Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
At The Back => Time Out => Topic started by: Crazy_Joe on November 22, 2008, 11:27:46 AM
-
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=10qLYy6hiFQ
This is such a good rendition of the classic Marley tune. His solo and guitar tone is immense. I used to think Clapton was an overrated guy playing blues on a strat with old men for fans.
Whilst some of those i still think are true, i respect him a lot more than i did previously and this furthers my gas for a strat!
-
Strats can have awsome tone. We got lucky with a second hand Fender custom, already fitted with Irish Tour's. While my natural instinct is for a humbucker sound, I'm not selling the strat, it's a keeper.
I've never really 'got' Eric Clapton, but there seems to be a fair amount of respect for the guy so I respect him for the respect he's got. Does that make sense? :roll:
-
Well I make no apology for liking his work. I have never got into this nonsense about who is the greatest guitarist
( you may as well talk about the merits of oranges as far as I'm concerned) but Eric can play with an amazing amount of fire and passion when he wants to.He has also moved the guitar on in many ways ( and yes I know there are others that you can say that about too) but his playing is distinctive no matter what rig he is using. I have certainly copped a few of his licks over the years. Like everything, he isn't to everyone's tastes and that is pefectly ok by me.
-
I'm with Mr 38th on this one. I think he is an incredible musician. Even smashed out of his head drunk or on hard drugs he could still sound amazing. I've actually this week just finished reading his biography and his life has been tough. He does come over as a nice bloke. His music may not be to everyones taste but but back in the 60's his stuff was revolutionary and has to be put in perspective.
If you have a read into his history he has really got electric guitar playing on the map in this country. There wasn't anything like him around at the time. No one had heard of Hendrix back then either. He is also credited with stopping Gibson going out of business as Les Pauls were out of production and Eric used one with a Marshall combo on John Mayall's Bluesbreakers Album and everone wanted one. Before they wanted Strats because of The Shadows. The overdriven distorted guitar sound is something he and a few others at the time were doing and look where its gone in 40 odd years.
-
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=10qLYy6hiFQ
This is such a good rendition of the classic Marley tune. His solo and guitar tone is immense. I used to think Clapton was an overrated guy playing blues on a strat with old men for fans.
Whilst some of those i still think are true, i respect him a lot more than i did previously and this furthers my gas for a strat!
That clip is from the first Crossroads DVD, the whole event is amazing if your into blues and blues rock. It has Buddy Guy, BB King, Joe Walsh, JJ Cale, Eric Johnson and lots more.
-
i've always liked clapton, not quite sure what all the hate is about.
-
i've always liked clapton, not quite sure what all the hate is about.
I usually find all these things a born from resentment and envy Dave. Human nature.
-
i dunno, i'd say not necessarily in that instance... i mean, i guess i can understand if you were a cream fan back in the day and didn't like his change of direction.... obviously i'm a lot younger than that, so it doesn't annoy me as much. but it still doesn't diminish e.g. the cream stuff, just keep listening to that, surely? :)
-
I like all his music really. most musicians progress and experiment. Well most except Yngwie
-
Clapton was one of the 1st guitarist I listened too, an amazing musician but seems to have a pre-position to ease off on some of his albums rather than go for the jugular. Robert Johnson Songbook is an amzing album & then to come out with Back home...well
-
I didn't post in defence because I thought I was in a minority of 1 who actually likes EC around here. I can't believe guitarists don't universally like the Beano album for example but I am glad to see some others do too.
In my opinion Clapton's has returned to really good form from the Robert Johnson Songbook onwards - now his drugs, money and ego problems seem to be sorted out, and (its a shame to say) since the death of his son, his playing has regained some of the anger and bite of the 60s plus the refined stuff of the 70s and 80s. I'm not a dad, so it can't be dad rock if I like it.
-
I think that anyone who has been around as long as Clapton/McCartney/Stones etc runs the risk of sounding like a parody of themselves. Or at least, being PERCEIVED as a parody of themselves.
This is good stuff.
Mark.
-
I didn't post in defence because I thought I was in a minority of 1 who actually likes EC around here. I can't believe guitarists don't universally like the Beano album for example but I am glad to see some others do too.
In my opinion Clapton's has returned to really good form from the Robert Johnson Songbook onwards - now his drugs, money and ego problems seem to be sorted out, and (its a shame to say) since the death of his son, his playing has regained some of the anger and bite of the 60s plus the refined stuff of the 70s and 80s. I'm not a dad, so it can't be dad rock if I like it.
