Eric if your reading this............Thank you for all you have done for music and pushing the limits of what a human being could do with a guitar. I consider you the greatest guitar player in popular music history. Believe me that is not an accolade I give away too easily. Some of my most enjoyable moments were listening to Cream, Blind Faith and your later solo work. Long may you continue to play and inspire others..........Thank you.

Speechless! That is how reading some of these comments leaves me feeling. The number of musicians still standing since the 1960"s you can count on one hand and Eric Clapton has followed his heart every step of the way. He has never been afraid of taking chances and always remained fresh. You can't play Cream's music for forty years. He's done that and moved on. We should also. I love E.C. Thank You Sir. Eric Clapton.

I got the chance to meet Eric in '78 and he was a very kind and giving man then, very generous with his time too - it's clear he's still got that great personality, and still looks with humility to the gifts that others have (like JJ Cale). Really glad he's survived the rock n roll gauntlet!

Eric, Time has taken many of the things that we all love to do because of age. Inside I will always be rocking to the beat. I see myself as the young thing in the tight jeans remembering when we said at a 4 hour concert chairs who needs chairs. You have brought such joy, empathy, healing, and comfort through your music. You are a teacher that will live on. And some of the greatest times in my life happened while you played on the radio. Thanks for the memories! Diana

We are so lucky to have had Eric Clapton in our lifetime, and he is still here and playing for our pleasure...Love the man and his music

I feel so much emotion in his music. A unique talent that I will always appreciate

My master and my guitar God....On my best day I could never even come close to his worst day, at any age he is. If someone set out to mold a perfect guitar player....Clapton would be the heart, passion and soul. His music is a strong part of the soundtrack of my life.

I think it's cool that Eric Clapton can go on KZfaq and watch videos of Eric Clapton playing his guitar.

I'm an old fart, I remember the Yardbirds, Mayall and Cream. So, I've been watching and listening to Clapton for a fairly long time. He's just amazing whether I'm listening to him play or watching an interview like this one. I hope he continues to play for a long, long time.

enjoyable and enlightening interview. first of all, i picked up that eric's career and playing have a lot to do with expecting the big "no". perfection in pursuit of acceptance and respect. i relate to that. then his honesty and giving credit where due and his understanding and respect for j.j. cale's talent and quirks. then is his understanding that his life's work is "the music". eric is a hardworking, dedicated, humbled man. the journeyman beginning to understand the life of the master.

I cannot imagine that he will ever stop playing guitar !! I saw him in Cologne, he is still "on the road". Thank you Eric!

In retrospect, 2 weeks after J.J. Cale's death, the telling of how they got together for their collaboration in Clapton's own words, is itself a elegy and tribute to John's life and work. Eric had mountains of respect for J.J., a rather shy, unassuming man, much like himself, who let his songs and his lyrics speak for him. American folk songs and writers like Cale endure long after the glitz and glamor have faded. As a fellow Okie, I'm proud of J.J. and the "Tulsa Sound" he helped invent.

I've been want to Clapton's fans for 50 years I just love him dearly everything he's ever done he's getting older his voice and his acoustic playing I think have improved he can't make runs on electric stress like he used to but he still wonderful and great

Dear Eric, I could understand if you were putting your contemporary playing behind some of the things that you did with Cream, however I firmly believe that you have gotten even better in the past couple of years. Whenever I get the chance to see you play live I am taking it and I am sucking in every note that you play and sing. Keep on doing this forever:-) Best regards, Marc

yes Eric did play more fiery in the 90's. I looked at many of the video's. so fluid so expressive. we all change we all get older. and he still plays with lots of emotion. he has been my inspiration. love to him always.

Clapton will always be Clapton. No matter how old he gets. He's incredible.

he is my idol.i started off with his music and still play it.he is a god of blues and such

Eric has influenced music for decades. He is a Legend. I love his music.

Eric clapton still rocks and rules even though he's aging. He is the man who I respect most of all as a pure blues musician in these era. Eric keeps working on good stuff and makes us to be blown away with your music. Thanks.

I was in Greece, working on a catalogue project, doing m/u & hair... This music was wafting through the air at an outdoor eating spot and I was sure I was listening to Clapton, it was JJ Cale.... Loved it, very sincere and unobtrusive. Quite lovely, actually. That was in 1986. Never knew they colaborated all along.

