Clapton: The Autobiography by Eric Clapton
|
List Price: Our Price: $6.68 You Save: $9.31 (58%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $0.01 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of Clapton: The Autobiography
Book Review: one man's soul journey
Summary: 4 Stars
A lively read for the first two-thirds of "Clapton". The early parts of the book cover Clapton's emotional baggage when he learns of his bastard status; the years as an art student; and most interesting, the genesis of his music and his resonation with the blues. The way Clapton talks of his "calling" leads one to the conclusion that some musicians, like Dylan and Neil Young, just fit into their destinies like a gloved hand.
There are plenty of British phraseologies and slang that tend to throw speed bumps into the narrative flow however; you have to second guess what he's talking about if not familiar with Briticisms, which I suspect many of us are not. Still, the book moves along well until the last third, when Clapton opens up about his recovery from alcoholism; his family life; the Cream reunion concerts, and finally his last world tour. It feels like this last part of the book was rushed and actually written by someone else. It comes dangerously close to imploding.
Also the humility does come across as pretty selective, while we're filled in on all the estates, houses, cars, guitars, watches (what am I forgetting?) that his wealth has provided in the acquiring of these possessions. Yes, Mr. Clapton is a full-on materialist; but, giving the man his due, he certainly worked hard over his forty year career and he's entitled to enjoy the fruit of his labors like anyone else would be. It just feels like a strange contrast when he talks about the spiritual part of his life that his recovery has made possible, while we learn about the vast amount of possessions he owns.
In "Clapton", we do have a front row seat as we witness EC's obsessions and addictions: women, especially Patti Boyd; heroin and alcohol; and his magpie tendencies to acquire worldly things. But he does come across as being forthright, even if some of the juicier details of his career have been omitted. We do have to remember that his brain was impaired for many years and he would not recall details of this adventurous life that others in his life would and could. Some of the other reviewers seem to self-righteously gloss over this fact with some real inappropriate judgments.
Anyway, having prevailed through a long wake of wreakage and heartache, this man Clapton has shown much faith and courage to recreate his life, and thus come to terms with himself in his later years. That is the real message that comes across in this book; one only needs to read past the narrative in the lines to get the more fundamental narrative of this man's soul journey.
Parataxis
The Cloud Reckoner
Extracts: A Field Guide for Iconoclasts
Book Review: 4 1/2 Literate Tonight
Summary: 4 Stars
Clapton's writing couldn't possibly be as nimble as his playing, but we get a good first-person account of his ascendency towards guitarist deity, and, especially, the impact of his longtime Archilles heel--the consumption of drugs and alcohol in staggering amounts. As he often points out, he's very fortunate that he's still alive. Although his periods of recovery get too much air here, there are some revealing insights. Flaws and all, what's perhaps best about the book is the voice of authenticity; it doesn't have that annoying "As-told-to" quality, nor is it so polished that the "autobiography" seems like a lie.
I think it's fair to say that Clapton is basically honest about those things he wishes to open, but that he doesn't always open up everything. Given what must be some very painful emotions, I'm ok that he doesn't do a "tell-all." It's more like a "tell-most," with the subjectivity that necessarily underlies all autobiographies. Investigative types, or those who feel Clapton has been unfair to others here, can read other books to get a fuller picture--Patty Boyd's own autobiography would be a good starting point.
As a fan of British rock and amateur (very) musicologist, my largest compaint is that Mr. Clapton doesn;t devote enough time to his "late" early years, especially those in the period between (and including) "The Yardbirds" and "Blind Faith." Clapton chronicles his youth and early beginning in clubs with fascinating detail; we learn about his early influences, pre-bigtime life on the road, and his encounters with other newbies who would soon become famous in their own right. Unfortunately, he leaves out this kind of detail once the Yardbirds section begins.
The last third or so of the book covers more of the solo years, his personal life, and his battles (and eventual victory) with addiction. It's a mixed bag: He thanks so many people obscure to those outside the industry that it begins to read like a "Christmas letter" to is closest friends; however, those outside that circle may get lost in the details. I also agree with others who felt the quality and quantity of the photos could have been better. On the other hand, Clapton--perhaps the most blues-oriented of the major rock guitarists, leaves us with a very classy and heartfelt tribute to the electric blues pioneers who inspired him. Deeply personal at times, and somewhat--perhaps understandably--evasive elsewhere, this is a well-written, thoughtful book that any rock fan (especially British rock, and what is lauhingly referred to today as "classic rock") will enjoy. This isn't the definitive book on those areas, but it is, by default, the definitive autobiography. Thanks, Eric.
Book Review: More about his addictions than about his life as a musician...
Summary: 4 Stars
The lives of musicians are fascinating to read about. Their lives are always over the top and to the extreme, and always way more shocking than you would have ever thought it would be considering their success and how they play. Take Stevie Ray Vaughan for example. You would never have guessed how doped up and drunk he was, in reality, just by listening to his music. Clapton is the same way and just as extreme. With his autobiography we get a some what watered down view into his life, but at the same time and in a different way one that is more full than a biography of him written by someone else.