I'm not a dad either and don't intend to be one. The term dad rock was probably first used in a magazine like Heat or Smash Hits.
-
I like Claptons stuff in the Bluesbreakers, Cream, Blind Faith and the Derek/Dominoes stuff was great too. After that it's deminishing returns imo, though I do like From The Cradle (a massive return to form) and also Backless for it's chilled vibe.
I bought 'Me And Mr Johnson' after it got a glowing review in Guitarist magazine and was very disappointed - it falls in the catagory that most of his stuff does from the past 30 years... BLAND
-
I like all his music really. most musicians progress and experiment. Well most except Yngwie
i do like his older stuff more, but some of his newer stuff has been pretty good too. it's not a problem anyway, i mean even if i hated his newer stuff, i'd still like him because of the older stuff, kind of thing.
I like yng too... :lol:
i hate the term dad rock, it's offensive... not to mention, extremely ironic when the person using it probably likes the pussycat dolls. I don't buy into this fashion thing, and i can't stand people who will like music if it's currently fashionable, but hate it once told by NME, or smash hits, or whatever, that it's now uncool. Music's either good or it's not. :)
-
Clapton is just so dull, which means he gets branded with the term dad-rock :P that track was ok but I'd rather just hear the proper version. Clapton isnt just dad rock, he's grandad rock as well - my grandad asked me if I knew any Eric Clapton last time he was there when I was playing guitar :lol:
-
I like all his music really. most musicians progress and experiment. Well most except Yngwie
i do like his older stuff more, but some of his newer stuff has been pretty good too. it's not a problem anyway, i mean even if i hated his newer stuff, i'd still like him because of the older stuff, kind of thing.
I like yng too... :lol:
i hate the term dad rock, it's offensive... not to mention, extremely ironic when the person using it probably likes the pussycat dolls. I don't buy into this fashion thing, and i can't stand people who will like music if it's currently fashionable, but hate it once told by NME, or smash hits, or whatever, that it's now uncool. Music's either good or it's not. :)
People should be their own Popes and listen to what they like without feeling the media, who for most part are arseholes suggesting they should be cos its trendy! That's spineless
I hate the dad rock term too. I appreciate the Yng and don't dislike him :lol:
-
Clapton is just so dull, which means he gets branded with the term dad-rock :P that track was ok but I'd rather just hear the proper version. Clapton isnt just dad rock, he's grandad rock as well - my grandad asked me if I knew any Eric Clapton last time he was there when I was playing guitar :lol:
Well do you? Anyway that version been out as long as the original some 35 years!
So what category does Muddy Waters fall in? Or Robert Johnson?
-
Obviously it has nothing on this version
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=XAixXMbyOBc
-
Obviously it has nothing on this version
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=XAixXMbyOBc
Not for me, Clapton's studio versions my fav.
-
Clapton isnt just dad rock, he's grandad rock as well - my grandad asked me if I knew any Eric Clapton last time he was there when I was playing guitar :lol:
I know you're just kidding, Tom, but the only thing Eric Clapton - and your grandad - have done "wrong" is get older. You'll be old one day too, but you'll still think your opinions about music are worth listening to.
At least Clapton has aged gracefully, unlike - say - Steven Tyler, who's so full of botox he looks like Joan Rivers' sister. His music has matured too, he doesn't have the anger and energy of a 25-year-old but really why should he pretend he has?
-
His music has matured too, he doesn't have the anger and energy of a 25-year-old but really why should he pretend he has?
Hear, hear!!!
-
Yeah I was just kidding, but I still find his music mind numbingly dull :P
-
Obviously it has nothing on this version
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=XAixXMbyOBc
Not for me, Clapton's studio versions my fav.
His vocals are nowhere near Marleys standards.
-
[People should be their own Popes and listen to what they like without feeling the media, who for most part are arseholes suggesting they should be cos its trendy! That's spineless
I hate the dad rock term too. I appreciate the Yng and don't dislike him :lol:
yeah, exactly :)
-
If Dad rock is a derogatory term then I would like to know why being a father disqualifies you from being able to enjoy music and damning that choice of music. I'd apply my own label to those who come up these things... total b*llocks. Fathers rule!
-
Obviously it has nothing on this version
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=XAixXMbyOBc
Not for me, Clapton's studio versions my fav.
His vocals are nowhere near Marleys standards.
It's all subjective but I prefer Clapton's on this song.
