Controversy
On 5 August 1976 Clapton was placed in the centre of controversy when he spoke out against increasing immigration during a concert in Birmingham. Visibly intoxicated, Clapton voiced his support of controversial political candidate Enoch Powell and announced on stage that Britain was in danger of becoming a "black colony".
These remarks helped spark the creation of Rock Against Racism when its founder, Red Saunders, commented: "Come on Eric... Own up. Half your music is black. Who shot the Sheriff, Eric? It sure as hell wasn't you!", in reference to Clapton's first UK solo hit single, a cover of the Bob Marley song.
In a 2004 interview with Uncut magazine, Clapton called Enoch Powell "outrageously brave". He also stated that "My feeling about this has not changed really. We have always been up to some funny business in this country, inviting people in as cheap labour and then putting them in ghettos."
Clapton has also stated that "There's no way I could be a racist.
More about Eric Clapton (From Wikipedia)
Early Years
Clapton was born in Ripley, Surrey, England, the son of 16 year old Patricia Molly Clapton and Edward Walter Fryer, a 24-year-old soldier from Montreal, Quebec, Canada; the two were read more...
The Yardbirds & The Bluesbreakers
Clapton joined The Yardbirds, a blues-influenced rock and roll band, in 1963 and stayed with them until March 1965. Synthesising influences from Chicago blues and leading blues guitarists read more...
Cream
Clapton left the Bluesbreakers in July 1966 (to be replaced by Peter Green) and then formed Cream, one of the earliest supergroups. Cream was also one of the earliest "power trios", read more...
Blind Faith & Delaney And Bonnie And Friends
A desultory spell in a second supergroup, the short-lived Blind Faith (1969), which was composed of Cream drummer Ginger Baker, Steve Winwood of Traffic and Ric Grech of Family, read more...
Derek And The Dominos
Taking over Delaney & Bonnie's rhythm section — Bobby Whitlock (keyboards, vocals), Carl Radle (bass) and Jim Gordon (drums) — Clapton formed a new band which was read more...
Solo Career
Clapton's career successes were in stark contrast to his personal life, in a chaotic mess by late 1971. In addition to his (temporarily) unrequited and intense romantic longing for read more...
Controversy
On 5 August 1976 Clapton was placed in the centre of controversy when he spoke out against increasing immigration during a concert in Birmingham. Visibly intoxicated, Clapton voiced read more...
Comeback
In 1981, Clapton was invited by producer Martin Lewis to appear at the Amnesty International benefit The Secret Policeman's Other Ball. Clapton accepted the invitation and teamed read more...
Tragedy Again
In 1984, while still married to Pattie Boyd, Clapton began a year-long relationship with Yvonne Kelly; they had a daughter, Ruth, born in January 1985. Clapton and Kelly did not read more...
Slowhand Re-emerging
While Unplugged featured Clapton playing acoustic guitar, his 1994 album From the Cradle contained new versions of old blues standards highlighted by his electric guitar playing. read more...