GUEST REVIEWER STEVE, AND MUSO FROM WAYBACK,
READS CLAPTON

After reading ‘Eric Clapton The Autobiography’ (Century $70) one is left wondering if the exercise was really worth the effort. Here we have an undoubtedly brilliant musician whom would have best made another recording rather than have us read a cumbersome account his first 60 years. Harsh words maybe but a musician does not necessarily a writer make. We are given 365 pages of childhood, uncertainties, relationships, self absorption, music, addiction, gruelling touring and redemption but are left wondering if we don’t know any more than we did before.

The years of The Yardbirds, Cream, Blind Faith and Derek and the Dominoes are the most enjoyable read but we never learn how the music gets into his soul and this surely is why one would want to pick the book up. Just play Layla one more time. Now that’s brilliant!