Eric Clapton - Harry Shapiro

Eric Clapton's position as the world's greatest rock guitarist is unlikely to change in our lifetime. His career over the past four decades has been closely followed by millions of fans, as a member of the influential Yardbirds, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Cream, Blind Faith, Derek and the Dominoes, and for many years as a highly successful solo artist. He has a vast catalogueue behind him. His rise to guitar hero in the 60s led to a much documented involvement with drugs. The historic Rainbow concert marked the beginning of his return. His turbulent marriage to Patti Boyd was another media favourite. Ultimately it is Clapton's music and complete mastery of the electric guitar which is his most important attribute. Unavailable for several years, Shapiro's earlier study,
Slowhand,
established itself as one of the classics of rock biography. Here the life is fully reappraised and brought up-to-date to cover the tragic death of Clapton's son, Conor, in 1991 and includes a complete discography and many previously unpublished photographs.

Harry Shapiro is the author of a number of critically acclaimed works including Waiting For the Man: The Story of Drugs and Popular Music, Jimi Hendrix: Electric Gypsy and Graham Bond: The Mighty Shadow. Shapiro works in the drug abuse field and has been writing about music for over ten years. He lives with his partner and two children in Harrow, England.