People who say he is over rated don't know him or know his history of playing, his early days of playing was outstanding tone wise, and his playing today is fucking legendary
Definitely a fairly innovative player and talented. I think he gets criticism for his personal life (rightfully so) and that most all of his playing styles were adapted from Chicago or delta blues players who actually developed the phrases he uses. He isn’t considered a great songwriter as he did many covers from various artists. But undeniable natural guitar talent.
rabendranath I'm so used to hearing "electric guitar". When I see or hear "electronic guitar" I always imagine someone on a radio ad, talking up the new Fender telecaster electronic guitar. Or the improved Gibson les Paul electronic guitar. That fuzzy upbeat voice just loops in my head. It's a laugh. Love it!
Parker Hatcher Well electronic would be solid state, valves and circuitry. So electronic would only be proper if the pickups were running through a circuit which some guitars have.
I saw this interview on TV back when it was first aired in around 1968. I've been wanting to see it again for years, but thought it was lost forever. A big thanks for putting it up, so I could enjoy it again.
I looked forever to find this video. I remember watching it when I was a kid and was amazed by Clapton's style of playing. There was no one like him back then, and in spite of the fact that he bears little resemblance to this today, the interview reminds me of his astonishing talent, which was so ahead of his time.
bullshit this is what got him on the map, when he swaped to Fender copying buddy guy everything turned to shit time to copy JJ cale music and get around wearing a business suit.You can even see EVH copied the cigarette in the headstock. This was his best time.
@cwm368 I know what you mean and its not because it is 50 years later. He has completely changed. The way he speaks, his mannerisms, everything is soooo different. It make me sad. I adore him & always will but in 1990 he was a gorgeous 45 year old Englishman and now he resembles all the old Irish guys at my church who collect money every Sunday. By 1999 in his interview on "60 Minutes" he looked like life in Antigua has aged him & relaxed him way too much. Even at the Concert for George every guy except him wore a jacket and he looked too casual, like somewhere along the way he gave up and just became old. I do not expect him to still wear Armani or Versace suits but his casual old man look is aging him terribly. All his contemporaries are still sporting edgy casual looks and Clapton looks like he should be on his front porch yelling "get off my lawn". But if he looks like this because he is really happy and content with his life, I am glad for that.
who has the most infamous? clapton and the floating vibrato Blues boy king and the butterfly vibrato David gilmore ,i think, has the most mature, refined tremolo arm vibrato. (he said its easier for him to use tremolo arm these days)
A million Thank yous to whom ever was nice enough to share this fantastic piece of history with the rest of us. I had never seen this before until today .... B R A V O.....! Well done ......Well done indeed.........!
So cool seeing Eric with a Gibson back in '68...I remember hangin out at the poolhall in 1968 (much to my mothers chagrin) and listening to the jukebox play the music that was hot at the time........I was just a kid that didn't know shit but thats where I first heard Eric Clapton 's guitar work .....I was instantly addicted and to this day Badge is still one of my most favorite tunes no matter how many thousands of times i've heard it. Thats also when I knew I needed to get me a guitar and it's because of Eric Clapton. I owe him big time........Thanks Eric.
Damn, how cool is this? Look at those Marshall stacks! Shows why Clapton is Clapton! Love that "Fool" paint job, the wardrobe, the hair, moustache, sideburns. Prime 60's slowhand!!
Eric Clapton is and forever will be my favorite artist. Whether I play "Wonderful Tonight" for my girl or "Tears in Heaven" in honor of my father who passed away in 2017, his music is extraordinary and has helped me through every step of life. God bless you Eric. I wish I had the chance to see you live in concert. ❤️
When I first saw this interview, as part of the AH Farewell Concert film, in a small folding chair theater at Facets in Chicago, (pre VHS), I was totally blown away. Just to hear him talk, sent chills down my spine. When Cream and Jimi's Experience were touring around this land, I liken it to those two Civil War ironclads. The Monitor and the Merrimack. Amps blowing right and left. Creating sounds people never heard before. These two guitarist's were busy changing the world. Quite a time.