When i was in my early 20's i was frustrated that i wasn't born in 40's so i could have the 60's first time round.
I agree with you Mr 38th! But look at it this way, Dad Rock V's Emo? There is no contest is there really.
Tom, Claptons not really dull, more laid back! :)
-
I think the point is he doesn't have to try.
He has done more for music and guitar with Beano/Cream alone than 99% of people ever will.
If he had died after the early stuff like Hendrix, Marley or Lennon did, I reckon he would be just as revered.
-
He has done more for music and guitar with Beano/Cream alone than 99% of people ever will.
If he had died after the early stuff like Hendrix, Marley or Lennon did, I reckon he would be just as revered.
Yep - I was a fanatical fan through his Yardbirds, Mayall (Beano) Cream ("Clapton is God") days - he certainly played a major part in starting the whole Gibson/Marshall sound. Unfortunatelly he lost me after I saw him playing with Delaney & Bonny - he had switched to playing Strats (nothing against them - have one myself) and (to me) had lost all his 'fire/energy' (which I suppose Tom defines as dull?). Shades of what happened to Rod Stewart when he left the Faces (another big disappointment to me). Drink and drugs have certainly been a factor - my (first) wife's best friend used to work in a pub in London - often EC would sit at the bar and get smashed out of his head and get very abusive. One night she'd had enough and refused to serve him and told him to leave. He turned to her and said "Don't you know who I am?" - she said "Yes - you're a ****ing drunken ****er."
I wonder if Hendrix had not choked on his own vomit would Tom be saying the same about him? Probably - I think he was loosing his way before he died. Both contributed a huge amount to the electric guitar - just because they did this when they were younger doesn't change that. Today's music will become tomorrow's "Dad Rock" to the next genereation - it's your turn next Tom :lol: :lol:
-
You can't really compare him to Hendrix. I think most of this judgment is more on the character than the music. Hendrix was more flamboyant shall we say, an exciting character with a crazy lifestyle. His music was psychedelic and interesting. Whereas i think Clapton gets lumped with being known as a plain dressing sensible blues player.
-
that's only later, though, surely? i mean, some of the things he wore in cream, and did to his hair, could hardly be considered sensible... o_O
-
One day, young grebo grasshoppers, you will desire an Armani suit (although for me it would be something Saville Row and 3 piece) and then the ghost of Clapton will laugh at you :)
-
Theres nothing wrong with wearing a nice suit, but playing boring (imo) music is what I have a problem with :P
-
You can't really compare him to Hendrix. I think most of this judgment is more on the character than the music. Hendrix was more flamboyant shall we say, an exciting character with a crazy lifestyle. His music was psychedelic and interesting. Whereas i think Clapton gets lumped with being known as a plain dressing sensible blues player.
Go and check out some photos (and music) of Clapton from the Cream period - he had more different hairstyles than I've had hot dinners. And even though he dresses in a low-key, "sensible" manner, he's more in touch with art and fashion than you might think - those suits he wears on stage are bloody expensive ones, and he has a whole series of Strats custom-painted by ever-so-cred street artists (like the one in the I Shot the Sheriff clip at the top of the thread).
Going back to Tellboy's post, it's true that his music got a lot more low-key (and arguably more dull!) when he switched to Strats and went through the whole Delaney & Bonnie/Derek & the Dominos period, but he was never comfortable with the whole guitar hero, "Clapton is God" thing, and he was making a conscious decision to get away from it. Plus he was dealing with some pretty serious addictions, as already mentioned!
-
One day, young grebo grasshoppers, you will desire an Armani suit (although for me it would be something Saville Row and 3 piece)
Hasn't happened to me yet, I have to say... :wink:
-
Well PhillyQ, I wouldn't mind an Armani suit, but as I wear proper suits for my job (being a lawyer) i'm not sure Armani are cut properly or look right for the English gentleman. If I had the dosh, it'd be Anderson and Shepherd for me :)
-
I have to wear a suit for work, but I won't pay for more than cheapo Next ones! :lol: Still hate the feeling of a collar and tie even after all these years.
-
Funny thing about Clapton and Strats, is that when he plays old Beano era stuff he sounds like he's playing the various guitars from that era.
Guess its the old 'in the (slow) hands' vs 'in the pickups argument'
-
Cream is only a smidgen of his career though, he spent most of his career doing solo work and that's what he's most known for imo.