I love the blues, no matter who's playin' it !

Eric you still have it together, thankyou for so many many wonderful years, through good times and bad times, you are brilliant, God gave you a gift to share with all of us, who can feel the passion of your music, and the blues. Almost spent New Years Eve with you at a private party in London "92", my cousin does music documentarys for the BBC, but I decided lets go somewhere else.......ask me if I am pissed after hearing you were at the party........still love you forever...

clapton is still great.. i saw him recdently live and .. he s still great guitar player, better I could say.. long live ;)

LOVE HIM!!!! JUST LOVE HIM. Listening to him reminds me of the great music he`s written and played, definitely one of the greatest of all times and so modest!!

I hope Eric could search for this video and see the admiration of his fans not only because of his musical talent but also for his personality and character. This man keeps his feet on the ground, very humble. A perfect blues man

I'm Fran Raya, a female singer/songwriter from the UK. I was invited to support Eric Clapton on one of his Scandinavian tours performing my own songs. It was amazing and he will always be a superb performer with a true musician's soul. That's what really counts no matter how far down the line. Thanks Eric - I'm so proud to have toured with you.

i hope eric see this comment, DUDE, im young and a guitarist and watching this, i still feel you one of my fav on guitar and many,many others do too.... and yes, young,spunk, fresh individuals are always going to have alot of expression, but you are in a diff. category........... i love the honesty but i think you may be a very modest guy.................. no one and i mean no one can hold a candle to you clapton, pure innocence in your playing, thats what makes a man on guitar.

I love this guy. His himbleness and his just amazing playing no matter what man. This is my hero, He's just my idol God man he's awesome!!

You are my man, Eric. Still being great and humble at the same time. Not many performers can do it.

Road to Escondido was a great album!

man i wish hendrix and srv were still alive then wed have three guitar greats

I love erics determination of expression....you touch my soul ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

Eric Clapton is Always a BIG BIG Inspiration to me , i just learn the 2nd Solo of Creams Crossroads Version (the first i already know in and out ) His Solos where NEVER just "Shred" they made sense , Musically , and He is just the Greatest ! He was the first Reason i Play Guitar , i bought the "Crossroads" 4 CD set and was COMPLETELEY Blowin Away from this COOL GREAT Music .. Hail Eric Clapton !!

Oh Eric you're such a gentleman and a good guy ... Giod Bless You Man ....

haha he searched his own name on youtube

Clapton is an "Icon" who's music will last forever. Is he as good as he once was? Just go see him "LIVE" and then answer that question for yourself. :)

@maracuja10 You nailed it on the head. I am an athlete and the way this guy was talking reminded me of sports and how becoming famous depends on a lot of factors specially in team sports. Injuries, people you know, parents support it all plays a part. Even with all of those things that play a part in success for an athlete I think the best of the best still make it through!!! Therefore, in music you will go unnoticed only if you play it in your bedroom for yourself and nobody else to hear it!

Eric you're God!! Thank you for all these years music! You're thne one...and only!

Well. Eric's using KZfaq. That's all I know

Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE (born 30 March 1945) is an English blues-rock guitarist, singer, songwriter and composer. Clapton is the only person who has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame three times; as a solo performer, as well as a member of rock bands the Yardbirds and Cream.

He always hits the rite note. He never sounds bad and he's been that way for almost 50 years. That's why he's a legend.

@LRifenberg You are so right, 6 strings is still 6 strings nomatter if it's Fender, Gibson or whatever...

well, that's eric clapton! always humble and truthful. go eric! even he is old already, he can still do it baby.eric is right. ok.

@theatlantisrise not to mention his humility as a musician - as brilliant as he has always been, he has never been better than just aiming to serve the song and trying to make it better, which is of course nearly always comes off as being what the song needs because he is a fantastic player and consummate performer.

"...and his signature fender stratocaster guitar" Man is that square. I'm glad they propped a guitar behind EC, we needed to be reminded who he is.

He has always been very humble and very classy ..I named my son after him ..thats how much I think of him ..I also have his autograph ...I got his and BB Kings all in the same night ...yes I was very lucky ....

despite not being as good as he used to be he is still one of the best guitarists out there. but his clips from the 70s-80s are mind-blowing.