I've always appreciated the soaring/lilting tone of Eric's guitar in "Dance The Night Away" and the bruising bluesy riffs in "Born Under A Bad Sign" and "Crossroads." I thank Heaven for Eric Clapton!
***** Yer he`s good. He`s been dead since 1998 so you`re limited for material, where as Eric will keep producing for the foreseeable future, (only Joking). I don`t worship him in fact some of his tracks i don`t like, that said im 67 and grown with him the guy has been round the block you must admit. Take a look on my yt channel and you can see i love all music.
***** Exactly i grew up at his height, but have mellowed towards him in the later yrs, he`s done good and bad, like all muscians, but you have to admit what a great guitarist he his, thank god for YT, ive discovered many great peices of music especially live
You can always tell who's playing just by their vibrato all the greats have their own signature vibrato Eric Clapton is certainly no exception alot of there alot of great guitarist from that era only two really stand out above all others thats Eric Clapton and Jimmi Hendrix.
Mooseboy08 Well the difference in his tone in this particular era was due to his usage of a Gibson with humbuckers instead of single coils. It sounds better because the guitar is better... and of course EC is amazing either way
+GioGuitarDude LOL, yes, since I've played electric guitar for over 50 years, I fully understand the difference between pickups. Of course you left out the difference in scale length and set neck vs. bolt on neck, but you probably didn't know if that would confuse me or not! My point (which was not very clear at all!) is that I feel that a lot of times many players concentrate way more on the gear than who's playing it.
Personally I think Eric has always sounded better on guitars with humbuckers. Don't get me wrong he's absolutely great all around. But I love the way he's sounds on Gibson style guitars.
Brilliant! Love the "Angry Bits" ;-) BTW, per the discussion on vibrato, props have to go out to the late, great Paul Kossoff aka Koss. Rumor has it Clapton had asked him how he achieved such a smooth vibrato. BB King too, great vibrato, very clean.
I'm 15, ive been playing since 8 yrs old. Eric Clapton is my hero.he made me pick up my guitar. and now i can play exactly at his level xD, (in term of speed, feeling, vibrato, licks).he makes his own music, he knows his guitar though and I dont. and now im learning a harder guitarist, Van Halen, Slash, Buckethead
Whatever way you look at it, it must have been great back then playing 'electronic guitar' and messing about with amps and pedals and shit. I remember it well - just didn't get famous hahaha! Clapton is God of the guitar and sooo cool. Thanks for posting - great stuff.
Wow. One can see that in his hay day, no one could really top Clapton as a guitarist. His playing glides so effortlessly, yet engaging. I don't think there's anyone who really tops his skills.
The musical power he had at the time is still breathtaking to listen to. After 35 years of playing the guitar this still impresses me. They say "less is more" but this is misleading. He put an awful lot into his art and researched it well.
3:50 Eric Clapton explains the blues: "You have to get your angry bits out of you, like someone behind you could toot the horn and you could get angry and you'll have no release for it. That happens to everybody." Literally sounds something that Ricky Gervais would write!
Why some people bring Eric's age into this, I get mad. Eric was professional in the knowledge of guitars then at young age and even more professional as he mellowed with age and his playing and don't forget he can sing too, there is NO. ONE can reach him, he IS the best, a legend and always will be. IF George Harrison RIP, was around too, those two would have created a unique duet. Eric YOU ARE THE BEST, IN EVERYTHING YOU PRODUCE AND OFFER. WE LOVE YOU.
Clapton and Hendrix were the greatest guitarists of their time. Both very humble people too. Legends forever!
Don't forget about Page
The Walrus I'm not really a big fan of Mr Page. While I appreciate his talent, I don't like his guitar playing as much as Hendrix and Clapton
The Walrus Page was sloppy
fender512 Page is a fucking god
We can all agree page sucked ass when he did heroin
People who say he is over rated don't know him or know his history of playing, his early days of playing was outstanding tone wise, and his playing today is fucking legendary
RawShooter -
"People who say he is over rated "
The Romans said the same things about Jesus..............................
