First published 2018
Philip Norman examines Eric Clapton's journey from his scandalous childhood through five decades as one of rock music's greatest guitarists. The author traces Clapton's path through legendary bands including the Yardbirds, Cream, and Derek and the Dominoes, showing how he helped shape rock history while battling personal demons. Norman explores Clapton's reckless lifestyle in the 1960s and 1970s, his struggles with addiction, and his complicated relationship with Pattie Boyd, who was married to his close friend George Harrison. The biography also covers the tragic loss of Clapton's son, which led to his famous song "Tears in Heaven," and reveals the stories behind his most celebrated guitars. Drawing on interviews with Clapton himself, family members, and close friends, Norman presents new insights into the man behind the music. This account reveals the complex personality of a 17-time Grammy winner and three-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee whose guitar work influenced countless musicians.
Genres: biography, 20th-century, music, 21st-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: celebrity, personal-struggle
Period: 1960s, 1970s
448 pages · Hardcover · Little, Brown and Company
Content warnings: addiction, substance-abuse