-
You can't really compare him to Hendrix. I think most of this judgment is more on the character than the music. Hendrix was more flamboyant shall we say, an exciting character with a crazy lifestyle. His music was psychedelic and interesting. Whereas i think Clapton gets lumped with being known as a plain dressing sensible blues player.
They're both from the same era and were good friends who both greatly admired each others playing.
As Philly said, Clapton, back when he recorded the beano album, (have a listen to the phrasing on it) and with Cream he would have been as flamboyant as you can get. Your totally misunderstanding the bloke, sadly. The 60's revolution didn't come about over nothing, this country was as conservative and uptight as you can possibly imagine and these musicians music and clothing was nothing short of radical.
Also just for his ability to play the guitar, this was written on walls all over London.
That wouldn't happen if he couldn't play.
-
That's all well and good, but i never said he didn't dress flamboyant at one point in his career. i think you're missing the point of our debate. My point is that he is not remembered for his life back in the day and that everyone looks at him as the dull person he became later on in his career.
As i said Cream was only about 2 years of his whole career. That's not enough time span to be remembered as a crazy dressing psychedelic guy. He spent the best part of his career dressing normally and playing the blues. Hendrix spent his whole career like that which is why he gets remembered the way he does (whether or not he would have changed his style later on in his career we will never know but he died before he could)
-
I see your Clapton is God and raise you Clapton is dog!
(http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/5741/claptonisdogzu7.jpg)
-
Err, Jimi Hendrix's career (excluding the chitlin circuit) only lasted 3 years before the hellhound caught up with him (just when he was deciding to become a jazz guitarist - so let that be a warning to you), so we don't know if Jimi would have donned an Armani suit in the 80s.
-
Cream is only a smidgen of his career though, he spent most of his career doing solo work and that's what he's most known for imo.
frankly +1
clapton was wicked in cream and the bluesbreakers, but he IS more known as a solo artist.
sometimes he can pull it out of the bag these days (for example the original clip posted), but yeah, my dad listens to him too and i think he does have a boring image. also my dad prefers clapton's solo work strongly to his cream period. not that my family is any sort of indicator of general clapton opinion, however when i was still living at home i recall several times my old man would try to stick on a bit of clapton and my mum would turn it off saying he looked like an old tramp now and preferred his psychedelic era.
tonewise, i do like claptons bluesbreaker, cream and blackie era tones.
edit:
i'd love to see clapton again with one of his gibson classics, and hes played many memorable ones:
50s les paul
the fool SG
firebird
es-355
'clapton cut' explorer
wouldn't that be great
i suppose his arty painted strats are attempting to hint at the psychedelic past of his fool SG. i don't think it quite works.
-
Err, Jimi Hendrix's career (excluding the chitlin circuit) only lasted 3 years before the hellhound caught up with him (just when he was deciding to become a jazz guitarist - so let that be a warning to you), so we don't know if Jimi would have donned an Armani suit in the 80s.
According to some. From what I've read, it seems that everyone who knew Hendrix has their own version of what he was going to do next - he was going to clean up and go back to working with Chas Chandler, he was going back to the Experience, he was going to do jazz, he was going to move more into soul/blues....
In effect, they all imposed their own wishes onto the "future Hendrix" who was destined never to exist. Or maybe Jimi himself was very good at telling people what he thought they wanted to hear.
-
Or maybe Jimi himself was very good at telling people what he thought they wanted to hear.
I like that idea :)
-
That's all well and good, but i never said he didn't dress flamboyant at one point in his career. i think you're missing the point of our debate. My point is that he is not remembered for his life back in the day and that everyone looks at him as the dull person he became later on in his career.
As i said Cream was only about 2 years of his whole career. That's not enough time span to be remembered as a crazy dressing psychedelic guy. He spent the best part of his career dressing normally and playing the blues. Hendrix spent his whole career like that which is why he gets remembered the way he does (whether or not he would have changed his style later on in his career we will never know but he died before he could)
No your saying he isn't remembered for his work back in the day, not anyone else. Dull? His life and lifestyle are hardly dull mate, he owns country piles, Ferraris, exotic clothes :wink:
guitars, private yacht, his own rehab centre and tradgically lost his only son in terrible accident. Plus beaten Heroin, Cocaine, Alcohol and fags.
Dressing normally? Well very in vogue as opposed to abnormally. Hendrix played the blues too and Clapton loves playing the blues. He wouldn't really suit much else and he has made and spent enough money to clear most 3rd world debts playing the blues so if it ain't broke don't fix it. As to comparisons to Hendrix, as much as I love his music too, they're very different. Plus everyone loves you when your dead.