He was considered a legend even before his Cream Days! 🙏🙏🙏Love from India 🇮🇳
Definitely a fairly innovative player and talented. I think he gets criticism for his personal life (rightfully so) and that most all of his playing styles were adapted from Chicago or delta blues players who actually developed the phrases he uses. He isn’t considered a great songwriter as he did many covers from various artists. But undeniable natural guitar talent.
@@jamesdonovan1524 what do you mean rightfully so?? he was diseased. oh you must be a big fauci fan i get it
was greatest white electric blues player, there are really no white guys with the intonation and feel.
2:50 "Could you just do that again?" This is when the interviewer falls in love with the electronic guitar.
rabendranath I'm so used to hearing "electric guitar". When I see or hear "electronic guitar" I always imagine someone on a radio ad, talking up the new Fender telecaster electronic guitar. Or the improved Gibson les Paul electronic guitar. That fuzzy upbeat voice just loops in my head. It's a laugh. Love it!
"...Someone control...electronic guitar..."
Parker Hatcher Well electronic would be solid state, valves and circuitry. So electronic would only be proper if the pickups were running through a circuit which some guitars have.
'electronic' guitar lol
Yes I could sense him going over..........!
My god the sound he got with that SG. Unmatched.
Yeah the SG sound is one of a kind.. Take iommi for example
Speakers were better back then as well!
I saw this interview on TV back when it was first aired in around 1968.
I've been wanting to see it again for years, but thought it was lost forever. A big thanks for putting it up, so I could enjoy it again.
It's also on a Cream farewell concert DVD, you could probably pick it up for next to no money
Eric is a master, and his playing is sublime, isn't it?
He looks like Sirius Black from Harry Potter in this interview.
He totally does haha
He's so enthusiastic about teaching and telling other people about his methods. A real musician.
he has one of the most elegant vibrato and bending of the world
I looked forever to find this video. I remember watching it when I was a kid and was amazed by Clapton's style of playing. There was no one like him back then, and in spite of the fact that he bears little resemblance to this today, the interview reminds me of his astonishing talent, which was so ahead of his time.
Looks nothing like the Clapton we know today, but the voice is the exact same! Even the guitar playing is a different style.
just like Bob Dylan,they were just blessed by god in their youth I think
Gaetano Novielli Depending on his haircut or facial hair style, he aged and grew younger by twenty years either way on the same year long tour.
Really love Clapton. He's the indispensable rocker for me.
I always liked his tone so much better when he was playing Gibson guitars, before switching to Fender Strats.
bullshit this is what got him on the map, when he swaped to Fender copying buddy guy everything turned to shit time to copy JJ cale music and get around wearing a business suit.You can even see EVH copied the cigarette in the headstock. This was his best time.
he was so young then. 23. now 71 wow... can barely recognize him
Cwm368 50 years can change how u look
@cwm368 I know what you mean and its not because it is 50 years later. He has completely changed. The way he speaks, his mannerisms, everything is soooo different. It make me sad. I adore him & always will but in 1990 he was a gorgeous 45 year old Englishman and now he resembles all the old Irish guys at my church who collect money every Sunday. By 1999 in his interview on "60 Minutes" he looked like life in Antigua has aged him & relaxed him way too much. Even at the Concert for George every guy except him wore a jacket and he looked too casual, like somewhere along the way he gave up and just became old. I do not expect him to still wear Armani or Versace suits but his casual old man look is aging him terribly. All his contemporaries are still sporting edgy casual looks and Clapton looks like he should be on his front porch yelling "get off my lawn". But if he looks like this because he is really happy and content with his life, I am glad for that.