Layla will always be my all time favorite.

Guitar technique does change as we age, though I don't think we necessarily all get slower as such. I play 15 hours per week, and I find there are techniques that I haven't so much forgot, I've simply moved onto other riffs/ styles.

I have to say there are not three songs of his that I like, but you gotta admire the man for being, even after such a longtime as a guitarhero, a normal guy; a bloke you can just relate to, without the arrogance that lots of musician get when they 'make it big' . Yeah, evn as a non-fan, I respect the guy.

Yep he's a legend !

Just to set the record straight: Katie Couric said he transformed guitar playing around 40 years ago with a Fender Stratocaster. At that time during the mid 1960s he was actually playing a Gibson Les Paul.

It's so sic because when he was talking about watching the youtube video of himself in the mid 90's he said "i thought to myself WHa...?!" as if he was in awe, but it's himself!!!

It's all about emotion and feeling Clappy! ;-)

My feel is that it's about the people, and their lives that make them great musicians. the values and warmth of yesterday, family, honor, free spirit attitude must come back and defeat vain materialism and modern stress to bring back the awesome stuff from then. it'll be about the little changes that me and you can make as individuals. That's what makes it organic!

He's right, his faculties are declining, but that's just natural. What he used to do when he was with the Bluesbreakers (or with Duane Allman) will probably remain unequalled. But what I mostlty admire in him is his honesty in recognizing this. Eric Clapton has been -and still is- one of the most influential and skilled musician in the history of contemporary music. But he's a great man, too.

My favorite lead guitarists of all time: 1. Carl Perkins 2. Luther Perkins 3. Willie Nelson 4. Chet Atkins 5. Roy Clark 6. Mother Maybelle Carter 7. Scotty Moore 8. Keith Richards 9. Eric Clapton 10. Waylon Jennings

I'm only 13, but if i could meet Eric Clapton that'll be the greatest moment in my life. He's a guitar Legend

@theatlantisrise - Eric did lose his way for awhile with his heroin addiction and then alcohol. He has said that remaining sober is the #1 thing in his life, above all else. If you haven't read it, his autobiography "Clapton" is a brutally honest telling of his life - the highs and the lows. Like so many other great guitarists; Zappa, Harrison, for instance, he is entirely self taught and doesn't know how to read music. I also admire him greatly, my favorite of all time.

Eric, you are evolving and getting better. You are a time traveler.

I'm 13, and don't listenin to any of this new stuff, and my favorite of all classic rock artist is clapton, wish I could see him in concert and get an autograph.

Hes so humble, anyone with half a brain can tell that Clapton always is getting better.

@busterbone He is English. He was born in Ripley, Surrey, England, and currently lives in Surrey, England.

Can you imagin Kanye West demanding equal billing for the OTHER GUY on a project!!?? It just shows you how much class Clapton has.

Though I am probably being a bit biased , I don't put famous people on pedistles they are just people like everyone else . But I am 20 and learning guitar and influince wise clapton has probably been the biggest and most importance musical influance on me in my life so far , especially his early stuff like mayall and cream era .

wish I knew which vid he's talkin about ! Claptons playing is better than ever in my book.

so great ... so humble!!!

@ dimpoochie While many people believe his nickname "Slow Hand(s)" is because his fingers are slow on the guitar, it is actually because once during a concert he played his guitar so hard that one of its strings broke, and he took time out to re-string it. As he did, the fans in attendance began a "slow hand" clap.

A comment was made about Eric loosing his drive after the death of his son. Quite possibly so, but having walked in those shoes myself with the tragic horrific death of my child for about the same period of time I would say Eric has done quite well on the surface, in fact IMHO his voice during the late 90s up thru the let’s say 2015 is probably better than ever. He has held up remarkably well.

Not only best overall guitarists but a real classy gentleman. Hes helped out all kinds of muscians that did not have the financial success that he achieved. He helps them and gives a fresh retrospectives on Cream, Beck, Blind Faith and God knows letting Johnny Winter do a punk version of Redhouse at Crossroads was a monstrosity of charitible giving. hope winter took the bus to check in at Antigua rehab. Whoa did anyone see the awful looks the others on the stage gave him.

i luv u Eric!