The beginning part of the book is the hardest to take in. You have certain expectations going into biographies that always are not met if you don't reorient yourself to the fact that this was written by the author himself. This means you don't get to read about the awe inspiring performances, you don't get to read about what it was like by someone else who was there. I didn't re-orientate myself to this and thus was let down. Clapton's biography is very watered down at first and you are left with the feeling that it is lacking. As he moves through the Yardbirds and then Cream you never feel as though you can imagine what it was like. YOu don't know how it feels to be at a concert, to be a fly on the wall as he is jamming with other musicians. This is very disappointing to say the least.
Where Clapton turns things around is when you realize the true focus of his autobiography, which is talk about his two addictions first to heroin and then to alcohol. Where he left the details of his actual guitar playing out, he included them about his addictions. You truly get to see how heroin and alcohol affected his life and what it did to him as a person. I think since Clapton is open about both subjects that this is truly why he wrote this book. Not to talk about his life as a musician, but to talk about his life as an addict, which lends an altogether more powerful meaning.
That being said you do read about his life as a musician, but never in any detail that would give you a picture in anything other than black and white. I was satisfied about his autobiography once I understood Clapton's true purpose for writing about his life. Now I just have to find another book by someone else in order to get a better picture of what it was like to be Clapton the musician.
3.5 stars.
Book Review: "A Toe Rag from Ripley"
Summary: 4 Stars
The reviews I've read here on this book have blown my mind. Not because so many of them are really bad...... but because so many of them have gotten it all wrong.... OK, and most of 'em are really bad as well. Most of the reviews have either been written by gushing idol worshippers or pissed off 12 steppers bent on excoriating EC for some cardinal violations of the program.... I mean...who gives a rat's ass anyway?
Eric has written an honest perspective and history of his own life. From being the bastard child (essentially) poor, working class folk who, with alot of love, study and dedication became nothing less than a music icon.
He didn't set out to become Mother bloody Teresa or Ghandi for Chrissakes....he's a sodding guitar player... and damn well one of thee greatest students of American blues currently alive on this planet. And his story is a "warts and all" autobiography of an admittedly selfish, self centered junkie cum drunk who came face to face with his own destructive demons and was saved by nothing less than a one-on-one encounter with The Almighty.... Thus giving him a new life of direction and goodness. And which (to some degree) validated the very existence of the man who'd been (by guitarist standards) been simply known as "God".
The story telling is honest... Eric really tells it like it is. The recollectionsof his relationships disparage no one... The assertion that he treats George Harrison unkindly is (pure) horse manure. He loved George and they were great friends. They had a great history, both good and bad. Eric knows all too well that what he did was selfish and he suffered greatly for those choices.
This was a good book and an easy read.
The courage that Eric shows in honestly putting his life on paper is exemplified best in his startled conclusion that he's really just "a toe rag from Ripley". Who, despite all of his weak, selfish and destructive behavior Eric is nothing less than a musical god.
I've learned more about practical guitar playing from Django, Eric and Carlos than anyone else..... OK..OK, Stevie Ray, too...
Now, I feel that I know the man himself... And frankly, after reading his story, I'm surprised that he lived to tell about it...
God bless ya, Eric....Thanks for everything.
Timothy A. Di Pietro
Book Review: Guitar Legend Stumbles Over Himself and Life
Summary: 4 Stars
Eric Clapton's autobiography should have been fascinating, mysterious, and deeply insightful. After all, along with Jimi Hendrix, he was considered a rock guitar "god." So it is with some degree of disappointment that you learn how pedestrian a life can be--shorn of all the drugs, alcohol, girls, fame, and money--when the guitar god in question doesn't appear to understand or appreciate his own gifts. It's not that Eric Clapton's life was dull--far from it. Or that he's not honest about his trials and triumphs. It's just that you hope for something rare and wonderful to be revealed in the life of a man who achieved such artistic excellence. You want to believe that artistic genius somehow permeates the life of the individual as much as what he creates. Here is the short version of Clapton's book: He is born into a working class family. He learns, at age nine, that he is really the illegitimate child of a woman now living happily in Canada. When she first comes back into his life, she demurs when he asks if he can call her "Mum." He feels lost, alone, and different from other people. He discovers the guitar. Soon, he is recognized as a great guitarist. He drifts in and out of several bands, eventually unhappy with all of them. He drifts in and out of several affairs, eventually unhappy with all of them. He becomes addicted to drugs and alcohol. He behaves abominally. He finally hits rock bottom. He marries a very young woman. He finds peace, of a sort.
Eric, is there nothing more that you can tell us about playing so well? Is there something else that we can learn about someone with such an incredible gift? Or is that all there is? I'm sorry, Eric. I wanted to be more in awe of you. Perhaps that's the problem with all gods, guitar and otherwise. They tend to disappoint their followers.
Donald Gallinger is the author of The Master Planets