Clapton has great vibrato...
who has the most infamous?
clapton and the floating vibrato
Blues boy king and the butterfly vibrato
David gilmore ,i think, has the most mature, refined tremolo arm vibrato. (he said its easier for him to use tremolo arm these days)
Paul Kosoff
Mick Taylor-smoother vibrato- maybe less aggressive
IN terms of tremolo don't forget Beck and some of his emulators like Scott Henderson. That's pretty damn advanced tremolo work.
TJ Nugent sure does
It was great to see and hear him as he was at that time. Thanks.
"What you mean you want me to break the guitar up?"
hahahaha i love this guy
the sound coming out of his guitar when he kicks the pedal is so fucking badass...
A million Thank yous to whom ever was nice enough to share this fantastic piece of history with the rest of us. I had never seen this before until today .... B R A V O.....! Well done ......Well done indeed.........!
Loved Eric since I was a kid but there is a Spinal Tap quality here.
+greatvanzinni .....well,if you put it to "O" .....its less then zero isntit?
+G0K3001 LOL.
... yeah, exactly the kind of interview (and accent), that influenced Spinal Tap...
So well put! Nicely played, sir.
Listen to the sustain...
So cool seeing Eric with a Gibson back in '68...I remember hangin out at the poolhall in 1968 (much to my mothers chagrin) and listening to the jukebox play the music that was hot at the time........I was just a kid that didn't know shit but thats where I first heard Eric Clapton 's guitar work .....I was instantly addicted and to this day Badge is still one of my most favorite tunes no matter how many thousands of times i've heard it. Thats also when I knew I needed to get me a guitar and it's because of Eric Clapton. I owe him big time........Thanks Eric.
excellent, most enjoyable piece of footage......just great.....thanx 4 putting this up
Eric the love of my life😊❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
He had such a wonderful tone with that SG. Amazing!
Damn, how cool is this? Look at those Marshall stacks! Shows why Clapton is Clapton! Love that "Fool" paint job, the wardrobe, the hair, moustache, sideburns. Prime 60's slowhand!!
Eric Clapton is and forever will be my favorite artist. Whether I play "Wonderful Tonight" for my girl or "Tears in Heaven" in honor of my father who passed away in 2017, his music is extraordinary and has helped me through every step of life. God bless you Eric. I wish I had the chance to see you live in concert. ❤️
That was bad ass
his guitar was a smoker.
Ruediger Gissler Clapton tried to make it quit but the guitar doesn't want people controlling it's life
Hendrix's guitar had the same problem, and look where it got it...
Seen that beautiful guitar IRL it was fantastic!
Haharrrrrr! 😁
This comment is hilarious 😂
When I first saw this interview, as part of the AH Farewell Concert film, in a small folding chair theater at Facets in Chicago, (pre VHS), I was totally blown away. Just to hear him talk, sent chills down my spine. When Cream and Jimi's Experience were touring around this land, I liken it to those two Civil War ironclads. The Monitor and the Merrimack. Amps blowing right and left. Creating sounds people never heard before. These two guitarist's were busy changing the world. Quite a time.
Man, you forget how great he is. Just incredible, and he was a kid.
Same year as he played the solo to While my guitar gently Weeps, such an amazing guitar player!
wow ! best sound ! amazing !
Grande Eric
Wonderful share:)))
I've always appreciated the soaring/lilting tone of Eric's guitar in "Dance The Night Away" and the bruising bluesy riffs in "Born Under A Bad Sign" and "Crossroads." I thank Heaven for Eric Clapton!
I love his smile @ 4:27. And his vibrato is killer. Great clip. . .
so bloody awesome !
Would LOVE to hear Clapton get back to this...
This is awesome. Happy 70th birthday Eric!
Love the big spliff stuck in the headstock!
Already a genius at such a young age.
45 yrs later and still top of his game, personally i think he`s matured well and still an icon.
+Steve Knight What's your poison then?
***** Yer he`s good. He`s been dead since 1998 so you`re limited for material, where as Eric will keep producing for the foreseeable future, (only Joking).
