapton is recognized as the most accomplished and influential guitarist in the history of rock. He is a sixteen-time Grammy winner and the only triple inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (as a member of both the Yardbirds and Cream and as a solo artist). But more than a rock star, he is an icon, a living embodiment of the history of rock music. Well known for his reserve in a profession marked by self-promotion, flamboyance, and spin, he now chronicles, for the first time, his remarkable personal and professional journeys.

Born illegitimate in 1945 and raised by his grandparents, Eric never knew his father and believed his actual mother to be his sister. With the formation of Cream, he became a worldwide superstar, but conflicting personalities tore the band apart within two years. His stints in other groups were also short-lived but yielded some of the most enduring songs in history, including the classic “Layla.”

During the late sixties he played as a guest with Jimi Hendrix and Bob Dylan, as well as the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and longtime friend George Harrison. He fell for George’s wife, Pattie Boyd, a seemingly unrequited love that led him to the depths of despair, self-imposed seclusion, and drug addiction. By the early seventies he released the bestselling album 461 Ocean Boulevard, with its massive hit “I Shot the Sheriff.” He followed that with the platinum album Slowhand, which included “Wonderful Tonight,” the touching love song to Pattie, whom he married at the end of 1979. A short time later, however, Eric had replaced heroin with alcohol, following a pattern of behavior that not only was detrimental to his music but contributed to the eventual breakup of his marriage.

In the eighties he would battle and begin his recovery from alcoholism and become a father. But just as his life was coming together, he was struck by a terrible blow: His beloved four-year-old son, Conor, died in a freak accident. He took refuge in music, responding with the achingly beautiful “Tears in Heaven.”

The powerfully written story of a survivor, a man who has achieved the pinnacle of success despite extraordinary demons, Clapton is a compelling memoir from a rock legend.

Eric Clapton is recognized as the most accomplished and influential guitarist in the history of rock. He is a 16-time Grammy winner and the only triple inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (as a member of both the Yardbirds and Cream, and as a solo artist). Clapton is married to Melia McEnery and is the father of four daughters. He lives outside London.