-
Not sure where I stand on this one.
Over the years when non-guitarists went on about "Clapton", my reaction was always "he's a good guitarist, but I think he's a little over-rated". In a way, I still feel that - he's far more well known and revered than other guitarists I'd much rather see play. And he's actually one of those I've seen more than once.
I love the Beano album, I absolutely adore "Just One Night", and I quite like "From the Cradle", but the other EC albums I have I just don't listen to.
I have to admit I like Cream because of Jack Bruce, not because of the guitar playing. However, when I saw EC play Badge and White Room in the Albert Hall quite a few years ago, it was stunning - but I think that's because the songs are so good. And by the way, the very best playing that night was when he finally got his rhythm guitarist (a Mr Mark Knopfler) to actually take a solo in Same Old Blues - I can't remember anything at all of EC except the songs, but I can still hear the sound of the first half of Knopfler's solo (and it must be nearly 20 years ago now...)
I think he's a good musician, a passable singer (not top drawer though) and probably a far better guitarist than I give him credit for. However, I have seen much better "singer/guitarist" performers playing in pubs over the years - it's just there's no way they were ever going to get famous or make a decent living doing it. My gut feeling is that he's "Eric Clapton" now because he was the first one who got famous doing what he does. And because of that he has an influence on all of us that play electric blues-based stuff, even if we don't think enough of his playing to acknowledge it!!
-
Boring, old man blues played by a boring, white old man. There we go, discussion over.
-
Boring, old man blues played by a boring, white old man. There we go, discussion over.
Fool
-
I have to admit I like Cream because of Jack Bruce, not because of the guitar playing.
I do kind of agree with that. I love Jack's playing and - especially - his singing.
Which isn't meant as a put-down to Clapton in any way.
-
more than any other thread i see an older/younger generation split going off...
-
older/younger in terms of mental ages more like :D
I'm not sure - few of us EC proponents here are that old - I was a teenager when Guns and Roses where at their height, not when the Beano album came out, so its not like I'm of the Clapton is God generation.
-
older/younger in terms of mental ages more like :D
I'm not sure - few of us EC proponents here are that old - I was a teenager when Guns and Roses where at their height, not when the Beano album came out, so its not like I'm of the Clapton is God generation.
as a result of this thread i've checked out alot of his later solo stuff, some of it is really well crafted and much better than i remembered. but he'll never have me as a hardened fan with that sound. it hardly counts as his solo period, but layla is particularly notable, though i strongly dislike the chilled out bit at the end.
this live version is really good: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=D2sfelvHAlU his grin at the start of the video seems to be really from the heart, and his solo is very measured and musical.
-
It doesn't matter if he owns exotic clothes or has had drug addictions, fact is aside from blues guitarists and maybe a few others the rest of the population knows him as a boring blues player who looks like someones dad.
-
'the rest of the population' is not really a good barometer of taste when it comes to music - unless you are now admitting you like Britney, Beyonce, Leona, Katy and the other plastic creations are currently in the top 10 (the Killers aside).
-
It doesn't matter if he owns exotic clothes or has had drug addictions, fact is aside from blues guitarists and maybe a few others the rest of the population knows him as a boring blues player who looks like someones dad.
All part of the lifestyle.
The rest of your last post is ridiculous! Your seeing him now as a 63 year old. I got into his music around 1987. He was someones dad back then too albeit a 42 year old. I was 22 back then and thought his playing was great and got into the 60's/70's era of music more than than what was contemporary back then.
All I'm saying is look a bit further than the end of your nose, broaden your horizons!
EVH is a Dad, Vai, Zakk, Jimi, Jimmy, Hendrix, this list could go on and on and on..................zzzzzzzzz
-
It doesn't matter if he owns exotic clothes or has had drug addictions, fact is aside from blues guitarists and maybe a few others the rest of the population knows him as a boring blues player who looks like someones dad.
Would Clapton not be probably the most popular guitarist ever with the 'rest of the population'?
I mean most people not into guitar wouldn't know much about EVH / Satriani / Paul Gilbert (or whoever), but most of the poulation would or could have a Cream or Clapton Album. Or EC unplugged, that was massive and appealed to guitarists and non-guitarists alike of all ages.
I've not posted to stick up for Clapton, It's just I think at least the rest of the poulation do know him and probably not for Blues. More for unplugged etc....