I don`t worship him in fact some of his tracks i don`t like, that said im 67 and grown with him the guy has been round the block you must admit. Take a look on my yt channel and you can see i love all music.
Good hot debate on the forum.
***** Exactly i grew up at his height, but have mellowed towards him in the later yrs, he`s done good and bad, like all muscians, but you have to admit what a great guitarist he his, thank god for YT, ive discovered many great peices of music especially live
Still playing those licks now bless im'
Awesome as usual!
what a total quality!!!!!!!!!!!!
What a great piece of history this is. At the height of the '60s rock evolution! Soo cool : )
Amazing tone, immediately. Great details from the man himself :)
A genius Eric
His vibrato is outstanding
weird thing i noticed - John Mayer wears the same necklace now.
+texbls
If you notice his guitars,he have made quiet a few of them look SRV ish.
texbls
John who?.
texbls is he heir to the Oscar Meyer estate?
Nevigo srv is one of the most important influans for John Mayer he always sais that he learned everything from the master srv , Eric and BB king
You can always tell who's playing just by their vibrato all the greats have their own signature vibrato Eric Clapton is certainly no exception alot of there alot of great guitarist from that era only two really stand out above all others thats Eric Clapton and Jimmi Hendrix.
was and still is....
A master back then as well as now.
love this. ahhhh mayer's necklace! i mean claptons...now we know mayer's mojo. unbelievable to re-live these times via youtube.
+Thomas Gilbert Literally the same one or do you think Mayer's might be a replica? Didnt Jimi have one just like this?
+Trox118 I would think it's a replica, but who knows?! Did Jimi have one like this too? We should try to find a link with Jimi if you find it
Thomas Gilbert
John who?.
Yeah loved that man everyone had those squash blossom necklaces! Jimi, Stevie and Eric 🤙🏽
It’s Native American squash blossom necklace, I have one similar like it.
Without a doubt, my favorite era and tone for EC!
+Mooseboy08 Yup. Never cared for fender guitars
+GioGuitarDude It's not the difference in guitar brands for me… just the difference in the player.
Mooseboy08 Well the difference in his tone in this particular era was due to his usage of a Gibson with humbuckers instead of single coils. It sounds better because the guitar is better... and of course EC is amazing either way
+GioGuitarDude LOL, yes, since I've played electric guitar for over 50 years, I fully understand the difference between pickups. Of course you left out the difference in scale length and set neck vs. bolt on neck, but you probably didn't know if that would confuse me or not!
My point (which was not very clear at all!) is that I feel that a lot of times many players concentrate way more on the gear than who's playing it.
Mooseboy08 I absolutely agree and I'm sorry I wasn't trying to act snobbish.
That's...the best EC interview ever...
and this one goes to 11...
Chris C well, why would you make it go 11? can't you just make ten louder?
but these go to eleven....
His guitar was up to two packs a day during this period!
Aaah man, that tone!
He rules and always has.
grande clapton numero 1
Impresssssive
He was only 23 and his tone and technique were flawless, didn't hit a single stray string!
I’m 23 and this made me feel hopeless lol. I’m light years behind his guitar skills at my age
Notice how the interviewer is intelligent and has just the right amount of attitude
That SG sounds incredible.
Personally I think Eric has always sounded better on guitars with humbuckers. Don't get me wrong he's absolutely great all around. But I love the way he's sounds on Gibson style guitars.
Tyler Brown yeah but what about blackie
that's because he was vastly better up to roughly 1970 than he has been at any point since.
Humble legend !
Cream came to Edmonton,Alberta,Canada in 1968 and I have an original 1968 copy of a Canadian magazine to prove it!
Brilliant! Love the "Angry Bits" ;-)
BTW, per the discussion on vibrato, props have to go out to the late, great Paul Kossoff aka Koss. Rumor has it Clapton had asked him how he achieved such a smooth vibrato. BB King too, great vibrato, very clean.