So good

Then it is OUR duty to carry it on and keep it alive and kicking ass.

@jiaconis As someone else said, he really is a modern day Van Gogh. He isn't the last modern day guitar hero though. Another, and I think better one, is Jeff Beck. But of course, I understand that it's apples and oranges.

Now that's connecting the dots, street style. "Follow The Money" works every time.

rust never sleeps and we all lose things we take for granted. the student remains the student even when considered the teacher. eric mentions the need to teach and comes just short of naming jj as a teacher. jj is that way too. the music. the roaqd to escondito = rincon diablo= corner of the devil= crossroads ? anybody verify that translation ? wwjjd? a good mantra !

seems like a rel nice guy. the sort of guy tht you would want to go have a beer with

Such an honest guy !

no he is not overrated. He has great feel and tone in his playing and is one of the finest singers out there. It is easy to fall into the trap of comparing him to 'tekkies' like Scott Henderson and Robben Ford. But he influenced those guys and many others. He makes blues soloing look easier than it is.

I say this with complete respect to this guitar icon. After the death of his son is when i think he lost alot of his drive. And i dont blame the guy but thats when i noticed his playing had changed.

@CashPresley32 Whoa! a great list you have there. You certainly know your guitarists!. I agree with your list. However, Clapton is my No 1 Rock guitarist No1. of all time has to be Blues/Jazz guitarist, the great Robert Johnson. The man was in a different league.When Keith Richards was first introduced to Johnson's music by his band mate Brian Jones, he replied, "Who is the other guy playing with him?", "No-one replied Jones "he is doing it all by himself" Richards was absolutely staggered.

40 years ago Clapton played a Gibson SG most of the Time not a Fender Stratacaster. According to research he switched to a Fender Stratacaster after his prized SG was stolen. Also he did not drop his kid out of a hotel window in NY. The Boy was being watched by a housekeeper and the boy ran to a window and fell out, it was just a horrible accident.

"And I thought...whoa" He's quite a modest guy.

why the hell are you watching an interview of him on youtube then? you searched for him, saw this video and it interested you enough to click the link and watch it. why? these people amaze me. lol

slash is from engalnd, iron maiden, beatles and soooo many more..HELL YES :D

@Elgigante21 Metal didn't exist until ASCII became standard, coincidence? I think not...

LOL..say it ain't so. EC is very funny. He watched himself play and even he was blown away. Now EC can see how the rest of us who try to play guitar like him feel when we watch him play. In response to adrianblandor, I think his guitar playing kicked ass in the 60s but I think he really became a guitar craftsman in 90s and 2000s. That was when his guitar playing evolved from that of the old blues guys (e.g. Albert King et al) into his own unique brand of blues expression.

his "not as good" is anyone's elses "brilliant"

fair enough i see your point

i love Strats, but 40 years ago he played SGs, ES's, and Firebirds

YOU ARE THE BEST CLAPTOPN :)

Eric if you read this man, Greece is waiting for you.

He's such a cool person.

as much as i love clapton i am forced to agree with you but we all agree that clapton was unbelievably good RIP SRV

@hendrixkixas 40 years ago was 1970. in 1970, clapton was with derek and the dominoes. he played the stratocaster with derek and the dominoes. therefore clapton played the strat 40 years ago.

@TheMouse2U ive been to a concert in 2011 hes still running hot!

its amazing that this guy after so many years doesnt seem to know who eric clapton is,keeps talking to him like hes a kid,eric is a very humble man and the fact that he wants jj cale to be recognized is classical clapton, hes a very decent man,maybe not so in his love life in the past but of course thats nobodys business but his,hes a master guitar player,case closed.

I don't know about comparisons to Van Gogh, when Clapton seems to show no sign of madness, hasn't shorn an ear, or headed out to the field to turn a shotgun on himself, and certainly I hope he won't do that. What he seems to be these days is everyone's touchstone in pop music; a sort of weathered elder statesman and survivor. I don't know how they can claim that the blues is really an African-based thing when it was born but languished in the US and was re-popularized by Brits like Clapton.

really love Eric

we don't get rock/blues musicians like clapton nowadays.