Thanx ;-)
Master
my fav one has always been Mark Knopfler as he fingerpicks and due to his unique sound but love EC as well
that early Clapton is classic. those blues riffs and runs rewind me a bit of Page.
That sound is so Incredible no wonder Edward fell in love with Clapton.
This is way cool. Clapton seems real down to earth and willing to share some technique people do not always spell out
I'm 15, ive been playing since 8 yrs old. Eric Clapton is my hero.he made me pick up my guitar.
and now i can play exactly at his level xD, (in term of speed, feeling, vibrato, licks).he makes his own music, he knows his guitar though and I dont. and now im learning a harder guitarist, Van Halen, Slash, Buckethead
" don't even look at it"
Man he could play in those days. I've heard he was never the same after he went to see Hendrix when he first came to England.
And now we know why John Mayer wears that necklace.
+David Davis HAHA I saw it and made the connection and nearly pissed myself. Thought I was the only one seeing this!!
David Davis
John who?.
TheDoctorG
I know who J. Mayer is.
A totally overrated musician.
Must not be even mentioned when you are talking about the master Eric Clapton.
Gerardo Erak funny that master eric clapton calls john a master guitar player
TheDoctorG
He's being polite.
He was at his peak during the period, from maybe 1965 to 1968.
Clapton man
He's 23 years young ( in 1968 ) and an absolute TONE FREAK !
2:14 surely he meant take all the TREBLE off. Turning the tone knob DOWN removes the treble so it gives that warm, round tone like that.
Whatever way you look at it, it must have been great back then playing 'electronic guitar' and messing about with amps and pedals and shit. I remember it well - just didn't get famous hahaha! Clapton is God of the guitar and sooo cool. Thanks for posting - great stuff.
Great tone.
If there were no film and no chat, just the guitar bits. It could only be him.
"Jangling noise machine" haha that SG sounds sooo good
the interviewer's last word was cut out. would have been: "oh."
Eric used to RULE the World with his guitar. :)
Til Hendrix came and "killed God man." Haha
Chris A yeah Eric nearly gave up!
Blew his mind!
he was better somehow back in the day, more fire
Cocaine
Wait a minutes he was a Hippie with long hair and junkie accent Today he looks like a businessman on the stage, what a change lol
his playing had more fire in it
***** horine is a powerful drug! S.R.V was better too when he was on the junk! ..lol.
SRV was never on heroin if that's what you are trying to spell
can't help but think of 'Sittin' on top of the World'.
Cool stuff!
"Eric, how high are you?"
"Yes, thank you."
Wow even back then he sound ahead of most guitarist at that time.
i wish i had that guitar today
Wow. One can see that in his hay day, no one could really top Clapton as a guitarist. His playing glides so effortlessly, yet engaging. I don't think there's anyone who really tops his skills.
Here for my weekly viewing.
The musical power he had at the time is still breathtaking to listen to. After 35 years of playing the guitar this still impresses me. They say "less is more" but this is misleading. He put an awful lot into his art and researched it well.
He seems real straight here. Good interview
Once dubbed the 'Grandfather Of British Blues Rock' who brought lead rock guitar (as well Hendrix) to the masses.
Does anyone know what happened to this SG???????????
3:50 Eric Clapton explains the blues: "You have to get your angry bits out of you, like someone behind you could toot the horn and you could get angry and you'll have no release for it. That happens to everybody." Literally sounds something that Ricky Gervais would write!
Why some people bring Eric's age into this, I get mad. Eric was professional in the knowledge of guitars then at young age and even more professional as he mellowed with age and his playing and don't forget he can sing too, there is NO. ONE can reach him, he IS the best, a legend and always will be. IF George Harrison RIP, was around too, those two would have created a unique duet. Eric YOU ARE THE BEST, IN EVERYTHING YOU PRODUCE AND OFFER. WE LOVE YOU.
That sustain!
Isn't there better quality of this bit somewhere? ..Anybody?